Saturday, September 28, 2013

5ChM Vostok Ship Cabin Clock

Not a watch this time but a whole wall mounted clock from my collection. And not just any clock -- a Vostok ship cabin clock!





I have had it since 2007 -- that means what -- for 6 years already? -- and it has been operating flawlessly and generally keeps a very good time. I had to move the adjusting slider at the top of the dial a bit at first but since then it has been running within single seconds per week -- better than almost all of my wristwatches.




The watch case opens and locks tightly with a key. The same key is used to wind the watch up. The case is dust- and water-proof. But some even claim that the clock is genuinely a water tight clock, they even say that such clocks have been found working and in some cases still ticking on board submerged vessels -- literally under water.

Setting time and winding.

 

Its technical data sheet runs like this:

Movement with 12 jewels with an anchor escapement.
Monometallic balance.
Splash-proof aluminum case with anti-corrosion coating.
At temperature 20±5°C, at humidity to 80% 6 days operation accuracy rate is ±90 sec.
Power reserve – 8 days.
Daily temperature change accuracy at the temperature range –25°C to +50°C is not over 1 sec. per 1°C.
Diameter – 210 mm.
Height – 74 mm.
Weight not exceeding 2,8 kg.



Regarding its appearance, my only complaint is the dial design, specifically the submarine picture on the dial. I would much prefer a plain white dial or a radio room type of dial. You see, the submarine picture and especially the black detail around it interferes with the hands, especially the shorter hour hand when it is between 11 and 1 o'clock -- the hand gets lost against the black circle when viewing it from certain angles -- as a result dial readability suffers. Other than that, I am satisfied with everything.

More after the break

Monday, September 23, 2013

Raketa Early Bitcoin Adopter

It appears that Russian watch manufacturer Raketa is an early adopter of Bitcoin currency and may even be the first watch company in the world to do so according this Bitcoin gets big bets from tech industry.

Quote:

While it's unclear whether regulators will sign off on the untested concept, Bitcoin is increasingly finding favour with merchants that range from blogging site Reddit to watch manufacturer Raketa.

Watchmaker Alexander Shorokhoff in the Jakarta Globe

In this article from the Jakarta Globe evocatively headlined "In the Land of Rubber Time, Watches Still Have Meaning", Tunggul Wirajuda introduces Indonesia's watch lovers and collectors to the watchmaker Alexander Shorokhoff and his watches.

The article starts by quoting Alexander Shorokhoff making some bold claims -- saying that he employs "no watchmakers but only watch masters", also saying that movements, fine engravings and parts in his watches are all handmade and that that is the reason why they only make 500 watches of all types annually, and also says that Alexander Shorokhoff himself designs his timepieces from the eponymous collection. 

Alexander Shorokhoff is also quoted in the article saying that while the Shorokhoff brand is obscure compared to Patek Philippe or TAG Heuer, wearing his watches is apparently more of a statement. The author then goes on to quote Alexander Shorokhoff saying that his is the only company in the world at the moment that makes true avant-garde watches.

The author then writes that Jakarta's watch buffs now get a chance to buy Shorokhoff’s watches, as Indonesia's retail chain Red Army Watches has added them to its collection of Russian products that already include Poljot and Vostok. The article says that, sold for an average price of between Rp 14 million to Rp 33 million ($1,300-$3,000), Shorokhoff’s watches range from the unassuming yet elegant chronographs to exquisitely crafted timepieces. 

According to the article Shorokhoff's watches are made in Germany and there is a bit of personal history behind the fact -- Shorokhoff first came to Germany in 1991, just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He  was among 20 or so managers sent to the West by Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, to learn about "free trade", which was in line with his (some would say misguided) policy of Glasnost and Perestroika, and Shorokhoff's been living there since. A year later he founded a marketing company to market and sell Russia’s most iconic watch — the Poljot — to the West.

Then in 1995, Alexander Shorokhoff started making watches himself under the label “Poljot International” to meet international demand after Poljot’s manufacturing center, the First Moscow Watch Factory, was, as he claims, unable to do so.

The article goes on to say that Shorokhoff started up Alexander Shorokhoff Watches, based in the small German town of Alzenau, in 2003 after the distinctive designs he made for Poljot International began to be in demand around the world.

Shorokhoff said the designs are inspired by his observations of watch lovers around the world, as well as his eye for avant-garde aesthetics and Russian traditions.

This is reflected in Alexander Shorokhoff’s Heritage collection of watches, a nod to his Russian roots. Named after iconic Russian cultural figures like Leo Tolstoy, Alexandr Pushkin and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, they have a vintage, 19th-century feel combined with modern precision technology. Produced to a limit of 25 pieces per watch, the timepieces embody Shorokhoff’s notions of individuality.

In conclusion the article says Shorokhoff has plans to add to his line of watches, which currently numbers about 40 timepieces. What he has up his sleeve has yet to be revealed, concludes the author.

Alexander Shorokhoff in a picture from the article.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Design for Denissov Watches

Have you ever wondered who makes watch designs for Denissov?

Well I am about to tell you whether you have or haven't. It would appear that Katia Helwig and her design firm are responsible for most of the Denissov designs as well as most of the watch designs of other remaining Poljot offshoots.

Check out these links.

http://keyhelwig.com/en/portfolio/nautiulus.php

Not everything works on the site. To navigate, use pictures on the right, first navigate between projects on far right, then click for pictures in the other column. 


It seems even a tourbillon was once on the cards. Picture from the site.

















There's also this large PDF in the download section, which suggests that her most recent work is Mars for Volmax (opens a pdf file).

http://watchdesignconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/helwig08_2013.pdf

Saturday, September 21, 2013

CD Collection: Fire It Up by Joe Cocker

This is a non-watch entry on my mainly watch and clock blog.

Another thing that I have interest in collecting is music CDs and have about 500 of them in my collection, both new, current and old -- sometimes very old -- stuff.

As a rather busy person -- what with all this blog writing, collecting, researching stuff on the Internet and even occasionally working hard(ly) -- it is inconceivable for me to just take the time and do nothing but listen to the music -- be it rock, pop, classic or current stuff. So my listening gets confined nowadays to only when I am in my car which is not a lot as don't drive that much. And my car is a 5 year old car that has nothing in the way of new infotainment systems, bluetooth or anything of that nature, but what it does have is a 6 disk CD changer, hence my interest in collecting CDs. Also, I prefer something more tangeable than digital downloads.

To start with my collection countdown, here's something more recent from the bowels of my CD changer.

The latest (I think) album by Joe Cocker called "Fire It Up".




















What I have here is the premium edition. In addition to the CD you also get a DVD with clips of some of the songs. I found the DVD pretty good.






































Overall I enjoyed the album very much. It didn't spend as much time in the changer as some of my other favorites -- and I can think of several that literally spent years in there -- it is still very good. Or at least I like it enough to say so.

Joe Cocker "Fire It Up"
























Additional info on the album on wikipedia.

Fire It Up (Joe Cocker album)

On Youtube, I believe this clip is on said DVD.

Friday, September 20, 2013

La Montre du Jour: Slava 2427 Automatic

La Montre du Jour (whatever): Another cheap(er) watch of mine - worn last Sunday actually, a Slava 2427, automatic, my most recent acquisition so far.



Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Slava 2428 Flag & Emblem Dial

Ex-Collection Scarface3133: a Slava 2428 in this curious casing. I don't know what it is called and am at a loss to describe it. I don't even have an idea as to what it is supposed to represent... a ship's helm maybe? But the this type of case is an old one -- it was used by 2MWF from at least the late 1980s until 2010 -- the very end of what used to be known as Slava.

The dial is decorated with the flag and state emblem of Russia. And it also has a paint scheme which is not unlike that of the famous Okeah 3133 watch only sidewise and in different colors.


 
























The watch has three hands: hours, minutes and central seconds, day and date calendar, a quick date change pusher at 2 o'clock.

The Slava 2428 movement is a remarkable windup movement as it contains two mainspring barrels -- an uncommon feature (especially in cheaper watches) -- which drive the minute wheel simultaneously. Together with the large Glucydur balance a good precision can be achieved.





















This movement is also available with a selfwindig mechanism as Slava movement 2427 or without weekday as Slava 2414 movement.


Slava 2428 movement


Link: Cameras disguised inside coat zips and bugs hidden in tree trunks: Fascinating insight into the crafty tricks and devious gadgets German spies used during the Cold War


Including this picture of what appears to be a Ruhla chronograph watch fitted with a tiny microphone.

On second thought, it may well be some Swiss watch from the 1950-60s or even from the 1940s.
















Tuesday, September 17, 2013

AChS-1

Some pictures of my 30+ year old AChS-1 air cockpit panel clock (still going strong).






































The AChS-1 is a Russian mechanical aviation cockpit panel clock installed on many types of aircraft in the past and may still be found in some at the present time.


Thursday, September 12, 2013

Video About Soviet Watches

Video in Russian about Soviet watches and the once mighty Soviet watch industry -- by now unfortunately all but ruined by dumb oil-pumping free-market capitalists-the scourge of humanity (don't get me started). 



Or watch it on Youtube (might actually be a better idea).

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Electronika

Some of my Electronika watches from Belarus. Not all of them, mind you, only 8 - a small part of my collection of Electronika watches, only those that I bothered to fit with bracelets. Bracelets are both Chinese stainless steel and Vitebsk bracelets (not ss). 


What have we here. Actually, Electronika ChN-54, Electronika 77A chrome and gold-toned, ChN-04, ChN-01, Electronika ChN-55, Electronika 5 and Kamerton 65. 






For a bigger picture, click this link, when picture opens click once more on photo for a still bigger picture.



Old-school electronic watches is what I like and am going to do a series of posts on them soon.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Time to Swear off Expensive Watches (...Maybe Not)

 Somebody's column.

Time to swear off expensive watches

Curiosity 3133

In this category titled Curiosity 3133 I am going to collect Internet pictures of some unique, interesting or outright bizarre watches utilizing the Poljot (later MakTime) 3133 movement.

The Poljot (MakTime) 3133 chronograph movement is a storied movement which has been in production since the early 1970s but may have been discontinued now though new watches with the movement are still widely available.

In the 1990s the 1st Moscow Watch Factory and a number of smaller offshoots experimented widely with cases, dials, bezels, overall styles, themes and looks of their 3133 movement watches with varying success -- some had more style than others.

Common themes were aviation, military, space exploration, Party and state leaders.

To start with, here are pictures of three interesting 3133 movement watches.


Poljot 3133 Leninist




Poljot 3133 "Leninist". On the dial it says Leninist, 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. On the back it says "To a Delegate of the 26th CPSU Congress" and "By Order of the Central Committee, CPSU", all unprovable of course. Also interesting how the serial number on the back is done up as a mandate number (mandate is a document needed to take part in work of a party congress and vote thereat). Looks like this one was made by Poljot International.

Camel Trophy Poljot 3133






















Note the nice hinged lid on back with a display case back underneath.


Brezhnev Poljot 3133




















This one is in the same mold as the Leninist above commemorating Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, General Secretary, CPSU.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Flyer: Vostok 2416 Movement

A promotional flyer of the Vostok 2416 movement, with specifications.

The movement is currently in production and is widely used by Vostok. It is used in all classic and new Vostok Amphibias and in some Vostok Komandirskie and other Vostok watches -- those that are automatic because the movement is.





































h/t molnija.eu

Georgian Wine is Back

It is back! After some unpleasantness in the recent past plus some lengthy import bans, Georgian wine is back in Moscow, and a jolly good thing it is too.


Kvanchkara & my Okeah 3133 chronograph
























And my Okeah (Ocean) 3133 chronograph by Volmax.








































Kindzmarauli





















In the refrigerator.




















Khvanchkara and Kindzmarauli with my Okeah 3133 for company.

























I have already tried it of course. And when I did I liked it. It is very good and the taste gets remembered and the next day you kinda want to indulge again. It is about 11% Alc.

The Volmax Okeah 3133 chronograph is in my collection and I am going to do a post on it in the near future.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Ex-Collection Scarface3133: Another Pobeda ZiM 2602

Another Pobeda ZiM 2602 from my already extensive collection.































This one has a minimalistic dial design and is still a "Made in USSR".
























More pictures after the break.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Video: Building Vostok Watches

Video.

A tour of the Vostok factory.

Building and testing* Vostok watches, with English subtitles.

*As in running a Vostok Komandirskie watch over with an SUV -- to no visible detrimental effect, even though it may not be the best method to test watches.