Horological Meandering

asiaassoc
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Sorry Graham, You're Wrong...

Graham --

Your characterization of Russian movements as poorly finished copies of Swiss calibers is both unfair and inaccurate.

Firstly, while the Soviet’s did indeed import technology periodically from French, Swiss and German sources. It almost invariably did so honestly, by licensing or the purchase of production equipment, and the calibers were quickly modified to meet Soviet needs and ideals.

Secondly, and more importantly, by the late 1950s, the Soviets were producing millions of pieces, in more than a dozen factories, representing dozens of indigenously designed clock and watch movements.

By the early 1960s, Soviet movements were world-class in every sense, including some very ingenious home-designed automatic movements and one of the thinnest calibers ever produced (1.85mm). They were often, in their market range, equal or superior in performance, accuracy and finishing to their counterparts produced in the West. And, in keeping with the Soviet ideal of a robust timepiece that would run well with little or no servicing, these pieces often continue to run accurately without having been serviced for decades, even today.

The Poljot deck watch is a good example. Yes, the very first models produced in the Soviet Union (in late 1951) closely resembled the UN model from which it was derived. However, within a few months time, modifications were introduced that made the movement uniquely Soviet in design. Moreover, this movement was continually refined and redesigned over a period of more than 30 years. There are at least 4 significantly different variants (which can be viewed in my collection; I have 7 pieces in total).

The Jaeger Chronoflight aircraft chronometer is another example. First produced in the Soviet Union under license in the late 1930s, Soviet horologists eventually expanded this caliber into a family of more than a dozen different specialized movements for air and naval applications. These are now prized by collectors all over the world (I have about a dozen in the collection).

I could go on and on in great detail about both indigenously designed calibers and Western-derived calibers. Like any huge industry, the story is complex. But, I think we would bore our viewers, so I will stop here. May I suggest you come by the house one evening for a coffee or glass of wine so we can continue the discussion… With lots of visual aids.

I do agree that a good reference work for Soviet watches is sorely needed. So, I am now working on a 300+ page book that will contain, in addition to the history of Soviet horology, a comprehensive collector’s guide. I hope to include all (or most) of the movements produced in the Soviet Union from 1917 until the fall of the Soviet state in 1992. Hopefully it will be out sometime next year.

As for FleaBay. The sellers to which you refer, often from the Ukraine, offer both goods and information that are, at best, highly dubious. Avoid them at all costs.

-- Mark This message has been edited by asiaassoc on 2009-04-22 07:54:52