From USSR with Love

Soviet large men's military wristwatch KOMANDIRSKIE, which were produced by Tschistopol Watch Factory in 1960s.

Tschistopol Watch Factory located in city Tschistopol, on the K**a River in the central region of the Soviet Union (800 km east of Moscow) and was founded in autumn of 1941 when evacuation of Second Moscow Watch Factory was began.
During the years of II World War factory produced watches for usage of navy, aviation and tank industry. After the end of II World War, in peace time factory mainly produces mechanical wristwatches, which become it's main production.
In 1949 the manufacturing of the watch 'Pobeda' (Victory) with a side second hand began. The "Pobeda" movement was based on the well known "Lip" R26. The name, design and characteristics of these watches were personally approved by Iosif Stalin himself.
On the international Milan`s exhibition in 1952 year Tschistopol wristwatches first got wide confession and popularity.

This watch which I offer is used, but still in good condition. "KOMANDIRSKIE" means a watch of Commander, its origin goes from 1965 when Soviet Ministry of Defense ordered to Chistopol Watch Factory large production lot of dustproof and shockproof watches for its officers. Watch have 18 rubies (2214 cal.), balance is shock resistant. On the dial inscriptions in russian : "Komandirskie", "Chistopol", "Order of the Ministry of Defence of the USSR".

The lamp dedicated to the world's first flight into space - Yuri Gagarin.

Over the years, these lamps are made to significant dates,
such as the anniversary of the founding of the Soviet Union.

Raketa is not only the oldest factory in Russia, but also the only watch factory in the whole country. Furthermore, it is one of the only watch factories in the world, the only others being Rolex and Swatch, that manufactures its own parts; including the hair spring, balance wheel, and escapement.

The Petrodvorets Watch Factory (Russian: Петродворцовый часовой завод) is the oldest factory in Russia. Founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the Peterhof Lapidary Works, to make hardstone carvings, since 1945 the factury manufactures the Soviet Pobeda watches and since 1961 it has manufactured the Soviet Raketa watches. In almost 300 years of history, the factory has changed name several times. Petrodvorets is located in Saint Petersburg.

Before the Revolution

Initially, the factory produced luxury objects in semi-precious and precious stones for the palaces of the Tsars. We find these objects now in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, but also in most of the palaces of Europe, like Versailles, the Louvre or Sanssouci.

During Soviet times

In Soviet times, the plant has continued to work on precious stones. This plant has produced among others, the Mausoleum of Lenin in 1924 and the Kremlin stars in 1935.

In the prewar years, the skilled workers began manufacturing precision and measurement instruments for the Red Army and the new industry of Russian watches.

Destroyed by N**i troops during the Siege of Leningrad, the plant was rebuilt from 1944 at the liberation of the city. In 1945 Joseph Stalin - who wanted to reduce USSR's dependence on imports from the West - gave the order to the factory to manufacture watches. The first watches were produced in the factory in 1949 under the brand Pobeda and Zvezda. In 1961, in honor of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the factory created its new brand, Raketa, which makes its reputation throughout the world of Communist influence.

In its glory years after the war, the plant employed 8,000 people, produced 4.5 million watches per year for Soviet citizens and the needs of the Red Army. The plant is equipped with two atomic bunkers that can accommodate 8,000 people in the case of a western nuclear attack, had its own schools, university, hospital, resorts on the Black Sea, camps for Communist Youth Pioneer organization and Komsomol and its orchestras.

After 1991

Today, the plant has dramatically cut production following the troubled years of privatization and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite huge difficulties in adapting to the capitalist system, Raketa is one of the few (together with Vostok and Zaria) watch manufacturers, remained after the fall of USSR.

Legendary Lens MC Helios 44-3 2/58 f/2 M42 from Russian Zenit Camera will make you photos really great, warm and bright.

Clocks for the fastest and highest-flying Soviet / Russian combat aircrafts (such as MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-29 and Su-27)!

These clocks have been designed to withstand speeds of Mach 3 / 1800 mph (2900 km/h) and altitudes of up to 100,000 feet (30 km). These robust timepieces are built to keep time flawlessly while pulling 6G's! Built-in 27-volt heater ensures operation even at -60 °C (-75 °F).

Each measures approximately 3 inches (8 cm) in diameter by 3 inches (8 cm) deep and feature a two-day / three-day precision clock movement with 26 jewels, inside an all-steel, dustproof and waterproof case.

Do you remember this USSR game?

Model Im 23 was created in 1990.

Electronika is a Russian nintendo. It is a copy of another version game&watch