Raketa Owner Review : Popular, reliable and robust

This Soviet watch appeared in the Raketa catalog in the mid-1970s and was nicknamed Jeans because of the resemblance of the texture of the dial in its blue color to these pants that were impossible to find in the USSR and therefore extremely desirable. But it also existed in brown and white. The watch is decorated with a Soviet quality mark that was affixed to each object whose qualities for the consumer exceeded anything available in the West (in any case, Soviet citizens were not allowed to make the comparison themselves and were very grateful that this quality mark was affixed). The 2609 NA mechanism did not particularly shine with the incomparable quality of its finish but its robustness and reliability were never questioned. If it says "shockproof" on the back, it is in fact "indestructible" that people read given the reputation of this movement. This watch is quite emblematic of what the Petrodvorets factory could produce in the 1970s, which stood out from other Soviet factories. Wearing it almost 50 years later on a contemporary leather strap is very pleasant. The ticking sound on 18,000 A/h is slow compared to today's calibers and less stressful. It is light and discreet (35mm in diameter) and recalls the great era of the Petrodvorets watch factory. The brown color is perfect for summer and tanned skin.