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

2018 Submarine Captain Vostok Amphibia 2416B Watch

Finally, a new arrival and addition to collection of watches, and it's this 2018 Submarine Captain Vostok Amphibia 2416B Automatic.

The dial says "Submarine Captain" in Russian which is a bit nonsensical or else common speak as it should properly be "Submarine Commander" (who has the rank of Captain anyways), I guess it's per tradition.

It's fully stainless steel (minus the bezel), it's automatic (meaning winds up from natural arm and wrist motion as you go about your daily business) (whether it will be enough by itself is another matter), it also has a hand-wind option, three hands, including a central seconds hand and a day date, what's not to like?

I specifically wanted this dial.

There is a unique wobbly (by design) Vostok screw-down winding crown which is a major rarity on watches at this price range (but you do have to get the knack of using it properly, not that it's very difficult). 

The case back.

I once did a post on water resistance markings, and you can find it by searching for water resistance marks on this very blog, but the point is 200 meters of water resistance here is a conventional designation and means that in reality this watch is good for water activities up to swimming and skin diving. Any more is problematic, not that it hasn't been tried.

Me, I mainly use it for showering, bathing (long hot tubs with a book to read and something to drink) and going to public baths once in a while.

At this writing, I have had this watch for about a couple of weeks and can report that it operates rather well, maybe it's a little bit fast but it's acceptable and expected for mechanical watches and should be tolerated and in any case it's within the stated tolerances.

Current Vostok movements can be a little bit temperamental due to possible lack of proper regulation and quality control at whatever remains of the Vostok factory but this one seems to be OK for now.

Furthermore, I don't usually regulate my mechanical watches, just live with what they are able to provide in terms of time keeping, and each one is different of course.

However the crown on this specimen screws and unscrews a little bit rougher than on my previous amphibias over the years and there is even some grating but it's minor.

Vostok's famous wobbly screw-down crown.

HoroLex: Амфибия 2416Б "Капитан подводной лодки" 2018 г.: Часы "Амфибия "Капитал подводной лодки". Полностью нержавейка, автоподзавод, ручной завод - механизм 2416Б, дата, т...

The super-luxury watches that take years to make

A BBC Website on mechanical watches and some obscure watchmakers it calls the best in the world for some reason (and needles to say they are British).

The super-luxury watches that take years to make -LINK

Fetching hundreds of thousands of pounds, they’re the ultimate statement piece. Who are the people that make the world’s most intricately designed watches?

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Slava 2428 from 2012

Bought this one in early 2012 -- a Slava 2428 manual wind movement (no auto).

This watch is manual wind, has a central seconds hand, a day and date calendar, a quick date change pusher at 2 o'clock... and is in a pseudo-sports like case, meant to look heavy duty capable (but only look mind you  - style over substance) same as this one -- Slava 2427 Automatic.

Slava's 2428 manual wind movement... supposed to be more reliable than its related automatic 2427 movement, especially as regards calendar operation.

Back.

The case-back is off to look at the movement.

Nice looking compact movement with twin barrels.

Slava 2428 flyer.

Where 3133s Can Still Be Found

The Poljot 3133 movement is a manual wind chronograph movement with a long history.

Here it is in one of my 3133 based watches.

For more information about the Poljot 3133 movement you can search this blog for 3133 or just google it.

Watches with the movement, both new and old, are very collectible and getting more so by the day because the movement ceased production in 2011 and also for many other reasons which are maybe the subject for another post.

However, I could not help notice that you can still by new (NOS) watches with the movement... even on Amazon... but only if you are prepared to be content with Moscow Classic branded watches (of which I haven't bought a single one yet, so pass no judgement one way or the other).

Anyway here they are... in my astore even.

POLJOT 3133 BASED WATCHES ON AMAZON


For example, a nice looking R-7 Semerka (Strela looks).

Or a Night Hunter...

Pobeda 2602 ZiM... the Last One?

A Pobeda 2602 ZiM wristwatch... made by ZiM as in Zavod imeni Maslennikova aka the Maslennikov Factory.

This one is actually the last of the Mohicans of the Pobedas. As you can see, the manual states it was made in March 2003... quite a few years after the factory was supposed to have gone into bankruptcy. 

And this makes it the latest documented Pobeda 2602 watch. And I have it of course. 

Nice two tone dial.

Nice gold toned hands and hour markers.

The case back.

A view on the movement.

The Pobeda 2602 movement... developed most likely on the basis of the Lip R-26 (below) but with improvements (picture courtesy WUS). 

Even though this movement was the most mass produced and one of the cheapest movements (especially in later year versions) in Russia, it hails from premium movements and has certain elements, such as the Breguet hairspring, that are only found in top of the line, expensive watches.

Pobedas are very collectible... though not necessarily ZiM versions.

Most collect late 1940s - early 1960s Pobedas with decorated movements which this one isn't.

HMT time machines return with higher price | Times of India

Not quite gone yet: HMT watches

HMT time machines return with higher price

BANGALORE: This may be your last chance to grab a piece of history. A fresh and perhaps the final batch of legendary HMT watches arrived in showrooms in the city....

According to sources in the HMT watch division, production of mechanical watches was suspended because of lack of manpower and capital. With supply drying up, no showroom in the city had any mechanical watch till last week.

However, a few bulk orders recently made the company start manufacture of these watches. About 2,500 mechanical watches were manufactured, less than 1,000 of which have been earmarked for retail buyers.

 More...

 Sans salary for a year, HMT employees finally get paid 

Watch of the Day: Slava 2428

Watch of the day (WOTD) some days back -- my Slava 2428, a current model bought, I think, in 2012.

Slava 2428, handwind, day-date calender -- not set.

Slava's twin barrels (and different color screws for some reason)