Stainless Steel Cases
When it came to watch case production, the Soviet watch industry primarily manufactured cases made from a brass substrate, which would then be plated with either chrome or gold. But numerous other case materials were tested, including aluminum, titanium, solid gold, sterling silver, plastic, wood, and stainless steel, among other less common composites and alloys.
Of course, the sturdy and anti-corrosive properties of stainless steel were appealing to Soviet watch designers – as they were and continue to be for many watch designers around the world – but manufacturing cases with this material proved challenging. In the 1960s, steel case production was outsourced to other countries while Soviet designers continued to improve their own method of production.
In 1967, the first Soviet-designed steel case was introduced with the release of the Vostok Amphibia. However, this watch was rushed to market as engineers were continuing to struggle with the manufacture of steel lugs, so a compromise was struck: so-called "swing lugs" (separate, removable components) were attached in the final stages of assembly after the case body was already produced. This stopgap helped shape the identity of the first Soviet dive watches, but was retired after a few years once the Soviets finally perfected steel case production with integral lugs around 1970.
In the 1970s and 1980s, a wide array of steel case types were designed and developed, though these remained exclusive to dive watches primarily and less-often found their way to classic civilian or dress pieces. Therefore, Soviet watches with all-steel designs remain quite uncommon today.
Caliber: 3133 (23 jewels) Model: 16905519 Year: ca. 1981 Notes: Soviet Navy issue chronograph, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 3133 (23 jewels) Year: 2015 Notes: Chronograph reissue, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2609.HA (19 jewels) Model: 160288 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Raketa diver, Petrodvorets Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (23 jewels) Model: 44 Year: 1970s Notes: Stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416 (29 jewels) Model: 9 Year: 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 11 Year: 1970s Notes: Stainless steel case, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Model: 4481330 Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 3133 (23 jewels) Model: 1860643 Year: 1980s Notes: Soviet Air Force issue chronograph, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2609 (17 jewels) Model: 1240338 Year: 1970s Notes: Poljot export (Canada), stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416Б (21 jewels) Year: 1985 Notes: Polished case, WWII Commemorative, Chistopol Watch Factory Caseback: "40 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (1945-1985)" Inscription: "For Vityazev B.S."
Caliber: 2409 (17 jewels) Model: 470xxx Date: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470xxx Date: February, 1990 Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2414 (21 jewels) Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Second Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 1615 (25 jewels) Year: 1960s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Steel case, Uglich Watch Factory
Caliber: 1609A (19 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Steel case, Uglich Watch Factory
Caliber: 3133 (23 jewels) Year: 1980s Notes: Soviet Air Force chronograph, stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416B (21 jewels) Model: 710xxx Year: 1980s Notes: Ministry case, stainless steel, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (23 jewels) Year: early 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2415 (29 jewels) Model: 660163 Year: 1970s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2415 (29 jewels) Model: 620183 Year: 1970s Notes: Stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2614.2H (17 jewels) Year: 2000s Notes: First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Model: 1180312 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 100m Notes: Poljot Amphibian, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Model: xxx312 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 100m Notes: Poljot Amphibian, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2616.2H (23 jewels) Model: 4481330 Year: 1980s Notes: Stainless steel case, automatic, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 31659 (23 jewels) Year: Q4-1986 Notes: Soviet Air Force chronograph, stainless steel case, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2609 (17 jewels) Year: 1970s Notes: Stainless steel case, export model (India), First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2408 (16 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, export model, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2408 (16 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, export model, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2408 (16 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, export model, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2407 (17 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Stainless steel case, export model, First Moscow Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: xxx209 Year: 1960s Notes: Vostok export, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Year: 1960s Notes: Vostok export, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 350194 Year: early 1970s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 350193 Year: early 1970s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 350193 Year: Early 1970s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: "Amfibia" case back, aluminum bezel, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 350193 Year: Early 1970s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: "Swing lug"
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: НВЧ-30 (NVCH-30) Year: 1969 Water Resistance: 300m Notes: Wire lugs, Navy issue, Chistopol Watch Factory Inscription: "To Lieutenant Colonel Dehtyaryovu V.F. / Kupol-79 / Tiksi Military Base 45114"
Caliber: 2416Б (21 jewels) Model: 9370204 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Automatic, antimagnetic, integral bracelet, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416Б (21 jewels) Model: 9370059 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Automatic, antimagnetic, integral bracelet, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 1190820 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau case, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 119xxx Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau case, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 1190728 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 1190xxx Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 1190046 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau
Caliber: 2209 (18 jewels) Model: 119xxxx Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Tonneau, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470304 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, copper dial, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320302 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320228 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320233 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320199 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, "sniper" dial, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470300 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320161 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470303 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320235 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 320234 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470299 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2409A (17 jewels) Model: 470298 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416B (31 jewels) Model: 020677S Year: 2016 Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Antimagnetic, Chistopol Watch Factory
Caliber: 2416Б (21 jewels) Model: 710696 Year: 1980s Water Resistance: 200m Notes: Automatic, Chistopol Watch Factory