No, this watch is not really called “Aviator Mamba”. That is the name I gave it after taking this picture. This watch’s real name is a much more mundane “Aviator 2623/1225556-45” which is really too bad considering how beautiful this watch really is. In particular, the soft but clear contrast of the green markings and the white dial is both extremely clear and very pleasant. The super-luminova on this watch might well be the largest and brightest I have ever seen on any watch. The overall “readability” of the dial is outstanding in both day and night (the watch’s 45mm size definitely helps here).
The mechanism inside this watch is the highly dependable Poljot 2623 (Antishock. Frequency: 21600 vph. Daily rate from -20 to +40 s/day. Power reserve minimum: 40 h). One special feature of this model is the small magnifying glass which makes the date easily readable. The overall “feel” of this watch is one of strength, power and elegance, hence my choice of a Green Mamba as its model (I could never have taken a close-up picture of this extremely dangerous snake without the help of my friend Carl Barden, Director of the Medtoxin Venom Laboratories and the absolutely amazing Reptile Discovery Center in Deland, FL. Thanks Carl!). This “Aviator Mamba” is both so functional and elegant that it can be worn on any occasion and I have made it my everyday carry (EDC) watch. |
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This is a limited edition watch, very rare nowadays, which was included in the “Prestige” series of Vostok watches. The movement inside is a Vostok 2424, which is a 24mm caliber with a 19800 frequency and an antishock balance. Event though this watch does not have a screw-down crown like the other 24 hour Vostoks, it is still advertised as water resistant.
The dial itself is not the most readable dial ever as only the 12, 18 and 24 hours are indicated with numerals (the 6 o’clock numeral is replaced by a date indicator). If you are used to 24 hour watches, this is definitely not a problem, but if you are not that might be a real issue. The watch is very well made, better than most other Vostoks, I would say. It has a sturdy unidirectional rotating bezel to mark off time, and case’s plating looks very well done. I got this watch from Victor, aka ‘Zenitar’ who sells Russian watches through his store on Ebay and who is one of the most reputable sellers out there. All in all, I like this watch very much. It is very original, unassuming yet elegant, and it seems to be very well manufactored. It is really too bad that Vostok has stopped producing 24 hour watches. |
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This is arguably the best 24 hour Raketa watch ever produced. Specially made for the Detente Watches (the biggest distributor of Russian watches in North America and the Caribbean), this model is based on the famous “Pilot 1” Raketa watch which features a dial inspired by the cockpit watches of Soviet military aircraft in the 1936-1948 period: it is elegant, with a definite “military” feel to it, and highly readable. This is without any doubt the best (clearest) dial ever made by Raketa. Pilots, in particular, will love it. The watch also features a special made case plated with a stricking and highly resistant titanium nitrade (TiN) coating. The bracelet which is shipped with this watch also has a TiN plating, although Russia2all (the only place where you can purchase this watch) also offers a black leather strap as an alternative. The back of the watch is laser engraved with “Special for Détente Watches” and and worldwide limited series count xxx/100. The manual wind (hackable) mechanism inside this model is the famous Raketa 2623-NA whose history was described by the Executive Director of Raketa in his recent interview for Russian 24 Hours (see the interview section of this website). Even though only 100 such watches were ever made by Raketa this might well be the “ultimate Raketa”. |
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This Buran Chronograph is the Rolls-Royce of 24 hour watches and it has plenty of unique features. It is the only Russian 24 hour chronograph, it is the only Russian 24 watch with a transparent “display” back, it is the only Russian 24 hour watch with 25 ruby jewels and a Poljot 31681 mechanism which is a complication of the famous 3133 Poljot mechanism, a Russian variation of the Swiss Valjoux 7734. According to an entry in Wikipedia, a Poljot 3133-based watch set a space record for the longest space flight in history on the hand of cosmonaut V.V. Polyakov (– take this, Heuer, Omega, Breitling & Co.!). Predictably, it is also the most expensive Russian 24 watch, going as it does (I should write “did” – see below) for about 500-550 dollars. Pennies, really, at least if compared to “equivalent” (assuming there is such thing) Western chronographs. Finally, this watch is stunningly beautiful (make sure to click on the pictures to see them at a higher resolution!).
Alas, this watch has now become a collectible with no successors on the horizon. Volmax, the company which produces the Buran brand, has made Buran a Swiss company and the “Buran V.M.” logo is now a thing of the past. Hopefully, Volmax will eventually release another 24 hour chronograph based on the Poljot 3133 movement as both the Aviator and the Sturmanskie brands would greatly benefit from a 24 hour chronograph in their lineups. |
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