Caveman's Watch Forum

Do USSR or Russian Watch bracelets shrink? Post contains Picture(s)

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:32 p.m.

Something is goin' on, 'cause the bracelet on this VOSTOK used to fit perfectly, but now is ever so slightly tight - just enough to be bothersome. I've recently had the same problem with my favorite Levis. Hmmmmm...

Ah well, I was never all that crazy about the OEM bracelet, anyway, so I swapped on a skunk NATO;

Click to enlarge
Click photo to super-size

Much better!

Photo by Ricky Lee

I only wish I could fix the problem with the jeans so easily... Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

Do USSR or Russian Watch bracelets shrink? Post contains Picture(s) (views: 129)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:32 p.m.
They expand from wear and a tiny bit of stretching. They shrink from donuts and bagels and beer tho!! Laughing out loud! Post contains no message text (views: 4)
John S. -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 10:20 p.m.
Old Chinese proverb: Lay off the donuts! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Post contains no message text (views: 7)
Jeff T -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 8:53 p.m.
At least it would be a NEW criticism if they did Wink Nice, uncommon dial Thumbs Up for this Watch Post contains no message text (views: 7)
Brian Uziel -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 7:29 p.m.
No "Made in __________" on the dial. (views: 22)
ObsidianStorm -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 6:44 p.m.
Interesting dial color-- is that brown/bronze colored? Usually Paratrooper dials are green (or rarely, blue). I notice it doesn't have a "Made in______" on the dial, so this probably dates from the early to mid 90's. The S.U. fell apart in '91 but VOSTOK kept using stockpiles parts and dials with "made in CCCP" well into '92. There was a period after that, before they started printing "made in Russia" on the dials, when they weren't sure what to put there-- but certainly no one wanted to use that ridiculous "Commonwealth of Independent States" designation!
Re: is that brown/bronze colored? >> (views: 8)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 9:42 p.m.

Yes indeed! The second photo, the WARNING Post contains hairy wrist shot!, is much more representative of the dial's actual color.

While not evident in either photo, the dial also has a spiderweb-network of very fine cracks in the coating. Unless the light's just so, you've gotta look very close to spot it - but 'tis there.

} I notice it doesn't have a "Made in______" on the dial,
} so this probably dates from the early to mid 90's.

Hey, thanks for the info!

} certainly no one wanted to use that ridiculous
} "Commonwealth of Independent States" designation!

Can't blame them.. it doesn't have the same 'ring' to it! Laughing out loud!

-Ricky

If anything ...all bracelets Stretch over-time Post contains no message text (views: 9)
Paul December -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:50 p.m.
Cut back a tad on the BBQ, Ricky! Smiley (I know, I need to!! Smiley) Post contains no message text (views: 10)
Greg H. -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:34 p.m.
Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off! Post contains no message text (views: 7)
Paul December -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:49 p.m.
{Smacks forehead} Could THAT be it? Doh! >> (views: 19)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:48 p.m.

I note you didn't recommend cuttin' back on the beer. Smiley Laughing out loud! Rolling on the floor laughing my a.. off!

-Ricky

Cut back on the Beer??!!! Eek! Not a chance! Besides; 'Tis the Season for nice Winter offerings! Thumbs Up for this Watch Smiley Post contains no message text (views: 7)
Greg H. -- Sunday, 12 November 2006, at 5:50 p.m.

I decided to take the Chris L Challenge... Post contains Picture(s)

Posted By: Ricky Lee
Date: Saturday, 24 January 2009, at 01:51 a.m.


..and see if I could "Make an old Vostok Go Nuclear". Wink, wink ...

Well.. let's be honest. I am smiling... My sights were actually set a bit lower - more like "Can I get an old Vostok to glow at all?" Laughing! I got to say, though, the results..
Photo by Ricky Lee
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo


..far exceeded my expectations! Thumbs Up!

SOB may not be quite at Critical Mass.. but it ain't far from it! Laughing!

And, not to toot me own horn, but surely I deserve bonus point for accurately capturing the spiderweb-cracking of the dial paint, which I've always considered part-and-parcel of this Olde Commie's quirky charm.

{shakes fist} Take that, Larson! I am hopping mad! Soon as I figure out this white balance thing, you're toast! Laughing!

-Ricky

Messages In This Thread

I decided to take the Chris L Challenge... Post contains Picture(s) (views: 85)
Ricky Lee -- January 25, 2009 01:51AM
A fantastic lume shot Ricky Applause! (n/t) (views: 3)
Reto -- January 25, 2009 06:42AM
Nice work, Ricky. Thumbs Up for this Watch (n/t) (views: 3)
Mark C. -- January 25, 2009 03:16AM
Nice going. Your lume shots are fantastic Thumbs Up for this Watch (n/t) (views: 4)
PaulGeo -- January 25, 2009 02:44AM
Oww! Nicked my ear on that one.  Rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off! Thumbs Up for this Watch I've only this to return fire with... (views: 31)
Chris L -- January 25, 2009 02:28AM
Flat Reto night-day. Wink

Give me a couple more hours and I'll have plenty more to share.

Flat Reto!

Nice shot! ... I'm saving it for the FLAT RETO page Thumbs Up for this Watch (n/t) (views: 3)
Paul December -- January 25, 2009 03:36AM
Ah that's where flat Reto is now. Smiley (n/t) (views: 3)
Mark C. -- January 25, 2009 03:17AM
That's the best FlatReto shot to date IMHO! Thumbs Up for this Watch (views: 7)
Ricky Lee -- January 25, 2009 03:16AM
And not just because of the lume, but the way it captures the striated dial.

Excellent work, Chris! Green with Envy

-Ricky

Looks great... and it's spelled "nukular" Rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off! (n/t) (views: 4)
TakesALickin -- January 25, 2009 02:27AM
no doubt nuclear....and you gave us a nice look at that built-in > (views: 7)
greg honeycutt -- January 25, 2009 02:06AM
wobbly crown, that all Vostoks share Thumbs Up for this Watch Laughing! ........that bothered me....the first I bought. Scared me to death, I thought the crown was about to fall out. Laughing! Laughing!
I still expect the crown to come out every time I wind mine (n/t) (views: 4)
misterguch -- January 25, 2009 02:50AM
I always admire those wobbly crowns as an example of Russian engineering... (views: 7)
Chris L -- January 25, 2009 02:59AM
In reality what Vostok did was make a "canteen" style crown that is entirely self-contained, with no external chain or other tethering device. Simple and functional, if not elegant.
+1! "It's a feature not a bug" applies perfectly in this case! Thumbs Up for this Watch (n/t) (views: 5)
Ricky Lee -- January 25, 2009 03:41AM

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