Question about vintage Raketa watches

[TimeWanderer]

I purchased an old Raketa watch online (haven't received it yet). I asked the dealer is it water resistant enough to survive in the rain. He said that it is very likely that it would stop working if it was exposed to even a little rain. Although I have no reason to doubt the seller as he seems honest, is this typical of most old Raketas? I had heard these watch were made for the Soviet army and would have assumed that were atleast been a little more durable.

When I do a search of waterproof soviet watches on e-bay only Komaradskie watches pop-up.

Will post pics of watch once I receive it.

[schnurrp]

Unfortunately even the most mundane soviet timepieces get the "military" description as a selling point by unscrupulous sellers. You get used to it over time and just ignore it. Poljot and Vostok had a few models that were issued to military personnel and Vostok made komandirskies available in special stores for purchase by soldiers but that's about it.

I don't know of any Raketas that can be rightly considered "military" and only the very rare Raketa diver with a screw-down crown started its life as water proof that I know of. The Vostok komankirskies and amphibia are the most common Russian watches considered waterproof to some degree although Poljot and Slava also had "divers" which are very hard to find.

[phd]

Raketas (apart from the divers which [schnurrp] mentioned) are definitely not waterproof - the best you can say is that they have plenty of ways to let the water out. Waterproofing aside, though, they are pretty bomb-proof and have a reputation for lasting forever.

However, I wouldn't have any concerns about wearing one in the rain. Just don't wear it in the shower or whilst swimming.

Cheers,
Paul