Watch of the Day: Vostok Amphibian 2416B

My watch of the day today.... in fact it was on May 6... my 2012 Black Scuba Dude Amphibian Vostok 2416B.

Here it is - in focus. More figuratively than literally (or is it the other way round?) because I am in a Ford Focus and am shooting with a cheap point-and-click.

A 3 year veteran of many a sauna and swimming pool session, it is still going strong.

Slava 2427 Automatic

Slava 2427, automatic, day-date calendar.

RDR

It is a current offering from Slava (what's left of it). Personally, I like it. 

The watch has a sporty-, heavy duty look about it -- but it's all for show, just style no substance, Slava made many such watches in the 1990s-2000s. But I still like them for some reason. 

A promo photo from Slava's website.

One look at the back will tell you the watch is an automatic.

It is.

The Slava caliber 2427 in a later years version... soon there will be no more of them. I think they will disappear before the handwind (i.e. S2409, S2414 and S2428) versions. The S2416 is already no more.

Twin barrels... only by Slava.

Vostok 2433 Open Heart

A Vostok 2433 watch - open heart - a 2433 automatic movement.

The open heart is at 12 o'clock.

The back.

The movement.

This must be the cal. 2433 like the one below...

But the bridge is still stamped 2416 B.

With the back removed, you can clearly see the "hole in the heart".

In fact, this watch needs a display caseback... then you could see right through it.

Question of the price: about $60 on Vostok's website [in Russian].

A Watch-Movement Primer

A good one on watch movements 

A Watch-Movement Primer 


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Vostok Amphibia Compass Bezel 2007

Another one of my Vostok Amphibia(n)s by the Vostok Chistopol Watch Factory.

With a compass bezel... not everyone likes it but I don't mind it... you can still use it to mark time. It rotates.

This is a Vostok Ampibia wrist watch with a Cal. 2416B automatic movement -- self-winding but can be hand wound as well.

The movement is like this one (but not this decorated version of course).

...

Date of manufacture is marked as 10.07.07 -- tenth day of July in the year of our Lord 2007. 

And it cost me RUB 1,300 in 2007 (US$ 36 at current rates).

I wore it from 2007 to 2011.

Used it often for sauna session - at least once a week, which finally was its undoing. Time keeping became very erratic in 2011, sometimes it would stall for no reason, at other times it would be way too fast -- those sauna sessions, I think, got to it.

So early 2012 I replaced it with this Scuba Dude.  

Wear and tear -- all mine.The thick acrylic (?) crystal can take a lot punishment but it does not go unnoticed.

 

Stainless steel bracelet... of the cheaper variety but serves its purpose. 

Wrist shot.

Back, says water proof 200m, antishock, Amphibia and automatic.

This type of case.

Vostok Komandirskie 2416B Tank Dial

Johnny Depp had one...

...And so do I. Although his is from the late 1980s while mine is recent -- 2012.

In case someone is wondering the tank (although very stylized) is likely to be a T-62 type tank, distinguishable mainly by where the fume extractor is on the barrel. 

If you don't believe me, I invite you to consult this guide (filter all political and propaganda stuff though). 

This watch is an auto Komandirskie -- it is intermediate between the Vostok Amphibia(n) proper and the Komandirskie proper.

It differs from the Amphibia in that the case is chrome-plated brass and not stainless steel. From the regular Komandirskie it differs in that it has a self-winding Vostok 2416B movement like the Amphibia does.

It is running at + 20 seconds per 24 hours but is consistent, and the chrome plating is not what it used to be -- it wears off quickly at points of contact.

Still rate it as a good watch overall. 

Seen on ebay: Amphibia Vostok

Found on ebay.com -- this Amphibia(n) Vostok wristwatch apparently commemorating the pull out of the limited contingent of Soviet troops from the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (DRA) in 1989. Seller's pictures.

Bracelet with a clasp doubling as a tag or something.

I think it is rare.. whether or not it is original is another matter though.
Here.