Flooded my Vostok Black Scuba Dude Amphibia... and found Vostok Europe Rotor in It!

Buran USSR Space Shuttle in Winter

Borrowing from my car (and other vehicle-) spotting blog this entry about the Buran the USSR space shuttle photographed by me last winter (2014) at the VDNKh, a well known facility in north Moscow.

Here it is.

I suspect it's a replica, or a mock-up (some parts maybe genuine though).

All-white... it's white in the skies, it's white on the ground.

Buran landing gear.

Nose section up close.

Under the belly.

Tail section.

Vostok spaceship....I think it used to be a functioning Vostok rocket but now is a kind of monument.

Mounted police. 

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.

Water Resistance Marks on Watches

Here's a look at some water resistance marks on some of my watches.

According to Wikipedia, Water Resistant is a common mark stamped on the back of wrist watches to indicate how well a watch is sealed against the ingress of water. 

Any water resistance mark is better than none. One assumes that, if there is no such mark, the watch is not "sealed against the ingress of water", with most watches being in this category even now.

It has to be said though that the whole water resistance mark thing in watches had resisted standardization for a long time until some recent past, and some claims of water resistance had to be taken with skepticism but now there are at least two ISO standards dealing with the matter, though they are not universally applied, even in this day and age.

Watches from the Soviet and now Russian periods may continue to use non-standard water resistance marks. Here is a look at such marks and what they mean on the example of some of my own watches.

This Slava 3050 says Водонепроницаемые on the back which literally means "water-proof" as in "impermeable to water". But in reality it at best corresponds to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

Two Zaria 3105.01 moon phase watches. The water resistance mark here says Водозащищенные which literally means "water protected" and in actual fact probably means same as above - Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkeling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving. 

However, I should note that the back on those Zarias is very tight requiring a watchmaker's press to snap it back after you open it and there is also a rubber seal and some water repellent lubricant in the crown stem assembly. You could probably take a shower wearing it with no consequences.

Komandirskie 2416b above. Says Водонепроницаемые as in Slava 3050 above. But in this case I am willing to bet it corresponds to at least Water Resistant 5 ATM or 50 m, that is, suitable for swimming, white water rafting, non-snorkeling water related work, and fishing but NOT suitable for diving.

I showered with it on once myself no problem, except it's not good for the pressed leather strap, even though it is supposed to be water repellent treated. 

Slava 2416 Flotskie, above. Marine-themed, as Flotskie means of, or pertaining to, Fleet or Navy. The water resistant mark here says Повышенная водозащита which means "increased water protection" and there's a picture of a cute little dolphin for good measure on the back. Water born- and sea-dwelling creatures are often used to indicate water protection and not only in Russian watches. In this case we have also only basic water resistance as in Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only.

My Sturmanskie Strela 3133 Volmax mech chrono. Says Водонепроницаемые 30м, that is, exactly this: Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, meaning splash/rain resistant only, and NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly NOT suitable for diving. 

Also it is a mechanical pusher-operated chronograph and mechanical chronographs and water typically don't mix in any combination with few exceptions. 

A whole bunch of three Vostok Amphibias. These are the most water resistant Russian watches (second only to military spec Zlatoust divers). The back says Водонепроницаемые 200 м, i.e. Water Resistant 20 ATM or 200 m, meaning suitable for professional marine activity, serious surface water sports and skin diving and suitable for skin diving. Some even claim that they are more than that and can be used as professional divers but I have my doubts.

My experience, however, suggests these watches are good for a hot tub, sauna, steam bath, swimming pool -- used them in all of those places with no ill effect at least in the immediate aftermath. Though I replace them after about 3-4 years of use but never service.

And here's a bonus - my Seiko 5 cal. 7s26 of 2001 vintage below. The water mark here is again the non-standard WP probably meaning "water protected" - the most basic water protection offered by Seiko probably again corresponding to the current standard of Water Resistant 3 ATM or 30m, that is, splash/rain resistant only. NOT suitable for showering, bathing, swimming, snorkelling, water related work and fishing, and most certainly not suitable for diving.

Wristwatch: Komandirskie 2414A

Komandirskie 2414A manual wind watch.

Here it is -- on my wrist. Komandirskie actually means an Army commander's (watch). It is splash- and some shock resistant.

Note the quirky and unusual case shape... something like an eight-point star... and the crown... which is at about 1:30 o'clock. I have to say that there is not much convenience of use gained by placing it there instead of its usual place at 3 o'clock.

However I do like the way the case looks... almost like some on-wrist device from a sci-fi movie.

The movement also looks nice. 

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].

WUS: Vostok Komandirskie Instruction Leaflet

Vostok Komandirskie Instruction Leaflet



A WUS forum thread.. what it says in the title... a Vostok Komandirskie instruction booklet in English, dating from the late 1980s, I think.

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.

Vostok 5ChM Clock in Submarine Control Room

Photo showing a Vostok 5ChM Ship Clock in the control room of ORP Orzeł, a Polish Kilo class diesel-electrical submarine.

You can see it almost in the center, a tad to your right. The dial is a radio room type of dial.

My Vostok 5ChM clock is here. Except mine is a sub detail type of dial. I like the radio room much better though.

New Acquisition: Vostok Troika 2416B

My new acquisition is this NOS 2004 Vostok Troika with a Vostok 2416B movement, with tags.
Here are some quick and nasty photos with my cheap point and click camera. 

Troika is a brand which may have been owned by Vostok not by itself but together with its partners, specifically a certain firm styled ChasProm of Belarus was mentioned. But the brand seems to be more or less discontinued now.

This particular series of Troika watches all have a nice (and rare for Vostok) display caseback with a view on its Vostok 2416B movement.

I have only had it since yesterday - so far so good. It IS working (it's a 2004 watch) without a service history. 

The movement as seen through its display caseback. I think it is a good-looking movement, even if undecorated. The rotor in particular is well shaped and rotates very happily and easily and also noiselessly, fun to watch actually. In fact, you can play a little game with it by trying to make it go full consecutive circles by moving you watch.

I am going to add a review later based on my use of this watch. That is, IF I use it and not just retire it straight to my watch box on account of me having too many wearable watches already. Competition for my wrist time gets real fierce.

I am attaching some more pictures below.