Tricks and Hacks for Vostok Watches

These are some trick and hacks you can use on you Vostok watches. These will work with most of your Komandirskie and Amphibia watches.

*Correction, The Piano Wire size is 0.02 in (or 0.5mm) not the 0.2 in that I stated in the video.

How to Adjust the Tension on a Vostok Bezel:

[AnonOrange]

Vostok's are cool without trying to be cool.
They are certainly not trying to be rich. Their last financial statement had $1 mil in sales with a profit of $70, 000. Barely in business for a world brand. Went bankrupt in 2010.
They are rugged, very reasonably priced mechanical watches. They need our love.


Don't confuse them with "Vostok-Europe", from Lithuania. Not the original, much more expensive $1, 000+, but also cool looking. They use some movements from Vostok, but also from the Swiss or Japan.

[jsdhesmith]

Best damn watch I've ever owned. Beats the hell out of watches 10 times the price plus. Ak47 of watches.

[warrenstemphly]

I just bought a 24 hr. dial Komandirski a month ago as I write this. Absolutely love it. The band it came with is fine, not sure how it will age, but it’s comfy. It seems pretty accurate, I’ve had to set the time about once a week. I “get” the fan base.

[raybeer]

I found it was easier to wind the watch when the watch is on its side with the winder underneath, then gravity makes the crown fall away from the body.

[christianwilliams]

I bought my first Amphibia a few months ago and I love the thing. Waiting for a Komandirskie in the post now

[johnjeromson]

The care you take of that watch does credit to both you and your grandpa, good work fella.

[IansModRite]

For anybody wondering, like myself, what the wire size of the retainer spring is in AWG, it’s 22. Just in case you wanna use some other wire type in a pinch.

[mikeyerke]

Love the choice of round to accompany that watch! Perfect.
Just ordered my first Vostok Komandirski today. A nice accessory to have when shooting the AKs. Great video. Thank you. 🇺🇸

[Ivobe]

Life saver! Did a mod on my amphibian that tension spring for the bezel and the bezel is messed up now. Time to mend my lack of skill. Thanks for the video!

[alancars]

Enjoyed your video. Very informative. I just started buying Vostok watches. Really well designed and a great value. Also thanks for the info on Ballistol. Now I can polish my watches and clean my guns at the same time!

[Lex]

I'll have to remember the Ballistol, I keep several cans of that stuff around.  I have been using PolyWatch to buff out the scratches.  I have a good collection going of 15 Vostok Amphibias.  These watches are freakin tanks they're built so tough, but I have one that's my dedicated beater.  The ballistol will probably make it look a lot newer.

[simoninglis]

Great video. Many thanks for sharing your ideas. Very useful.

[pericodelospalotes]

Tooth paste to polish off small scratches on the acrylic glass.

[Bob.martens]

to change the date faster like you do, there is really no need to go beyond 10 past 12 before starting to turn back to about 9, advance again and repeat. Just be gentle and reasonable (you should know when you're not, or stick with quartz) and the movement will be fine.

[MoonsingerMedia]

I just bought a Vostok Amphibian watch .. looking forward to it. I don’t have a massive collection but I have a couple of Omega’s, two Bremonts and an assortment of others .. but happy to include a nice Russian watch!

[ZeginMakesMusic]

You don't need to go slightly past the 12 to adjust the date. As soon as you hear the click go right back to 9:00 and then back to 12:00 and then back to 9:00 and then back to 12:00. That seems to work like a charm

[rapscallion]

Thanks, HOTA. I just ordered the tanker version and can hardly wait to get it in my hands. I appreciate these fine points.

[wildbill]

Good video. l keep several extra retainer clips on hand in case l damage one while changing a bezel. l ordered about 10 of them a couple of years ago. About lack of quick set date-l buy Vostoks without the date if that's an option on the model l want. And don't bother to set the date on ones that have it.

[VanaConn]

I order my Vostoks without the date function so I can just wind, set and go. I love my basic yellow face no date Vostok mechanical watch but own a few others. I was able to order them direct from Vostok a few years ago prior to the war

[gitmoholliday]

Another trick is winding the crown like a slip wrench,
you don't need to turn the crown 360° going back and forth 180°
would wind it also.