Made to order by the USSR Ministry of Defense: a rare watch is put up for sale in Ukraine

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Things made in the USSR are becoming increasingly popular today and are in great demand among collectors. Wristwatches are among the most common items that are actively sold on specialized resources.

For example, the online classifieds site Violity has information about the sale of a commander's watch “Amphibia”, made specifically by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense. They are characterized by unpretentiousness in care, water resistance and precise movement.

The ad states that the watch was manufactured at the Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok” under order No. 346901. They are sold without a strap and have minor defects, which are visible in the photo. The price of such a watch is 5,700 hryvnias.

The commander's watch has a 24-hour dial. The case is made of stainless steel and is shockproof. The hands glow in the dark and are covered with phosphor.

Stainless steel crown. The “Amphibia” watch works flawlessly at depths of up to 200 meters in conditions of significant temperature and pressure changes. The watch is also dust and dirt-proof.

The author of the ad is located in the Kyiv region, but he is ready to send the watch by mail to any location.

Such a watch is very much appreciated among collectors and they are really willing to pay considerable sums for it.

What is known about the commander's watch of the USSR era?

The history of the brand began in 1965, when the USSR Ministry of Defense ordered a batch of quartz devices for the command staff. The Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok” was engaged in the development and production of such watches.

A quota was even set for the sale of the “Commander's” watch to the civilian population through a retail network, so not everyone could buy them.

In 1967, the first “Amphibia” watches were made specifically for the USSR Navy at the Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok”, which became a landmark item of that time. The “Amphibia” watch works flawlessly at depths of up to 200 meters in conditions of significant temperature and pressure drops. These models were supplied to the needs of the army and navy, they had a classic mechanism (17 jewels) with a shock-resistant balance.

In the 1970s, the production of special wristwatches designed for use underwater at depths of up to 300 meters, diving wristwatches, began.

In 1975, the “Amphibia” watch traveled to space on the first expedition to the Salyut-4 space station on the Soyuz-17 spacecraft.

Such a watch was valued almost as much as its weight in gold in the USSR and was the dream of almost every man.