“Komandirskie” watches begun their history since 1965, won strong recognition thanks to the accuracy, a high safety margin and resistance to adverse effects of the environment.
The Chistopol watch factory “Vostok” creates new collections following new trends of the present and keeping at the same time identity of the brand “Vostok”
“Komandirskie” watch is an emblem of the Soviet watch industry. Having saved an eligibility we represent you a new collection of the mechanical “Komandirskie” watch with the autosubplant, different additional functions of mechanisms in the steel waterproof casing, modern belts and bracelets.
Often owners of watches with polished case think of making it opaque. The opaque invoice (sateen) — masks the small scratches appearing by using of watches. Repeated hot-pressing (matting) can be made any number of times, again and again giving things a type of new.
In the same way you can make bracelet sateen, that is even more urgent. You need a sponge for ware cleaning, but not simple cheap, they are on sale by the piece without cellophane.
It’s bilateral, rigid side is much more tough than at cheap sponges and something brilliant can be noticeable in it’s impregnations. Such sponge leaves the smallest scratches even on the tempered metal.
All you need to do is to cover all surface with such “scratches”.
There is an important nuance — the movements should be done on the verified trajectory (from top to down, from left to right, by roundabouts). Since if to rub chaotically, scratches will lay down not in one direction but anyhow and sateen will turn out ugly. If by a firm hand patiently slowly make the correct movements sateen will be faultless as factory.
It is necessary to specify separately skeleton watches where operation of the mechanism is visible and it is possible to watch work of all details. Very low and too high temperatures are absolutely contraindicated to this watches. The matter is that oiling of this mechanism at a low temperature becomes dense and at high dries intensively. It is desirable to preserve skeleton watches against direct hit of bright sunshine.
It is absolutely undesirable to drop the mechanical clock. Their falling even from insignificant height can lead to a spring damage. Such breakage will be possible to be eliminated only in the service center. Nevertheless, theoretically, watch’s falling from height 20 cm without serious consequences is possible.
There are certain rules of leaving and operation concerning directly mechanical watches which observance guarantees long and excellent work:
First of all, it is necessary to exclude mechanical damages of complicate and expensive products. They shouldn’t get under the ultraviolet rays, dust and other harmful substances making aggressive negative impact. Extra care needs to be observed in the address with watch of the Swiss firms having a large number of additional functions. For reliable storage are provided the special caskets allowing to maintain the working condition of hours. The matter is that the most complicated mechanisms in case of their stop can be started only by means of the skilled professional in this area.
Timely oiling of clockworks is of great importance. Watches which stand and doesn’t work need to be greased. In separate designs of the mechanical watches in case of their idle time oiling can become too dense. It can lead to a considerable overload of thin details at start and resumption of work of the mechanism. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to allow stops of watches on a considerable period. For this purpose there are special modules in caskets for storage which are carrying out the automatic subplant.
Not all mechanical models like water. If watches have no bathing function, they shouldn’t be wetted at all. It concerns also branded leather straps which strongly suffer from effect of moisture. Therefore to fans of bathing with watches are recommended the models steady even for salty water, with more practical rubber straps.
Indispensable condition of reliable and steady operation of the mechanical watches is their regular check, cleaning and oiling. At the same time adjustment of accuracy of the course is also carried out. As a rule, these operations are performed with frequency once in three or four years in the specialized service centers.
It is strongly recommended to remove mechanical watches from a hand before the rewinding. Thus it is possible to avoid the uneven pressure upon a crown of the plant and its exit out of operation. Especially as this detail belongs to the most vulnerable elements of watches. Rewinding should be carried out daily, at the same time, by rotation of a clockwork crown to the right side against the stop. Rewinding with the autosubplant is made once a week on condition of constant daily carrying.
Use of the mechanical watches by extreme sports and in operating time by tools isn’t recommended. At this time there is a strong return on watches significantly reducing the accuracy of the course and service life. At strong loadings can’t sustain even the steadiest shock-proof mechanism and steady functionality.
Despite of a huge number of equipment and devices with the built-in electronic time indexes, the mechanical watches continue to play an important role in everyday life of people. Except the direct appointment, they emphasize the social status of the person in society. Unlike products of last years, the majority of modern watches represent expensive, difficult and thin mechanism demanding careful attitude, special storage and operation conditions.
First of all, it is necessary to follow the rules of a saving and caring obligatory for all types of watches, irrespective of their design:
-Storage of watch shall be performed separately from other objects of private use, desirable in the same packaging in which they were sold.
-It’s recommended to remove watch for the night as they can be damaged because of the uncontrollable actions made in a dream.
-Handling of the waterproof watch is made by means of soap solution then they are wiped dry.
-If the crack was formed on glass or it has completely broken, you need to make an obligatory replacement. It is connected with a real possibility of motes hit in the clockwork, what finally will break his exact course.
-Before adoption of various water procedures, watches are recommended to be removed. Especially it concerns visits to a bath or shower, as strong heat and high humidity can lead to serious damages of watch.
-Athletes aren’t recommended to use leather hour bracelets which quickly spoil under the influence of sweat. Metal or rubber bracelets will be the most optimal variants.
Among all variety of watches, mechanical designs are considered the strongest. Nevertheless, they demand the accurate using and observance of certain rules in use too. Conditions of their storage also have significant effect on service life of the mechanical watch. First of all, the mechanism has to work constantly, otherwise there will be a stagnation and additional adjustment will be required. Especially, it concerns watches with automatic subplant. For their storage are used special caskets where is provided continuous rotation and respectively the constant plant of watches.
There are many watches coverings which have different colors, basises and ways of drawing. Before recent time (the beginning of the 80th years) the most widespread way of a covering drawing was a galvanic – processing of a surface by an electrolysis method. It is possible to change thickness, character and the sequence of the put layers (for example gold, nickel, silver, copper etc.) by using this method.
At this moment the next two ways of drawing coverings by the PVD method (Physical Vapor Deposition) are standard in the watch industry:
Plasma
Ionic – IGP (Ion Gold Plated)
The covering by PVD method has high degree of firmness and durability – five times stronger, than traditional coverings (hardness: 1150 – 1250 by Vikkers)
The substrate from supersolid nitride of titan is applied on case/bracelet material in vacuum and a thin film of gold above. Process is carried out in vacuum by means of several various methods of physical and chemical activation. These processes allow to receive very thin (from 1 to 3 microns, sometimes to 5 microns) coat layers without any impurity.
Gold coverings can decorate your watch, but keep in mind that in 2-3 years they most likely will be rubbed off. Durability of firmness of a covering depends on such parameters as its thickness and contents of its structure.
Black color coverings are very popular in recent years, they are received by application of a titan carbide instead of the titan nitride which gives a yellow shade. But at considerable contact they are also capable to be jammed/scratched despite quite high hardness.
Steel color coverings are much stronger. There also are ceramic coverings. And if you accept their dark color and the price of watch then you can buy it without thinking. Only don’t confuse them with similar varnish coverings of the Chinese producers. Best of all are watches without covering – steel, titanic or ceramic. Or with small sites of gilding in poorly rubbing places of the case and bracelet.
As the case, his form and decorative elements can be good reference points by determining an origin and age of watches, dials and hands can give to the collector valuable information about these watches. The first mechanical clock had only one hour hand and rough German or Italian dial, i.e. with a 12- or 24-hour scale. Renaissance one-arrow watches usually had Roman figures. At the floor watch with the square brass dial we often can see the scale engraved in the brass ring attached to not round dial plate. Visible parts of a dial plate around a ring were decorated with the engraved ornaments or cast brass relief applications located first of all in dial corners. Such type of the dial practically prevailed till 18th century when he has gradually been forced out by the enamel dial.
Varnished iron dials became popular approximately in 1780. We often find them at cheap completely iron wall clock with drawings of birds, with figured bible motives, etc. The drawn dials had also some floor wall watch. The sizes of dials gradually increased. About 1725 the board in the form of a round segment which gradually increased to a semicircle was added to a square dial plate. Besides ornamental elements, watchmakers put in a board various scales for strike mechanism inclusion and switching off, for the choice of playing mechanism composition, calendar and various astronomical dials or figured elements of the automatic mechanism.
You can find the round dial attached to the main dial plate at some Renaissance watches, but English lantern watches have it almost always. On these dials under the Roman figures there is an engraved narrow scale divided into 48 parts which separates an interval of every hour for 4 identical parts. At the Roman scales they applied, as a rule, for the fourth hour a symbol IIII, but not IV. Apparently, because IIII looks more esthetically.
The increased accuracy of time measurement has come to a chronometry with the pendulum clock and with it also the minute hand on the dial has appeared. Special minute scale located on an external circle of a former hour scale was also produced for this hand. Firstly only Arab figures served for designation of five-minute intervals on this scale, which were at small dials for reasons of space economy directly parts of a scale, and at the big clock they were graven or drew over an hour scale. Watches of the second half of 18th century had sometimes so big minute figures that they almost didn’t differ from hour figures. At colored dials and at hours of provincial masters minute scales sometimes became simpler to 60 points applied directly on an hour hand.
Chistopol Watch Factory in Russia produces watchworks. These watchworks are also used at other watch factories: Vostok-Europe, Volmax, Moscow Classic and Pilot.
Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok” is situated in Chistopol, Russia. It is a town-forming enterprise.
Today the factory changed its business line pulse counters, electricity, gas, water meters and other devices for different economic sectors. The history of the factory begins in 1941. In November Chistopol saw the first freighters with equipment and 500 workers evacuated from Moscow Second Watch Factory. In spring 1942 CWF started mass production of timepieces for military purposes, and by July 1 the factory was running at full capacity. The company was founded as production facility working for the army. But since February 1943 by order of the People’s Commissariat for Mortar Weapons the factory began to produce peaceful products. For example, the first watch for men “Kirovskie”.
After the war the factory started production of mechanical watches which became its main products. In 1949 the factory started serial production of men’s watches K-26 “Pobeda”, wall marine clocks with a luminous dial, clocks for the cars “ZiM”, “Volga”, “Pobeda”, wall and street industrial clocks. In July 1950 the factory started to erect its own production buildings.
In 1952 the factory began production of “Kama” watches with shockproof device and leakproof body. At the same time the factory manufactured timepieces for various industries.
In 1952 at the international exhibition in Milan Chistopol watch gained wide recognition and popularity.
In 1957 there was a new production line started: K-28, “Vostok”, “Mir”, “Volna”, “Saturn” and “Kosmos” watches with side and central second hands, lens and shockproof device.
In 1962, at Leipzig International Exhibition “Vostok” watch was awarded a large gold medal.
Since 1965 CWP became the official watch supplier for the Ministry of Defence. That time saw the first famous “Komandirskie” watch characterized by high durability and waterproof body. In 1967 experience gained in the development of this watch allowed to release “Amphibia” watches having increased water resistance up to 200 meters.
Since 1969 all watches produced by the factory had the same brand name “Vostok” and the company was named Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok”.
Success at the professional watch market determined the development plan for the coming years. Mechanical watches accurate at any temperature, in any environment, under any pressure.
In 1972 the factory started producing men’s watches of the new 24 caliber with a numerical calendar, double calendar, automatic winding. The watches are exported to 54 countries around the world.
In 1976 cosmonaut Georgy Grechko visited the factory and thanked the watchmakers for high quality products and presented them “Vostok” watch which travelled to space.
In the 1990s CWF continued watch production by expanding the range of products. Large lots are exported to Italy, USA, Switzerland. “Desert Shield” Vostok watch became the most popular one in the USA.
In 2000 the factory started production of mechanical alarm clock with seven-day winding. It is the only one of the kind in Russia and the whole world.
In 2001 CWF was awarded “Russian National Olympus” in the category “Technology: Science”.
In the early 2000s the factory developed new watchworks for wristwatches. They were provide with the day and night indicator as well as a lunar calendar.
This factory is one of the two Russian watch factories (together with Petrodvorets Watch Factory “Rocket”) having a full production cycle.
The factory is also one of the largest ones in Russia producing a large range of pressure gauges, tachometers, tachographs, pulse counters, electricity, gas, water meters and other devices for various economic sectors.
In September 2010 the factory was declared bankrupt, but production is still on in several subsidiaries.
If you want to enjoy your watch, you should follow these simple rules:
Like every mechanism mechanical watches require regular survey, cleaning, lubricating and adjusting watchwork accuracy. It is desirable to do it every three or four years in an official service center specified in the list attached to the watch certificate. This is an important condition, because even the tiniest speck of dust that gets into the watch may influence its accuracy due to increased friction. Don’t wind up your watch while wearing it. Doing this you eliminate uneven pressure on the crown, which is one of the most vulnerable watch components. Watches with manual winding must be wound at the same time by turning the crown clockwise until it stops. If you wear a watch with automatic winding every day, wind it once a week (20-30 rotations of the crown clockwise). It is preferable not to go in for extreme sports or use pneumatic tools wearing mechanical watch. The recoil strength affects the operating life and accuracy of the watch. No matter how perfect a shock-proof mechanism is, there is always a chance of excessive load that the details can’t sustain.
Quartz watches don’t require the same thorough care, but they also need to be surveyed, cleaned and lubricated every four or five years in official service centers specified in the list attached to the watch certificate. In order to replace the batteries in the quartz watch, contact an authorized dealer before the battery expires. Empty batteries can leak and begin to corrode and ruin the watch. Do not try to change the battery yourself. If your watch is water-resistant, after replacing the battery, the watch should undergo a water-resistance test, and you must be sure that moisture won’t get inside.
In order not to spoil the calendar, it is better not to change the date between 10 pm and 2 am. At this time all the gears are moving to change the date automatically. It is better to take away an hour hand to the lower section of the dial (for example, to six).
You shouldn’t keep your watch in the same box with jewelry, especially with precious stones, or in places where they will be subjected to minimal friction. The best option may be an original box. Such boxes are upholstered with special soft material and are made exactly for your watch.
Replace broken or cracked glass immediately as even a smallest crack allows dust particles to get into the watch, and it will affect its accuracy. Do not keep your watch in a cold place. Otherwise lubricants can get thick, the gears stop, axel journals may be damaged. Do not leave your watch on stone tables, for example, from marble, as temperature changes which are typical for marble can cause damage of some parts, especially springs and spirals of an old watch which were made of stainless steel. It is recommended to take off your watch before going to bed. In bed you can make uncontrolled movements which may damage the watch. Besides, in bed our body produces sweat, it accumulates on the watch and can damage the body and gaskets which provide tightness. If your watch is water-resistant, you can wipe it with a weak solution of mild soap or detergent from time to time, and then wipe it dry. If your watch has a leather wristlet, then you should wipe only the watch body. If your watch is not water-resistant or you are not sure about this, wipe it with a slightly wet cloth, then wipe dry. If you regularly do physical exercises and lead an active way of life, you should choose the watch with a metal wristlet, instead of natural leather. Sweat being produced during sports activities will gradually destroy the natural leather wristlet.
Do not wear your watch in saunas and hot shower. Excessive heat and moisture can damage the body and gaskets.
Salt water does harm to most watches. Therefore, after swimming in the sea even waterproof watches should be washed with soap solution in warm running water to prevent corrosion and early gasket wear. In contact with water the crown and all the buttons should be screwed in.
After 2-3 years your watch can lose tightness due to gasket wear. Therefore, in two or three years you should check tightness and if necessary replace gaskets. Do not leave your watch near speakers or other magnetic fields. Most watches don’t have magnetic protection, and if the watch details are magnetized, it can become slow or fast.
The history of the factory begins in 1941. In November Chistopol saw the first freighters with equipment and 500 workers evacuated from Moscow Second Watch Factory. In spring 1942 CWF started mass production of timepieces for military purposes, and by July 1 the factory was running at full capacity. The company was founded as production facility working for the army. But since February 1943 by order of the People’s Commissariat for Mortar Weapons the factory began to produce peaceful products. For example, the first watch for men “Kirovskie”.
In 1962, at Leipzig International Exhibition “Vostok” watch was awarded a large gold medal.
