I review the Vostok Komandirskie, a Russian diver watch that is well-built and stylish. It has many unique features like rubber strap, an alarm clock function with snooze/stopwatch functions in addition to day/date indicators.
The "vostok amphibia review" is a watch that can be found on Amazon.com for $849.00. The watch has an automatic movement and a titanium case with a rubber strap.
One of the world's greatest deals in watches is Vostok Komandirskye. It is a reliable, well-liked, and highly valuable watch that is getting close to its 50th birthday. The Komandirskie is a pocket-friendly delight that's fun to possess and is available in more than 70 variations with manual or automated winding. It's also a serious workhorse and a superb timekeeper.
- Classic Vostok model made by the official supplier of the Defense...
- 200 m (20 Bar) Water Resistant
- Dimensions: approx. 1.6x1.9x0.6 inches (approx. 41x48x15 mm). Lug...
- Automatic VOSTOK 24 hours self-winding movement with 32 ruby...
- Luminous hands and dots. Assembled for sales in the US by Sputnik...
In This Article...
Background
In the opinion of more recent Russian watch collectors, Vostok Komandirskye (u043eu043cu0430u043du0434u0438u0440u0441u043au0438e = "Commander") is possibly the reserved younger brother of its football-star brother, the Vostok Amphibian (review).
The Komandirskie, however, has its own intriguing history and a sizable following among Russian watch enthusiasts despite maybe not being quite as flashy as the Amphibian.
It's possible to argue that the Komandirskie is the more well-known Vostok timepiece.
The Komandirskie is getting up to its 50th anniversary; it graced its first wrist in 1965.
Over over 50 years, there have been numerous developments, and vintage watches are very sought-after.
The original Komandirskie wristwatches had a thicker, more robust-looking casing, and it is believed that the Soviet military formerly utilized them prior to the Détente.
I have a pair of the originals, which were reportedly issued to the Red Army on a regular basis in the 1960s. The most valuable variations are those marked "3AKA3 MO CCCP," particularly those with the crown at the 2 or 4 o'clock position.
The watch was purchased by the USSR Ministry of Defense, as shown by the inscription 3AKA3. One must naturally hope that the sample you are contemplating is a genuine original and not a replica, just as with any antique collectable.
Collectors cherish the original 3AKA3 Komandirskie models, but many of them are beginning to show their age with lume that last shone brightly decades ago and paint that is slowly fading into oblivion.
The current iterations of the Komandirskie are the subject of this review; they are widely accessible and very valuable, but possibly in a different manner than the original. The reason people collect the more modern iterations is mostly because to their bright, wacky face designs and images, some of which have a more somber appearance than others and others of them celebrate important Russian or Soviet events.
Vostok Komandirskye
The case back of the current Komandirskie is quite attractive, including an etched (really stamped) replica of the Russian double-headed eagle. The casings of these watches look to be either chrome-plated brass or steel.
In my opinion, the Komandirskie's case back is more attractive than the case backs of many watches that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars more, at least those that I am acquainted with and that have the indestructibly cheap-looking laser etched printing. Any laser engraving on a wristwatch absolutely disgusts me; it shouts "Cheap!" to me.
Of course, the fact that one never knows what the next Russian watch will bring makes collecting Russian watches an intriguing hobby. The standard and to be anticipated are variations in case styles, hands, layouts, styling, and even replacement elements in the movement.
Therefore, everything I say about the Komandirskie may or may not apply to the exact watch that you buy. Although as Vostok slowly but definitely moves into the twenty-first century, this "quirk" is certainly less and less accurate.
Whatever the case, there's no denying that there are presently a wide variety of Vostok Komandirskie watches accessible. If one were to focus just on Komandirskie, they might amass an impressive collection and have years of pleasure (but don't forget about Amphibian's older brother!).
The current Vostok 2414A movement is at least an upgrade, even if the ones with the 2 o'clock crown may not have the same robust construction as the originals. By the way, certain Komandirskies are meant to have the 2434 movement, such the white/gold variation shown in the first picture on the left at the top of the page. The Vostok 2434 movement is distinct because it is designed to hack.
I purposely bought that watch to check how it worked; however, this one does not hack. Therefore, either the 2434 doesn't operate as it should, or this one has the 2414A movement (likely). Another enigma surrounding Russian watch collecting...
The three separate Komandirskie models displayed in the expanded picture set in this review may have a few slight case variances; they are most obvious around the lugs, the metal guards on each side of the crown, and the bezels. Of course, there are also the striking differences in facial designs.
The 2414A mechanical, manual-wind Vostok movement powers each of the Komandirskies seen here, which are the most basic examples of the contemporary style. It's true, this "in-house" movement, which also happens to include a screw-down crown, costs less than $50. To be precise, $45.00, which includes free worldwide delivery from Russia! That is an official webWatchWorld deal, my friends!
Additional Komandirsky Versions
Just to be clear, the Komandirskie name is now being used on watches that are so unlike from the originals that it is only possible to conclude that someone is abusing the brand.
I believe it's not really intended as criticism; it's simply a fact of the contemporary market that only the well-heeled and not really the general public are aware of Russian watches.
You will, at most, receive a shrug of the shoulders and, at worst, a filthy look if you ask the average person on the street what a Vostok Komandirskie is. Any watch collector, regardless of expertise level, will give you a distinctive response and most likely a huge grin. Which brings up still another point: the Komandirskie is a fantastic place for any collector to start whether they have an interest in either Russian timepieces or mechanical or manual-wind wristwatches.
You really can't go wrong for that $45.00, and the Komandirskie is an excellent introduction to this fascinating and interesting country. Also remember that the Komandirskie makes a fantastic watch for young collectors!
Vostok manufactures an automatic Komandirskie that employs the same Vostok 2416B automated movement as the Amphibian in addition to the straightforward manual-wind Komandirskies seen below. Unlike the Amphibian, which is waterproof to 200 meters, the manual and automated Komandirskie is only waterproof to 30 meters.
In fact, at first appearance, it might be hard to distinguish between the automated Komandirskie and the round-case Amphibian. The automated Komandirskie even has a Paratrooper variant that, at least in terms of face design, resembles some of the early Komandirskies (I'm talking to the 921307 variant). These cost around $60 each.
The "New Komandirskie," on the other hand, features an automated Vostok 2432 movement that is said to have 32 jewels and has an entirely new 40 mm case design.
However, there's still more! The New Komandirskie with the 40 mm casing should not be mistaken with the 42 mm, 100-meter water-resistant, and 31-jewel New Komandirskie. The price of that one is around $157.
The New Komandirskie also has a 24-hour hand, how about that? It costs around $160.00, features a titanium casing, with a Vostok 2426 movement. I'm sure there are more Komandirskies out there that I'm unaware of, but my evaluation is just focused on the entry-level, manual-wind model that costs around $50.
Dimensions of the Komandirsky Case
The three Komandirskies seen here are the white-and-gold variation with reference number 641753, which is thought to represent the 2434 movement. The 2414, model number 811398, is the blue military-inspired variation. The Komandirskie with the white face and cyan painted border is the 2414 model number 811718, which has a "vintage" appearance.
The white/gold variant has the compass-style bezel, while the other two have the 10-minute timer bezel, and each of them has a somewhat different case design.
Since none of them provide a solid gripping surface, the bezels on each of these are quite difficult to turn. Because the motion is so stiff and challenging to turn, I seldom bother and merely use them for decoration.
Although I'm not aware of anybody changing the bezel on a Komandirskie, which can be done quickly for the Vostok Amphibian (described in my post on the Vostok Amphibian's bezel replacement), I imagine a savvy owner could accomplish it.
The white/cyan variant of the Komandirskie in the images has a casing that is a full 40 mm wide (not including the crown), while the other two have cases that are 39 mm in diameter. The blue watch is 12.12 mm thick, whereas the white/gold Komandirskie is 10.31 mm thick.
Even though the casing of the white/cyan Komandirskie is just a little 1 mm wider than the other two, it wears larger than the other two. The bezel is definitely not as overbearing as it may be on some of the other Komandirskie designs, and the case just feels flatter (albeit at 12.1 mm it isn't) and more wearable.
This watch also seems to have a higher-quality finish than the others, with a chrome plating that appears thicker and to be more finely polished and having a deeper appearance.
Choices for Komandirskie Lug Width and Strap
All of these basic manual-wind Komandirskies have an 18 mm lug width, and depending on the type and strap selection, they may appear perfectly acceptable or somewhat out of proportion.
This is what 18 mm wide straps can achieve, however I don't like them since they can make a watch seem like a toy.
Additionally, because some of the Komandirskie face designs are almost clownish, most owners do not go for a deeper dive into the toy appearance.
These basic Komandirskies' included straps are among of the worst I've ever seen. Vostok should discard the strap to save shipping expenses and free up some room in the owner's local recycling facility.
Alternately, collaborate with a few reputable watch strap producers to provide at least a few possibilities. Or, and this is heresy, boost the price such that it pays for a nice strap for this watch.
The OE (Original Equipment) strap is usually thrown away and replaced with a better, more comfortable strap, frequently at a cost more than the watch itself. This practice is undoubtedly the same with Komandirskie watches.
The red-stitched silicone watch strap on the white/gold Komandirskie in the photographs is quite comfy, and I particularly enjoy silicone watch straps. The watch fits the wrist better and maintains a lower profile with that thin 18 mm strap when it can be adjusted to one hole tighter than usual for me without losing comfort.
You'll see that the strap on this watch was originally 20 mm wide, but I gave the edges a little trimming to make it as broad as the lugs. This is a time-honored method for giving a watch a little extra width and bringing it up to current requirements for strap width, and it works especially well on this Komandirskie.
Whatever the case, there are a variety of 18 mm strap alternatives available, including the distinctive tropical NATO strap shown on the blue Komandirskie in the images and video.
Movement and Accuracy in Komandirskie
All of my Russian watches are quite accurate straight out of the box, so I consider myself very fortunate. The Komandirskies seen here are no exception, with the white/gold model operating every 24 hours within a few seconds of "atomic" time and the blue military model.
Although the white/cyan version is now running a little too quickly—about 15 seconds each day—the Komandirskie (and the Amphibian) have the advantage of being simple to control. A diving watch case back tool, such as the Paylak Watch Case Opener Wrench, which costs less than $10.00 at the webWatchWorld Amazon.com Store along with many other watch repair tools, books, and other delights, may be used to quickly remove the case back on both the Komandirskie and Amphibian watches.
This is a necessary tool for any serious collector of Russian or other watches, and one of these days I'll get around to making a video and article on how to regulate a watch. The "Poor Man's" approach does a respectable job, but I'm hoping to additionally invest in a computerized timing instrument so I can obtain some true, fine-tuned precision at various watch settings.
The Vostok 2414A movement has 17 jewels and is 4.14 mm in height. It is said to offer shock protection, a 19,800 beats per hour beat frequency, and an accuracy rating of -20 to +60 seconds within 24 hours. I haven't timed my power reserves, which I completely wind when I turn one on and then every morning at much the same time. The minimum power reserve is reportedly 38 hours. On a Komandirskie, a full breeze typically lasts between 23 and 25 complete rotations.
Similar to the crown used on the Amphibian, the screw-down crown may be unscrewed and pulled out all the way to wind the watch or all the way in to set the hands. When the mainspring is not entirely wound, the "Poor Man's Hack" may also be used. For precise "atomic" time setting, applying moderate rearward pressure to the crown will halt the seconds hand.
The Komandirskie Lume
The Komandirskie has just enough lume to display some shine, but it rapidly fades, similar to the majority of Russian watches (I'm generalizing here, of course).
The photos above were taken at a 1 second shutter speed at f6.0 and the shadows were removed slightly in Photoshop, the same for each photo. I think it’s a pretty accurate representation of The Komandirskie Lume after a very powerful LED flashlight (see the Clearwater “Andie” LED flashlight review) was used for a few seconds.
While there is sufficient light to see, you shouldn't expect on it to last all night. However, you are not being shortchanged in this situation since a Russian watch can be purchased for 4-5 times as much and still provide essentially the same results!
Conclusion
Vostok Komandirskye can be just as much fun to collect and wear as its big brother, the Vostok Amphibian (review). Buying one is as easy as visiting Zenitar on eBay or Smirs.com. The hard part is choosing your favorite case style and design! And I can pretty much guarantee that just like the Amphibian or a potato chip, you won’t be able to stop at just one!
The "vostok komandirskie movement" is a Russian watch company that specializes in military watches. This company has been around since the early 1900s and has had many successful models.
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