Hello, got a couple of questions about this Raketa

[Manoloco]

Hello, i have been watching the forums for some time, stumbled upon WUS while looking for info about some Seikos years ago, and then while looking for a good looking dress watch i got this off Ebay:









Pictures definitely dont do it justice, i really like it and the way it ticks is very nice.

Is it possible by looking at the pics to know if the watch is genuine?
Is there anything affordable in todays watches that looks as close as possible to it with newer materials, like modern steel alloys, sapphire glass, waterproof, etc.?, Mechanical would be preferred, auto or handwind.


Thanks for the info you have here, its been very helpful in the few purchases i have made.

[schnurrp]

From what you've shown it certainly is authentic-looking. It would be helpful to post pictures of the back and the movement to make a better determination. It could, possibly, have a non-authentic movement. I think you would be hard-pressed to find a modern mechanical watch with this look and feel. There's no reason you couldn't wear this one if it has one of the usual tough and accurate Raketa movements. Just take it off when you shower, etc.

[phd]

I agree with [schnurrp]. Case, dial and hands are correct; movement is almost certainly a 2609NA ("HA" in cyrillic script). Raketas are very good and reliable watches but, as [schnurrp] pointed out, waterproofing is not their strong point!

It's an export model ("Raketa" instead of the cyrillic equivalent "Paketa"; and "made in USSR" in English at the bottom of the dial), and Soviet Union as opposed to newer.

Cheers,
Paul

[Manoloco]

Thanks for the replies guys, i bought the watch after reading some of your posts phd, they have been most helpful, this helped me check a couple of things from the vendors pictures (which i post below) like the 2609.HA movement you mention, materials etc. before buying; pics from watches from other forumites have helped a lot too.

Here are the vendors pics, the watch matches the pics, but i havent opened the case to see the movement... :
























The watch seems to keep time fair enough , but falling a bit behind when low in reserve (is that usual?), after 12 hours it didnt lose even a minute, but when low on reserve lost like 3, need to check that as i havent followed it much.Is there any quality difference between the export models and the ones for the SU?

About no watch made today like it: Seems then i will have to get a couple more, but with this dial (which i really like), paid $30+$14 shipping with tracking to Peru, is that an ok price or should i be looking for lower?

Now waiting for a couple of leather bands to arrive for it.

thanks again!

[Seele]

I have an identical one, so nothing to worry about.

[phd]

Hi Manoloco,

The movement looks fine, and hasn't been obviously messed about with (no gouges around or on the screw heads). As for timekeeping, let the watch settle in for a few days and see how it behaves. It might need servicing, but on the other hand Raketas can go for years and years without a service. If you do want to try regulating it, it's not too difficult and people here can give you advice. You can probably do better than 3min per day, although you'll never get the split-second accuracy of a quartz.

As for export versus domestic - as far as I know, there's no difference in the quality of the movement, or its regulation. In fact, since the movement isn't marked differently for export/domestic, I doubt that the people building the movements knew whether they were going in export or domestic watches.

As for price, $30 seems reasonable for most Raketas in good condition. Some of the more unusual models can go for a lot more, but there are plenty to choose from. Just beware of some of the more "gimmicky" models if they look too new - things like garish soviet symbols and characters. Also, most of the brand-new 24hr "Raketas" are fakes of one sort or another (modified 12hr movements).

Welcome to the club!

Paul

[Gravit]

Beautiful watch Manoloco, welcome to our little club.

[Manoloco]

Thanks guys for the welcome!, i am finding myself looking at different models of vintage Russian watches, its good fun, i really like clean designs simple shaped hands without date with a clean symmetrical dial, with very thin borders and a lot of glass, kinda Bauhaus looking but with little vintage details like a semi-domed crystal (kind of a misnomer since its acrylic) or the texture on the dial of my watch, i think those characteristics are great for a dress watch.

phd, thanks for the information and heads up on those topics, specially on the 24 hr "Faketas" or maybe "Franketas"

[schnurrp]

It's hard to find fault with your beautiful Raketa, Manoloco, but wait until you discover the really hard core dress watches designed around the jewel-like, gold-finished, Poljot 2209. Vimpels, Luchs, and Deluxes, impossibly thin with extremely low-profile crystals. You'll find them before long if you keep looking!

[Manoloco]

:D shnurrp, those look very nice, i actually looked at a Sekonda that looked a lot like a Poljot using that movement but held off buying it because the Sekonda was Quartz, there are a few mechanicals but havent seen one in a condition i would like to have.


The Raketa seems to run 2 minutes behind now (1 min more accurate), problem is while checking, i noticed it sometimes stops when upside down (it seems to happen only when fully wound), does it mean it needs servicing, or would it be better if i keep it running to see what happens?. I was very careful when winding it, when i noticed resistance i stopped turning the crown.