Vostok N E W S

[ill-phill]

What is this?
A Vostok 2440 Movement with real GMT ?
If this is a real Vostok invention I cant wait to have one!

Phil

[cornflakes]

What is this?
A Vostok 2440 Movement with real GMT ?
If this is a real Vostok invention I cant wait to have one!

Phil

As I understand it, the 24hr hand is not independently adjustable but you set the 2nd time zone using the bezel.

[irina_maier]

Hello to everybody in the Forum

The 2440 Vostok movement is the latest modification developed in Chistopol for Vostok Europe watches as it has already been the case with 2432-2435 and 2426.
The 24hr hand is independently adjustable, so it is the first Vostok movement with real GMT function. The new Vostok Europe line "GAZ 14 - Limousine" with 2440 that was internal shown in Basel but not displayed, will be ready by Autumn. It will be another hit - it is typical VE watch but with a new design that is plain but not simple. I kept the watch sample in the hand and did not want to give it back to Igor Zubovskij (director) and Kostja Markin (designer) who proudly showed us the new Limousine.

Vostok Europe generates ideas and does not let Vostok sleep. We can count with some further development of Vostok movements in the near future thanks to Vostok Europe.

By the way, Red Square watches have arrived and they look great , especially those with steel bracelet (to my taste). The bracelet is so flexible and smooth, there is no trace of stiffness and it looks really good. We are impatiently waiting for the first feedbacks from our customers.

[zippofan]

What is this?
A Vostok 2440 Movement with real GMT ?
If this is a real Vostok invention I cant wait to have one!

Phil

I am with you Phil!!! B-)

Now where can I make room in my watch boxes... :-D

Cheers,
Griff

[Chascomm]

What is this?
A Vostok 2440 Movement with real GMT ?
If this is a real Vostok invention I cant wait to have one!

Phil

Just as Irena promised to us about a year ago

It's a beautifully balanced dial, too. Clearly differentiated from the N1 in both style and function.

I hope they keep the N1 in production. There's been debates on other forums regarding GMT function; while most prefer the Rolex Explorer-II style as seen in this new V-E watch, some people actually the Rolex GMT-Master arrangement as used in the N1. They are both equally valid ways of tracking 2 time zones.

[Chascomm]

For those who are not familiar with the GAZ-14 Chaika



And a bit of info from a back-issue of Pravda

First GAZ-14 "Chaika" "Born" 25 Years Ago

25 years ago, on October 14th 1977, the first GAZ-14 car of the representative class, also known as the "new Chaika", was assembled at the Gorky Automobile Plant.

The seven-seater was distinguished for its high technical level and comfort. An automatic shift gear, power steering and breaks, air-conditioner and efficient noise insulation were remarkable features of the car. No protruding sills and tall door aperture made a passenger feel comfortable.

GAZ-14 "Chaika" became a peculiar testing ground for introduction of new constructions, materials and technologies: it was the first car equipped with disk brakes, valve hydrotappets, ball-joint wheel suspension, headlight cleaners, electromagnetic interlocking system, etc. An 8-cylinder 220 hp V-engine, able to make up to 175 km per hour, was installed in the GAZ-14. Fuel consumption was equal to 16 litres per 100 km.

The majority of Chaikas were three-row sedans with no internal partition.

The GAZ-14 Chaika had been produced for 11 years. In 1988 at the peak of perestroika under the slogan of "fighting privileges" the production of the automobile was enforced to be ceased.

The Gorky Automobile Plant output a total of 1,114 GAZ-14 Chaika cars.

As a side note, the GAZ-14 was still included in the 1991 edition of Hallwag's Annual Automobile Review.

[michele]

The Chaika-GAZ 14 was one of the big Soviet limousines, smaller in comparison with the huge ZIL of the highest Soviet chiefs.

There were three steps - the GAZ M-21 and M-24 for local bureaucrats, GAZ-14 Chaika for the intermediate politicians, and ZIL (7000 cc) only for the highest representatives. I have described all the GAZ cars on my old Autosoviet website: http://www.autosoviet.altervista.org...usse6(gaz).htm

About the watch, it is a very, very interesting developement!
At last, a real GMT watch (with fourth hand that can be set indipendently; the fourth hand on the N1 Rocket was simply a 24H hand that can be used as GMT in combination with the rotating bezel) comes into production.
The design is strongly inspired to the board clock of the GAZ cars - i had a similar idea some time ago... B-)

That new VE is on my wishlist for sure!

[michele]

This is the board clock of a GAZ (Pobeda or Volga, i don't know). The very close design is evident.
It would be great in a bigger version and with a Molnija movement! B-)

[gagarin]

Well I have to hand it to them, that is one of the best looking watches I ever saw from whatever country:gold I never troubled to look much at Vostok Europe before because I found it strange with the models leaning on Soviet heritage made in Lithuania - a country who never wanted to be in the empire at all. But on the other hand I don´t think Russia wanted in either

There I go again thinking about things which has little to do with the watches themselves.

But its spectacular.

Regards
Erik

[irina_maier]

Exclusive for Watchuseek forum!!!


Refers to the part of Erik´s (gagarin) posting
…..I never troubled to look much at Vostok Europe before because I found it strange with the models leaning on Soviet heritage made in Lithuania - a country who never wanted to be in the empire at all. But on the other hand I don´t think Russia wanted in either…..

Erik, I find it great that you have written what you think and I hope very much that you will change your opinion a bit.

Here is some background info (quite for sure on agreement with Koliz-Vostok) about the company: most people who work at Koliz Vostok used to work for the Soviet Military-Industrial complex (Radio-Electronics) in the Soviet times. Some were occupied with scientific research and development of radar systems and “black boxes”, the other ones worked in the production of components for the above mentioned. After the collapse of the Socialist system the watch-fans enthusiasts founded Koliz-Vostok company and implemented their general and technical knowledge in watch-making. So, there has always been a direct connection to the Soviet Technic.
We visited Koliz Vostok two years ago, a month after their first collection was shown in Basel and saw everything with our own eyes – huge grey building of the former Research Institute for Radio-Electronics (typical Soviet style), part of which was empty, part still with the left machinery and gadgets, part occupied by Koliz-Vostok. It was a very strange feeling – you could watch history being written. It was double-sided – on the one hand one could still see the ruins of his own past, on the other hand you were at the beginning of something new, very positive with a lot of hope.
By the way, Koliz Vostok had never been able to make Vostok Europe watches as they are if it were only a matter of profit. There is so much enthusiasm, involvement and great team spirit behind – a big part of all that is still from the old Soviet times.


My personal remark now, has no relation to Koliz Vostok – as I was born in Estonia, one of the three Baltic states, I know very well what the situation there after the collapse was like: at first everything that was related to the USSR was rejected, later people realized that not everything used to be really so bad, as often stated nowadays.
So let´s hope that the best traditions and achievements of those time will not buried in the past.