Pobeda / Победа
Prior to World War II, during a period of rapid industrialization in the Soviet Union, the Soviet government sought international funding and expertise in the development of a domestic watchmaking industry. Eventually, the French watch manufacturer LIP was chosen. LIP was having financial problems at home in France, and in 1936, technical director Frédéric Lipmann signed a deal with the USSR for the export of technology, machinery, and parts.
A new watch factory was set up in Penza, and several LIP movement designs were licensed to the new establishment. One particular design, the R-26 movement, was selected because it was inexpensive, dependable, and relatively easy to manufacture and maintain. It was decided that NII Chasprom would responsible for the redesign of the movement to match Soviet specifications. World War II temporarily disrupted these plans, but after the Allied victory, this watch design was quickly finished at Penza.
Drawings were completed on June 23rd, 1944, and first production began in Q4-1945 at Penza Watch Factory. After modification, the Soviets labeled this caliber К-26, and Joseph Stalin himself chose the name to be printed on the dial: Pobeda (Победа, meaning "victory"), in celebration of the end of the war. As soon as Q1-1946, production had spread to at least one other factory (First State Watch Factory), and by the 1950s, tens of millions of Pobedas had been produced by a total of six factories:
1945–1948: Penza Watch Factory
1946–1956: First State Watch Factory (renamed First Moscow Watch Factory as of Q2-1947)
1949–1958: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
1949–1960: Chistopol Watch Factory
1953–1964: Second Watch Factory (renamed Second Moscow Watch Factory in 1958)
1950–2004: Maslennikov Watch Factory (ZIM)
As the market shifted in the 1950s and demanded modern, sweep-second hands, the Soviets evolved the К-26 movement into the 2608 – essentially the same design, but with an added wheel to drive a central second hand.
The Pobeda brand name is undoubtedly one of the most prolific of all watches produced in the USSR, and to many, this brand represents the epitome and quintessence of Soviet watchmaking.
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-38К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-38К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-38К Year: Q4-1955 Notes: Czechoslovakian Military issue, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-36К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-36К Year: Q3-1956 Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-606К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-107К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Dial with golden rings, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-602К Year: 1950s Notes: Dial with green rings, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-603К Year: 1950s Notes: Replaced hands, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-609К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-610К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-601К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-197К Year: 1950s Notes: Hand-painted dial, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-197К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-199К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-195Ка Year: 1956 Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-195К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-195К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: 43-К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2608 (15 jewels) Model: 43-К Year: 1950s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Aluminum case, Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Aluminum case, Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Aluminum case, Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-1109К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-1109К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-1111К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1953 Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory, "250 Years Leningrad" commemorative
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-317К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory,
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory,
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-316К Year: 1953 Notes: "250 Years Leningrad" commemorative, Petrodvorets Watch Factory,
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-319К Year: 1950s Notes: Admiralty Building in St Petersburg (Адмиралтейства в Ленинграде), Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-319К Year: 1950s Notes: Admiralty Building in St Petersburg (Адмиралтейства в Ленинграде), Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-319К Year: 1950s Notes: Admiralty Building in St Petersburg (Адмиралтейства в Ленинграде), Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-337К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-337К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: ЧН-1106К Year: 1950s Notes: Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2602 (15 jewels) Model: Design 1 Year: 1950s Notes: Maslennikov Watch Factory (ZIM)