Vostok 30 days mechanical watch challenge

Grathr · **on:** August 07, 2014, 06:43:47 PM

First: Lets ignore all politics on this one.

For some time I have been thinking of getting a mechanical wrist watch. I have never owned one before and didnt want to spend a lot on the first one in case I constantly would forget to wind it up.
Then I stumbled upon the brand Vostok in another thread here. A quick search on ebay revealed that I could get a Vostok Komandirskie mechanical watch for $30 pluss shipping, wich is below the toll limit. I knew I had to buy one, and so I did.
The watch arrived today, and I decided to give myself a challenge. I will wear this watch for 30 days no matter what.
I might regret it later.
During the challenge I will measure how it holds time, glows in the dark, write a little about the history of Vostok and tell you what I think about it.

Anyway, here are some pics.

sawman · **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2014, 06:47:58 PM

That's a nice looking watch

jzmtl · **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2014, 06:52:05 PM

Ooo, I always wanted a vostok, one of the auto diver models. But the domed plastic crystal worries me so I never pulled the trigger.

Grathr · **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2014, 06:52:50 PM

First impressions:
Smurf! What have I done? I have only had it for a few hours, and it has already stopped!

I have wound it up once more, and it started again, but this does not look good...
Anyway. On the plus side, it has a rotatitng bezel that actually rotates very smoothly. And when it runs it is totally silent.

detron · **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2014, 06:56:28 PM

hopefully you can get it going right, otherwise this is going to be a rough challenge.

good luck and keep us posted. I think it looks great!

there is one advantage that a analog watch has over a digital one.

no matter what, it is always right at least twice a day

Crow · **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2014, 07:02:23 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 07, 2014, 06:52:50 PM

First impressions:
Smurf! What have I done? I have only had it for a few hours, and it has already stopped!
I have wound it up once more, and it started again, but this does not look good...
Anyway. On the plus side, it has a rotatitng bezel that actually rotates very smoothly. And when it runs it is totally silent.

Get off that couch.

and start moving...

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2014, 07:53:42 PM

I had two Vostok watches in the past and had no problems with them at all. Mind you that was almost 20 years ago.

Some automatics are like that- you have to wear them for a bit before you can wear them if you get my drift. I usually slap an auto on my hand to feel the weight spin when I put one on that has stopped. For some this only gets them running for a bit and they wind down faster than the wind up during normal wear. After they are wound up properly (a few hours of wearing) they are usually good to go.

I don't have enough auto watch experience to say if this is "normal" or not, but it is something I have encountered. Don't write the watch off just for that.

Def

Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery

microbe · **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2014, 08:11:02 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 07, 2014, 06:52:50 PM

First impressions:
Smurf! What have I done? I have only had it for a few hours, and it has already stopped!
I have wound it up once more, and it started again, but this does not look good...
Anyway. On the plus side, it has a rotatitng bezel that actually rotates very smoothly. And when it runs it is totally silent.

Stick your ear to the watch. You should definitely hear it tick

Chako · **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2014, 08:20:57 PM

I have a soft spot of mechanicals. I have 2, a Zed MT.O special and a Bulova. Yours is a nice looking watch, I hope it works out for you.

RamoN · **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2014, 09:06:34 PM

There has been some time now where i dont even consider wearing a watch if its not mechanical, to me they are special unlike any quartz, eco, kinetic, etc.

That watch can handle anything you throw at it, but it is possible it might come with a factory flaw or need of adjustment although not the most common scenario. If i may suggest you should add water, jumping, running and all sorts of non watch healthy activities to try its full potential

Grathr · **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2014, 09:11:13 PM

Ok. I have found the problem, its me.

I wound it up the wrong way. After looking through the box I found a english manual. I thought there only was the russian one wich I did not understand much of. Thank you russian ebay seller

Now it works fine.

By the way. Its not an automatic. I have to wind it up every day...
Stay tuned. Im bound to forget to wind it up one day.

styx · **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2014, 09:55:14 PM

that's a nice a watch

jzmtl · **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2014, 09:56:48 PM

You got me looking at amphibian on ebay again...

This one specifically.

Grathr · **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2014, 10:01:36 PM

Quote from: jzmtl on August 07, 2014, 09:56:48 PM

You got me looking at amphibian on ebay again...

This one specifically.

I have been looking on those as well. I might get one if like this one and get sick of winding it up.

Chako · **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2014, 10:19:08 PM

Oh not an auto. Yeah, I have a few of those...and I can't stand winding them up. Mind you, they do have character.

to you for going 30 with it.

jzmtl · **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2014, 10:19:30 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 07, 2014, 10:01:36 PM

Quote from: jzmtl on August 07, 2014, 09:56:48 PM
You got me looking at amphibian on ebay again...

This one specifically.

I have been looking on those as well. I might get one if like this one and get sick of winding it up.

I have a cheapie DX auto, and I found I don't really walk enough everyday to keep it wound. Not sure if vostok will be any different.

On the bright side, you can always set the time against your phone if you forgot to wind it.

Grathr · **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2014, 04:54:28 PM

A quick update:
The watch has been running continously since yesterday and I actually remembered to wind it up this morning.

According to the manual, it will only need to be wound up once a day. Time will show if that is enough.
Accuracy: it has lost aprox 12 secs in the last 20 hours. I dont know if that is normal for a mechanical watch or not. It is certainly more than Im used to.

sawman · **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2014, 04:58:30 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 08, 2014, 04:54:28 PM

A quick update:
The watch has been running continously since yesterday and I actually remembered to wind it up this morning.
According to the manual, it will only need to be wound up once a day. Time will show if that is enough.
Accuracy: it has lost aprox 12 secs in the last 20 hours. I dont know if that is normal for a mechanical watch or not. It is certainly more than Im used to.

12 secs in 20 hours is pretty good for the average mechanical

Grathr · **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2014, 05:04:37 PM

Quote from: sawman on August 08, 2014, 04:58:30 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 08, 2014, 04:54:28 PM
A quick update:
The watch has been running continously since yesterday and I actually remembered to wind it up this morning.
According to the manual, it will only need to be wound up once a day. Time will show if that is enough.
Accuracy: it has lost aprox 12 secs in the last 20 hours. I dont know if that is normal for a mechanical watch or not. It is certainly more than Im used to.
12 secs in 20 hours is pretty good for the average mechanical

Thank you!

jzmtl · **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2014, 08:13:16 PM

How to you find the quality of the dial compare to other brands like citizen etc? On ebay they seem pretty crude, letters/images on dial looks like they are painted on with soft borders and dull appearance.

Grathr · **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2014, 08:43:14 PM

Quote from: jzmtl on August 08, 2014, 08:13:16 PM

How to you find the quality of the dial compare to other brands like citizen etc? On ebay they seem pretty crude, letters/images on dial looks like they are painted on with soft borders and dull appearance.

Comparing it to a citizen watch would be unfair, considering this is a $30 watch.
Im no expert, and have few expensive watches but it looks pretty crisp and tidy to me. There are very crisp individual numbers in small print for every 2 seconds, wich is nice. The big numbers have a border on them wich makes them look a little softer, especially on a cell phone camera.

Some of the luminus marks are a little uneven, and does not glow in the dark as well as Id like.
But then again, it is only a $30 watch.

Zed · **Reply #21 on:** August 08, 2014, 09:43:07 PM

Nice looking watch

I've had a few Vostok's and never had any issued,as for winding autos since my first was a Seiko 6309 and you can wind them with there crown I just flick the watch side to side to wind them

comis · **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2014, 10:11:22 PM

Grathr, although it is not the 'automatic' watch you set out to get, it is still a pretty neat winding watch at only 30 bucks.

Losing 12sec on a daily basis is quite a lot, but let's observe it for longer time to see whether this loss is variable or a predictable error.

jzmtl · **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2014, 10:45:20 PM

Quote from: Grathr on August 08, 2014, 08:43:14 PM

Comparing it to a citizen watch would be unfair, considering this is a $30 watch.
Im no expert, and have few expensive watches but it looks pretty crisp and tidy to me. There are very crisp individual numbers in small print for every 2 seconds, wich is nice. The big numbers have a border on them wich makes them look a little softer, especially on a cell phone camera.

Some of the luminus marks are a little uneven, and does not glow in the dark as well as Id like.
But then again, it is only a $30 watch.

You are right, I was thinking more of the amphibian, which is more comparable. Unfortunately at almost 3x the price it doesn't seem to have any better fit&finish.

Singh · **Reply #24 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:00:22 AM

The differences between the Amphibian and Komandirskie: The komandirskies have chrome-plated brass cases while the Amphibians have Stainless steel ones. The Amphibians are automatics while the Komandirskie is handwind. The Amphibian is a dive watch and has better water resistance. All that explains the price difference.

Santos · **Reply #25 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:38:35 AM

Pretty fond of russian gear myself especially if its soviet era made/designs.

30 seconds is nothing on a mechanical watch (or auto)
Some of my vintage citizens are less than that but the forums suggest the new auto movements thats standard as price vs production cost

I like vintage auto's and mech winds for two reasons
1) They are servicable items that in theory will work for long after any battery/solar unit (the mad max requirement)
2) Usually can get a nice 2nd hand classy piece for the $25 or less making it ideal for travelling globally where you need possesions that might be lost or stolen but give you a good impression in formal situation (the sophisticated hipster contingency)

Daily i rock the ecodrive though, since most people dont use wrissmurfches at all these days and you still have your cellphone i don't think 30 days is a big deal but i do salute you embarking on wearing it and winding it for general nostalgia.