Vostok - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

The VOSTOK Komandirskie 650539 GMT is an automatic watch with a strong military design, perfect for lovers of robust and functional watchmaking. Made in Russia, it perpetuates the legacy of Soviet watches with a raw style and reliable mechanics. It's a real Kalashnikov, it's basic but reliable. The red GMT hand allows you to follow a second time zone, which adds a touch of charm. Under the hood, we find the VOSTOK 2432 automatic movement, known for its reliability and simplicity. With a power reserve of 31 hours, it offers sufficient autonomy for daily use. Its supposed water resistance to 200 meters (I haven't tested it in an aquatic environment) reinforces its adventurous side, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Its slightly domed acrylic glass adds a retro charm, reminiscent of military watches from years gone by. In summary, the VOSTOK Komandirskie 650539 GMT is a watch with a strong character, perfect for those looking for an authentic and functional piece, with a rich history and a timeless design.

I received this Komandirskie K-65 as a Christmas gift, it is with this watch that I discovered the brand, and it is "already" my fourth self-winding watch. For me, it is a real favorite. If I had seen it on a display in a store, nothing could have stopped me from buying it. I am delighted that my brother chose this model, he is more of an Apple Watch person, but surely by a clever mix of good taste and the work of the saleswoman, here is my gift. I appreciate the octagonal-shaped case, rough cut with an axe with a brushed finish. The contrast brought by the shine of the bezel, the red second hand flying over its black dial, all topped with a domed mineral glass reinforce the presence of the object on the wrist. And the little extra for me, I love watches with a date, even more so when it is at 6 o'clock (12 o'clock on this dial, haha) because the symmetry is not disturbed. The bracelet is rather convincing, especially considering the price of the set. It is very comfortable and does not give the impression of being fragile or of low quality, as one might expect given the price of this watch. I find this truly remarkable, especially since with 20 mm between the lugs, we have a multitude of choices to dress the watch according to our desires. Finally, the major asset lies in the dial and its hour hand which makes the complete turn in 24 hours, with a disconcerting number of different indexes that must be integrated. Don't count on me to tell you the time in the dark yet, haha. As a conclusion, one word comes to mind spontaneously to describe it: disconcerting. The bidirectional bezel without a click (but which holds its position well, to be seen over time) and the crown, if my brother had not repeated to me what the saleswoman had said, would have seemed broken or faulty to me. You have to find the right position for manual winding, and the position to set the time has a distinctive click in one direction when you pull the crown, but not really when you return in the other direction. However, it seems to be a quasi-signature of the brand. In any case, it contrasts well with the robust appearance of the watch. You have to be careful with each manipulation, and I even find that it gives an intimate side to the manipulation of the crown once unscrewed. Everything becomes a call for vigilance and delicacy once in this vulnerable position. It is an intriguing aspect that, in a way, adds a special dimension to the experience of interacting with this watch. This Komandirskie K-65 turned out to be much more than a simple Christmas gift. It is a watch jewel that captured my admiration from the first glance. The combination of its unique design (for me, being a beginner I do not know if other 24H models exist elsewhere), the quality of its manufacture and its distinctive features make it an exceptional piece in my eyes. My brother made a wise choice, and I am delighted to own this watch.

This is one of the first models of Komandirskie, po Zakaz MO SSSR. This small watch (35mm diameter) from the late 60s early 70s has a design that I like a lot. It is a production of the Chistopol factory on order of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. It is therefore a watch that was used and distributed in the army. Afterwards, it was not necessarily soldiers who wore them because many were sold in stores reserved for the military, the stocks left very quickly, in just a few hours and served as a currency to have other products or services, so that indirectly everyone could get it. Moreover, the following generations of this watch will be called ministry, because that is what was required to be offered to the officials of the ministry when we met them. This watch has a 2234 movement with the date (in red) and the stop-second function that allows you to set the time to the nearest second, it has a 38-hour power reserve. It has a luminescent coating (radium) on the indexes and hands. I can't say that I wear it often but I like it a lot. The gray star as a sign of mourning and the inscription Chistopol remind us that this city is known for its watch factory but also for its prison where many political opponents, especially Ukrainians, have been and that Anatoly Marchenko, the first winner of the Sakharov Prize, the European prize for freedom of thought, died there in a last fight against the Soviet dictatorship. The publication of "My testimony", an autobiographical work in 1966 and his incarceration after the repression of the Prague Spring in 1968 are contemporary with this watch. His death occurred in Chistopol in 1986 and his posthumous victory in 1987 when the first secretary of the party granted his request for the release of political prisoners. He received the Sakharov Prize in 1988. As if freedom of spirit is stronger than the totalitarian oppressive machine, torture or death.