Rare Slava CCCP Quartz Watch - Last blast from the Soviets...

Tonite's little treat is this unusual and probably unheard of watch outside of the old Soviet as the watch companies facing the meltdown of the Soviet empire tried to embrace new technologies.

There are other Slava quartz out there, some with Glasnost and Perestroika dials celebrating the brave new world of post Soviet Russia, none of them seem to have the sheer cool that this one has in spades.

It picks up on the current trends and design cues of that time with a nod towards the submariners, a nod towards Seiko and a nod towards the Amfibian ethos which were seen once upon a time as the Rolls-Royce niche for Russian watches, for producing an Amfibian mean't a very nice Ministry contract as their watches were issued to special forces and divers in Russia as a result.

I am not sure if Slava ever made an Amfibian watch, I know Vostok did and built its success from its Amphibia, I seem to think Raketa and Poljot also had Amfibia's (note the spelling difference between Vostock and the other houses Amfibians) but whether Chaika, Slava, Zim, Luch produced Amfibians I could not tell you.

The movement itself is worth googling a look at, it makes them chinzty lozenge Chinese quartz movements look positively sad, in true Russian style they overengineered it a lot and I do believe it is in a rare niche in being a serviceable quartz movement where only a few houses have that ability with the rest expected to see it thrown away or replaced.

[bruhscousin]

Any idea the battery replacement? Its a CR921 and I can't find one and I can't figure out an equivalent

[komtasu]

I brought one of these watches of a street market stall In Bulgeria in 1994/5.Only thing wrong is that lately it loses time while I'm wearing it something it never used to do.

[harveyhudson]

Thanks for the video! I also have one of these watches. However, I replaced my Slava stainless steel bracelet with a black rubber diver's strap. To each is own! These are great Soviet Era watches! You either love them or hate them! Some say the in house 2356 caliber movement is bad and others say it is very reliable. I just love the design and the feel of this watch! A bit of Soviet history on your wrist!

[iangrimshaw]

My gods, finally found someone who has a watch like mine! I got mine when I was in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall (don't ask). Mine doesn't work after many reliable years. Any ideas where I could get it looked at? Quite willing to pay as it has great sentimental value.

[reppfarms]

I have one just like it- I bought it outside the Brandenburg gate from a Russian soldier in 1990

[SucculentDoorbell]

Br0, the way they did that crown is ZE WAY

[salsa]

Without a screw down crown, I would hardly wash my hands with her! Lord knows these old russian girls can be sensitive.