They are practically undestuctable, to be honest. Especially earlier batches. The quality is getting worse, however.
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My love affair with Russian watches continues
- Thread starter BabaNJ
- Start date
These are Vostok Neptune, which I think is absolutely best of all Meranom.com range.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVaOa2MOK98 Check this out (it's in Russian, but it does not matter). I love that they got their own character, I guess it is not easy to make a green diver which will not look like the submariner.
The best Vostoks are produced during the USSR period. The problem with modern production Vostoks is that they are poorly oiled, which causes a lot of reliability issues. That's why I have my movements serviced before I use them by a watchmaker located in Russia.
However, I am sure that you can ask Meranom to service your movement as well. Although I do not know how much he will charge. Vostoks quality plummeted a bit after the USSR collapsed. Then the newly privatized firm experienced financial difficulties and went bankrupt if I remember correctly.
However, I believe the company has been reorganized and their tooling has been upgraded. So I expect their quality should not be as bad as the ones produced after the bankruptcy of the firm. I don't like some of their newer lines of Vostok though, such as the Quartz Chronographs with Ronda movements selling for 350 USD.
Still, for a 60 USD watch they are pretty good. However, it does feel pretty bad if you received a watch with QC issues, which does happen ocassionally. An example would be some reports of the reverser wheels being improperly oiled causing autowinders issues.
Yeah, I've heard they started to use even cheaper materials than before. But still, for the price they are really-really good.
Three Russian watches for $100:
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/russian-watches-vostok-amphibia-boctok.405236/#post-3825069
https://forum.replica-watch.info/threads/russian-watches-vostok-amphibia-boctok.405236/#post-3825069
A bit off topic, but have you seen the pics of the Replica Vostoks? The watch is already cheap at 60 USD but some firm in China is making fake ones with Tongji movements in it. I'll try to find some photos.
Wow that's really great pricing. If someone is looking to buy a Vostok watch, this is one of the best packages I have ever seen. 3 watches for 100 USD whereas one watch typically costs 50-60 USD.
Here, I borrowed the photos from another forum. Credit of the photos belongs to the user who posted them.
When you look at the watch, it looks normal. Then you notice there is no wobbly crown and the bezel feels different from your other Vostoks
View attachment 106359
Then you open the watch up and you see not a 2409 or 2416b movement, but a Tongji movement. Same movement you see in cheap eBay 23USD watches like the Winner brand.
View attachment 106360
I remember another fake Komandirskie where instead of an T34 on the dial where the Chinese put a T80 in it. I will try to find the photos if I can.
When you look at the watch, it looks normal. Then you notice there is no wobbly crown and the bezel feels different from your other Vostoks
View attachment 106359
Then you open the watch up and you see not a 2409 or 2416b movement, but a Tongji movement. Same movement you see in cheap eBay 23USD watches like the Winner brand.
View attachment 106360
I remember another fake Komandirskie where instead of an T34 on the dial where the Chinese put a T80 in it. I will try to find the photos if I can.
These are being sold by shady vendors on eBay I believe. However I do question how they make profit from an already cheap watch. I have read threads at other forums of people inadvertently buying these fake Vostoks thinking they're original.
- 17/3/06
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I ended up giving this Poljot to my father several years ago. He wore it everyday until I recently gifted him a Seiko Recraft.
This Russian Watch belonged to my grandfather. He had it on his wrist when he died in the hospital. My sister told me that watch stoped working the day our grandfather died. It has sentimental value.
I’m not sure if I should restore it, clean it and get new strap. It’s quartz.
I’m not sure if I should restore it, clean it and get new strap. It’s quartz.
This Russian Watch belonged to my grandfather. He had it on his wrist when he died in the hospital. My sister told me that watch stoped working the day our grandfather died. It has sentimental value.
I’m not sure if I should restore it, clean it and get new strap. It’s quartz.
I'm sorry for your grandfather's passing. I would check first if the quartz module of this watch could still be repaired. If the whole module needs to be replaced I would keep the watch as is if an original module can't be found.
If you do get it working once more, that would be great. If I had a watch like that I would be proud wearing it regularly. Such a sentimental piece like this has a value that can't be expressed in monetary terms. It is practically an heirloom that you can pass to your descendants, and a very good looking watch too.
@illecebrousrian What is your opinion Sir of the Poljot 3133? I like the Civil Chronograph. Are they still as good as they used to be?
In my opinion you should get one as soon as you can. The 3133 is one of the best movements produced by Russia and the USSR in my opinion.
The 3133 is no longer being produced, so once supplies of the movement dries up they are gone for good. Prices of watches using this movement would probably increase then. I would check out Poljot24.de if you are interested in these 3133 watches. They have a very fine selection of models there.
The Civil Chronograph is a good looking model. However my favorite 3133 is the Strela models.
Thank you very much. I just opened the watch and removed the battery. There was no spil inside and the quartz looks clean. I think battery is dead and quartz movement is fine.
I think there is a pretty good chance that the watch only needs a battery change. These quartz watches are pretty hardy, and it is already a good sign there is no battery leak inside. I think the brand of your grandfather's watch is "Luch" which means Ray in English if I remember correctly.
It would be great if you can get this watch working again. I am honored that you shared this very sentimental watch with us.
Sorry to hear that.
I think it should work pretty fine after you change the battery.
Watch looks very cool, btw. It is quite small, isn't it?