Russian Wristwatches: Pocket Watches, Stop Watches, Onboard Clock & Chronometers

By Juri Levenberg

Twentieth century Russian wristwatches are too costly for many native buyers, but they are still inexpensive for Western Collectors, and are becoming extremely popular. Watch faces commemorate all the great moments of Russian and Soviet history-from Yuri Gagarin's space flight to the Summit meeting between Gorbachev and George Bush-and celebrate Russian culture with images of native costumes from Chechnya to the Ukraine. Collectors have long clamored for a definitive reference and this new book will satisfy even the most avid enthusiast, with photographs of over 500 watches manufactured in Russia and the USSR during the second half of this century, and explanations of their styles, workings, and manufacturers. Poljot, Wostok, and Slava wristwatches are covered, along with a sampling of pocket watches, deck watches, and marine chronometers. This book is a must for serious collectors in the growing field of Russian timekeepers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887408737
• ISBN13: 9780887408731
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.9" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

A good introduction to a complex topic

There is lots of good stuff here. There is generally a one page outline of each of the main watch factories, their history and the main types of watch they produce. There is a photo identity and brief description of each of the main watch calibres, both dial and movement. There is a list of auction results for famous watches (space exploration, etc) and a valuation of all the other types. There is a description of other interesting stop watches (olympics, etc), ships' chronographs and military aircraft cockpit clocks. Levenberg often notes which watches are similar to other earlier models, which are often swiss. He also mentions the American Hampden and Ansonia factories which were bought and moved to Russia in the 1930s. I found the book most interesting and a very good reference for the casual collector, and am pleased to have bought it.

Russian wristwatches by Juri Levenberg

The book which came in a very handy size and is a informative read with pictures, facts and views of how rare they are. A decent attempt to catalog the various watches according to movements and types. However, I wasn't particularly impressed with the very poorly taken images and to make matters worse, half of the pages are in black and white which takes away the beauty and colours what some of the watches may inherit. If Juri Levenberg is reading this, I do hope his next issue would be a full coloured catalog.

Excellent Photographs of Various Russian Timepieces

A wonderful book showing the wide range of timepieces that the Russians produce, and which are now becoming available on the open market. Profusely illustrated and well documented. Includes a short, but very complete, table of cyrillic to english for the various markings one comes across. The only downside - buy two copies. The binding on mine fell apart from so much use. TAF