Vostok Amphibia Black Scuba Dude Watch

Here's my Vostok Amphibia(n) Black Scuba Dude Dial* watch.

It has a Vostok 2416B automatic movement.

I bought it new in January 2012 - the month it was manufactured - and have been using it ever since, although I do not necessarily wear it every day as I have lots of watches. But it is one of my 8 or 9 wound and worn watches. It cost me the equivalent of about US$70 to buy and is a good solid watch. It is all stainless steel minus the bezel which is chrome-plated base metal. It has a screw-on winding crown, a massive bracelet, also of stainless steal, and a stream-lined, compact look. When I do wear it I find that this watch sits and looks good on my wrist, even though it is basically a cheap watch.

The watch also has luminous hands and hour markings on the dial. The bezel rotates in both directions. Vostok amphibias are shock proof.

They are also water proof watches supposedly up to 200m. While I am not so sure about that, I found that it is good for surface swimming and for skin diving at the very least. Beyond that I haven't tested it. There may have been a debate on watch forums on whether Vostok amphibias are genuine diver's watches. In any case, mine is good for a swimming pool and a sauna and a hot tub - no problem at all during these activities.

As I said the watch is powered by a 2416B Vostok movement. The movement is a 24mm caliber movement, three hands, including a central seconds hand, 31 ruby jewels, instant date, a shock resistant balance; the movement is automatic with a bi-directional rotor and can be hand-wound too. It is a workhorse movement for Vostok.

And now for the not so good. First, the lume. As is true with most current Vostok watches, the lume is not that luminous and the afterglow lasts only for a very limited time, depending on exposure to the sun or light but never more than a couple hours even in the most preferable circumstances I think.

Second, the accuracy. The movement was not that well adjusted at the factory. Soon after I bought it I measured it running at +44 seconds per 24 hours which is a bit much and may be even beyond the specs. However, it is consistent at doing it which means it can probably be adjusted to something more decent. But I never bothered because it is not a problem for me. I can see how it could be a problem if it were my everyday watch but I only use it for going swimming, or for sauna or steam bath sessions and it does what it's supposed to do -- keeps the time in those adverse conditions - water, extreme heat, steam, knocks against door frames, whatever.

It has a very thick organic glass crystal, which is very durable, and practically asks for a knock or two against something hard, that's how badass it is, never cracks. Although scratches are visible.

It is a heavy(ish) watch. Not as heavy so you can do curls with it but still... there are lighter watches (most of them).

On wrist.



And one more.



A view on the case back. It says waterproof 200m, anti-shock, automatic.

My opinion is that it is a good watch.

* Black Scuba Dude Dial is one way to call it. Maybe, you could also call it Black Frogman Dial watch or something.

However in Russia watches utilizing this dial design are known among Vostok watch collectors and enthusiasts as "Bubble Man" dial watches or "Man in a Bubble" dial watches on account of the picture showing the scuba diver swimming through some kind of a bubble. 

They come in different cases and in different dial colors - green, black, blue and even light brown. And I want to buy them all :) but no hurry.

ETA: May 08, 2015
Adding pictures from this post - Watch of the Day: Black Scuba Dude Vostok Amphibian 2416b Watch