My Amphibia has been my beach vacation watch for 10 years. It has stood up to repeated salt water exposure and still looks and works great.. I just gifted it to my 14 year old son as his first watch. I see no reason it can't go another 10 years. There is no better value than these Russian Vostoks.
Give your used watch to a human organisation , (RedCross, or something similar) and buy your son a NEW Vostok!! - i would have understood your gesture if it was a Rolex or something...not that Vostok is bad, on the contrary, but hey man, its 2019...
What a brilliant review and what a coincidence. I purchased my Vostok just three days ago from a market stall in my home town here in the UK. The watch has such character and I'm absolutely delighted with it. My version has a black dial with a tank (maybe a T34?), and I love the red star at 12 o'clock . I have purchased two watches this year. the first is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual and the second is the Vostok. The difference between chalk and cheese I know, but they both give me tremendous satisfaction in their own way. It just goes to prove that the love of watch collecting is not just about price and luxury brands.
The nice thing about most Vostok Amphibians, is that the dial is hard enameled in a process similar to what they used to paint Matchbox and Hot Wheels toy cars in the 70s. It's a catalyst cured enamel that gives a good shine, and evens out on surfaces nicely. That's why the colors on these watches look so good.
Nato (as a watch strap) doesn't actually stand for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Here's a great article about Nato straps: gearpatrol.com/2017/02/23/icon-nato-strap/
excellent review! I bought one of these vostok watches back in the nineties when I was a college studying Russian. At the time there was a huge obsession with anything that hinted at Soviet history, and for me the watches were just fantastic considering the connections to the Soviet military. mine was modeled off the version supposedly issued out to KGB agents, so it came with the actual logo of the KGB plus the letters in Cyrillic. this is way back before the company went through all the changes in what I were acquisitions by other investors trying to keep the watch in circulation. so thank you for this review. Definitely brings back some great memories and I just may have to get my own piece out and start wearing it every now and then. the damn thing still works. do svidanya moi drug!!
I saw a Watch Snob that hated this watch. Funny, he loves Chinese military Gull watches. I own one and love it. Thanks for an honest review and high lighting the good points. Some models are as low as $10 with free shipping from Russia on Ebay. Most are in the $30 to $70 range.
I love these Russian watches. I consider them bomb proof! Rugged, reliable, inexpensive and pretty darn accurate! They are a great conversation starter! :)
Really cool, great video, need to get one of these, bought the Amphibia a while ago due to lots of recommendations and couldn't be happier with it. Switched the jangly bracelet to a Milanese mesh and have kept the retro bezel it came with. It's great as a daily beater and tells the time accurately enough, power reserve seems to work well. Will prowl eBay until I spot a Komandirskie with a face I really like.
New sub, and thanks for such a natural, down to earth review of a very unique watch! I'm a fan of Vostoks, partly because they offer a lot of history, but also so different from other mechanical watches in this general price range. Simply put, for true watch enthusiasts, I believe they have character. You do a great job & I enjoyed your approach tremendously!
No, thank you! I consider it a real stroke of luck to find someone who obviously has a genuine interest, appreciation, and open-minded approach about the timepieces that you review. Also, a nice change that you're a relatable, regular guy and not a snob like some reviewers.
Thank you, I've been that snob before. Fortunately life forced me to wake up and taught me what was really important. I'm really glad that you enjoy my channel. Thank you for watching.
Nice video. Good to see the respect these watches deserve. Just ordered the Komandirskie ' Bat ' with the blue dial, it's such a cool looking watch. Keep up the good videos! Best wishes.
Thanks for the review. Very honest and down to earth. I watched it after recently getting into Soviet watches. I love the slightly quirky designs and have just ordered exactly the same watch.
One of my first watches was one of these. Russian watches are fantastic value! They offer a lot of interesting complications like alarms and 24 hour dials for not a lot of money. Perfectly reliable as well.
There's a guy in the UK who froze, then threw off a bridge, then machine washed, then ran over his Vostok Amphibia with his car. The bracelet broke, but the watch itself kept good time through all of it, and survived everything he threw at it. Very impressive.
Update: Ordered on June 4th, received it on the 15th. I live in So. Florida and couldn't believe it was that fast. As you said J. I am really impressed with the initial quality.
Great review and I'm putting this in my description of my review when it comes out! I can't stand with the watch personally, so having a positive review in there will give the choice to the viewer :)
After reading the title of the video I was going to type - "No!, Why not an Amphibia", but then I heard (and saw) your intro comments. There are very few Komandirskie reviews. So in a way, it's better that you did a review on Komandirskie. We may see Amphibia in this channel in the future :) Komandirskie are cheap because they are completely chrome plated brass but Amphibia have SS case and chrome plated brass bezel.
Thanks for the video. I added this brand to my Amazon list. Looking around I've seen that people love this watch. Seeing you enjoy it as well solidified my interest in adding this to my small collection. Again, keep the videos coming.
i got one of these 25 years ago in Anchorage. Got it cuz it still said "Made in USSR" on it. Probably last Soviet batches) These things were the infantryman's watch. As such they are waterproof, shockproof, tanks of watches. There's nothing fancy in the movement, nothing super accurate, but they are built to work, and to keep working. I still wear mine in all the wild places I go; still on the home-made moosehide band. Now that you've got one, you'll probably want another.
I've a made in the USSR Komandirskie with a submarine face in bronze. It's at youngest, 28 years old. The watch is still looking great. I've had to polish the crystal with 1 and 0.5 micron diamond grinding paste, that's all. It runs about 15 seconds a day slow and the lume is now next to useless. That's to be expected though. The Vostok Komandirskie and the Amphibia were designed to take military abuse. They can both take a huge amount of punishment and still keep good time. Okay they're utilitarian. There's also some very clever and innovative Soviet engineering that's gone into designing Vostok watches. Every collector of watches needs at least one Vostok Komandirskie and Amphibia in their collection. They're just really great watches.
I have a black dial Amphibia. I absolutely love it. It is just a honest, decent, affordable, reasonably accurate timepiece. It GREW on me. That is all there is to it. I am definitely going to get a Komandirskie. Why not? It won't break the bank exactly, will it?
I prefer the Komandirskie because i am a minimalist,the size is perfect and they are very light.Since they are manual only, the case is pretty thin.However they dont like water and not good for swimming.
I have had an amphibia for a few years now. runs rock solid. i have been considering a komandirskie for a while... i might just have to buy one now. the date change is a PITA, and i sometimes just dont worry about the date. BTW, i think you'll find the strap is a zulu. nice review!
J.Anthony, another good review. I like the points you hit with the watch. I also liked the font for the arabic numerals. Also, I like the ford wrench you have on top of the book in the background. Mine is made by Crescent and I use it often.
+acftmxman Good eye, my biggest passion, even more so than watches is cars so I collect car memorabilia. That wrench is from a great grandfather's personal car. Thanks for your continued support.
I just want to say that I put a Seiko bezel on one of these. It was a new Komandurskie and the bezel was meant for a Vostok Amphibia. It fits beautifully. Just for Information.
I'd love to see someone water test the Komandirskie. It has the same gasket and case back design as the Amphibia, and it has the screw down crown. I'm guessing it would probably do better than its rating suggests. I understand the Amphibia has something else going on at the crystal and I think that's the only real difference that would affect water resistance. I don't have a big YT channel so I can't really justify torture testing mine... but I think someone else should for science! :-) Nice overview vid.
Was on rolex site & there was a range of Subs that had friction fit bi directional bezel too back in the day. Plus lots of early rolex's had plastic crystals too. Was on a rolex history channel. Even Daytona did for a long while.
I'm partial to vintage Russian tanks, which is why I got the black Komandirskie that looks like it has a little IS-2 heavy tank used in WW2. A black/red regimental NATO strap would make that submarine watch look awesome.
I put mine on a black Hirsch strap because I prefer the original look. I don't like seiko bezels on them either. Please don't otherwise I will come and put Vostok bezels on your Seikos! It's only a joke.
I like the amphibia but i stay better with the komandirskie. They have more models and variety. Its not al about waterproof. Komandirskie are alsó waterproof but not for diving. If you dont dive a komandirskie is just enough and very fun to dress.
Thanks for showing the quick-set tip for changing the date. I rubbed my finger tips raw (they're still sore) winding the full 24 hours to advance the date from the 28th all the way back to the 21st. Whew!
The Komandierskie is a good value watch for 30 bucks. I personally would go for an Amphibia. All the essentials are there though and the movement lasts for years withouta service. They can keep very good time though regulation is patchy from factory as is lubrication: they can seize up. I would get the watch regulated and given a drop of oil from a good watchmaker if you can find one who won’t turn their nose up at it. Too many these days are only interested in high end stuff. Luckily I know a few here in the UK and both my Vostoks now run well and only gain about 8 sec a day which aint bad.
amphibia is tick and fat. but more important 2414a is durable and reliable. even its keeping time better. kommandirskie dials are more interesting better looking and fancy in my opinion
Great review. I just bought one and now have to wait 4-6 weeks for it to arrive. I will check out other Vostoks. I would be curious to how it is running after a few weeks.months.
I had a Komandirskie similar to this one. The watch is nice. A drawback is that on these watches after some time (a year or so) the chrome coat starts wearing out and the brass beneath shows through
I picked up a Vostok Komandirskie made in 1985. is a smaller case with 2234 movement and 1945 - 1985 40 Year's of Victory. it was made for the USSR MOD. I bought it as a historical price more than a time peice. but it runs extremely well. it will loss a couple seconds in 12 hours, but pick them back up in the next 12 hours. I'm very pleased with the Volsok and am not looking in to some others for daily use. maybe the Amphibian or slightly higher Volstok Europe model like the K36 or Radio.
I just ordered a black faced Vostok Amphibia 420. Immediately regretted not buying another, so I just ordered a green and a bluefaced 420 amphibia as well ! 😃 I am interested in the engineering, and the automatic function. These seem to be tough watches! Another manufacturer is Strela. they have some beautiful, more expensive watches. Amongst them the Kosmodrom.
Ok, you've done the Vostok review. I'm going to pick one up, by the way. But now you have to do a review on the Shanghai watch, lol. I've spent time studying Chinese in Asia so I have to pick one up.
i had this very model as a present from my parents 20 years ago when I was a pupil in a Russian school. Just a caseback was different, and maybe strap. A bit nostalgic to see. Also resembles Russians discovering English manual: "I have no idea what this means".
The komandirskie that I have is the wall clock version that came off of the officers quarters wall of a Soviet submarine. A friend of mine who was working on decommissioning one was given the clock as a souvenir, and I acquired it from him as payment for some work I did for him.😁 ( СДЕЛАНО В РОССИЙ at the 6 on yours it says made in Russia, mine has СДЕЛАНО В СССР made in USSR)
Thanks for your review. I watched it to confirm that the movement is hand wind only. I have this one too now. Waiting on a strap to come. What is your feeling on the later Vostok Europe watches. Most colour combinations are limited to 5000 or 3000 per colour. I have a Gaz-14 Limousine and waiting on the expedition north pole 1 24 hr and the Almaz Space station. Would be great to see a review of them. 😏
Given the fact that these have Russian in-house movements, do you think there are watchmakers/jewelers here in the US that are going to be able to service these? Does anyone know if the movement is that proprietary that I'd have to send it back to Russia for service?
No one will repair them if a part breaks,you just throw it and buy another.As for crystal polish,regulating and lubricating everyone can do it.However an overhaul/lube exceeds the price of the watch and is not worth it.I have 8 of these .
+ogostaboy A lot of replacememt parts are actually available from Christopolcity.com and THEY ARE CHEAP. Yes, the watch is cheap but there are also parts to buy. Any watchmaker/repair shop would have no problem understanding and fixing these.
@@redletterl78 My understanding is that the amphibias have brass bezels and stainless steel cases, while the komandirskies are all brass. Some komandirskies may have steel cases, though.
I have 2, 1 ampibian. Love them. I put all watches on different straps. But i also have an Invicta pro diver which is fantastic. Seiko movement with hacking & handwinding. 200m WR, screwdown crown & back. Ss & nice, keeps good time. And for $70.00.
Im waiting for my two first amphibias . One in 090 case made in URSS and the other scuba dude minnistry case. I never had one i and only saw it on videos , but there look very cool.
Great review as always! I have a question if you or someone could answer. I am in the market for one of these just like yours and have been looking at the both the green and blue dials (like yours) and have been trying to find them without the "gradient colored" dial. From the video it looks like all the same color of blue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
I made the mistake of chopping a fallen tree while wearing my Vostok Komandirskie. It broke. I had it fixed only recently. So it works well again. It's true what you said about the strap. Still looking for a good NATO.
The Amphibia has very impressive design ideas, there's a decent thread on WUS forums explaining the design philosophy, I have a kirovskie k-43 and its awesome, big clear dial and a nice auto movement, the back and forth "quick set" date is a little tiresome but otherwise its awesome. Good review as ever the komandirskie looks a little funky to me, the bezel doesn't agree with me but its definitely one of the great vostok designs out there.
Quick question, i have a VERY nice (perfect condition, crystal, case etc, FLAWLESS) Komanderskie BUT, I was interested in finding a NEW bezel as this one move around WAYYYY to easy. That said, HOW do I do something like that, a type of modification? to BOTH improve the look of the watch and functionality? Quick note, mine is also a hand wind manual, not an automatic which also gives it a touch of uniqueness. Please advise thank you
Have an Amphibia ref. 420270 and I love it, but definately agree with the crystal comment, it scratches worse that my Casio sport watch with a cheap plastic crystal. Stock bracelet it comes on is awful too. But hey, for $70, I can't complain too much.
Russian watches actually rely on the flexibility and shape of the crystal to make them waterproof, so when a uniform pressure is applied, the crystal becomes the seal. There was simply no other way they could have done it with the tolerances of the equipment they had to work with. Non-waterproof Soviet watches generally came with a mineral glass crystal. Clear sapphire has been produced in Russia and Ukraine, but because it was commissioned exclusively for military use, no more than a few items for the few very special people could be made using that. Perhaps they could have switched to another plastic among the ones that became available in the 70ies, or hardcoated it like prescription glasses, again something only available more recently, but i guess there's some value in keeping them original, like they were made when they were first engineered. Since the shape is calculated based on material flexibility and strength, the shape would change too if another material was introduced.
I just received mine yesterday.. The band is trash, but the watch seems great. It is not a Rolex and time will tell how long it will last but for $46 who cares?? The best part of this watch is the fact it is made and shipped from Russia. With Russia in the news so much these days and the history, I think that it is so cool. It is very light and comfortable and I love that is is a mechanical and I have to wind it.
I have the unplated brass case Komadirskie and really like it. I figured that if I'm going to have a brass case, then I might as well have the actual brass case without the plating. Personally I don't want a chrome plated brass case on my watches.
Hello from San Diego! I’ve seen more than a few watches that are shipped from China and India that I really like, what are your views on those watches? For some reason I’m a little concerned about buying a watch that takes about a month getting to Americas Finest City. Thank You. Buy the way I just ordered that same exact watch can’t wait until it gets here. Have a great day! Henry Gross
Ex soviet here. CCCP watches are (genuine, not Made in Russia written on them!) affordable and reliable pieces, that you could wear for decades. Of course finishing and quality was not comparable to Japanese and Swiss counter pieces, but they were just instruments made for proletariat to not to be late for building communism.
Hello Jay! Thank you for this review and for good marks for this watch. Let me provide some translations of signs written on this watch "Восток " means East "Командирские" written below submarine means Commander's "Сделано в России" at 6 o' clock means Made in Russia. Back of the case. "Водонепроницаемые " means Waterproof Two headed eagle is the Russian Code of arms. Thanks!
I have one, only the gold colour, good honest watch, at a good honest price, what more could you want, I have other watches, some more expensive, but hey love this watch. 😉 🇬🇧
thanks for your interesting videos, as watch enthusiastic, i always have problem to find proper leather band to replace and i saw you changed the bracelet of your monster here with nice leather band. what is your secret???
As long as you know the lug width it is pretty easy to find a nice leather band. I tend to buy more affordable bands like Hirsch or Hadley Roma however you can pay more money for high quality and exotic bands. I buy mine online as you can usually get a good deal.
I like it. It’s currently around £50 on amazon; but I imagine they’re cheaper from buying direct from Russia. I’ll have to get this and put a nato strap on. Thanks.
Hi, not sure if anyone will read this, but: I'm looking for a watch that I can beat the absolute crap out of. Maybe wear it to the beach, bath, cross a river, bike around with, etc. Should I get an Amphibia for the waterproofness or would the Komandiesrkie do the job? Thing is I like the Komandierskie design a lot better than the Amphibias I find on eBay but I would like a waterproof watch (even though I don't really dive).
My Amphibia has been my beach vacation watch for 10 years. It has stood up to repeated salt water exposure and still looks and works great.. I just gifted it to my 14 year old son as his first watch. I see no reason it can't go another 10 years. There is no better value than these Russian Vostoks.
Thanks for sharing =)
Give your used watch to a human organisation , (RedCross, or something similar) and buy your son a NEW Vostok!! - i would have understood your gesture if it was a Rolex or something...not that Vostok is bad, on the contrary, but hey man, its 2019...
What a brilliant review and what a coincidence. I purchased my Vostok just three days ago from a market stall in my home town here in the UK. The watch has such character and I'm absolutely delighted with it. My version has a black dial with a tank (maybe a T34?), and I love the red star at 12 o'clock . I have purchased two watches this year. the first is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual and the second is the Vostok. The difference between chalk and cheese I know, but they both give me tremendous satisfaction in their own way. It just goes to prove that the love of watch collecting is not just about price and luxury brands.
The nice thing about most Vostok Amphibians, is that the dial is hard enameled in a process similar to what they used to paint Matchbox and Hot Wheels toy cars in the 70s. It's a catalyst cured enamel that gives a good shine, and evens out on surfaces nicely. That's why the colors on these watches look so good.
I had no idea, thank you for sharing!
Is that a Russian watch on a NATO strap? I love it just for the irony.
haha, that never occurred to me.
Nato (as a watch strap) doesn't actually stand for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Here's a great article about Nato straps: gearpatrol.com/2017/02/23/icon-nato-strap/
@Хигхщаы Террорист NATO funny that joke.
Can't take you nerds anywhere :P
@@nihadasadli2642 I actually never knew that, I always thought it was a strap designed for military use amd figured NATO had adopted it or something.
excellent review! I bought one of these vostok watches back in the nineties when I was a college studying Russian. At the time there was a huge obsession with anything that hinted at Soviet history, and for me the watches were just fantastic considering the connections to the Soviet military. mine was modeled off the version supposedly issued out to KGB agents, so it came with the actual logo of the KGB plus the letters in Cyrillic. this is way back before the company went through all the changes in what I were acquisitions by other investors trying to keep the watch in circulation. so thank you for this review. Definitely brings back some great memories and I just may have to get my own piece out and start wearing it every now and then. the damn thing still works. do svidanya moi drug!!
I saw a Watch Snob that hated this watch. Funny, he loves Chinese military Gull watches. I own one and love it. Thanks for an honest review and high lighting the good points. Some models are as low as $10 with free shipping from Russia on Ebay. Most are in the $30 to $70 range.
I love these Russian watches. I consider them bomb proof! Rugged, reliable, inexpensive and pretty darn accurate! They are a great conversation starter! :)
Well said sir.
Really cool, great video, need to get one of these, bought the Amphibia a while ago due to lots of recommendations and couldn't be happier with it. Switched the jangly bracelet to a Milanese mesh and have kept the retro bezel it came with. It's great as a daily beater and tells the time accurately enough, power reserve seems to work well.
Will prowl eBay until I spot a Komandirskie with a face I really like.
Love the mesh bracelets!!!!
New sub, and thanks for such a natural, down to earth review of a very unique watch! I'm a fan of Vostoks, partly because they offer a lot of history, but also so different from other mechanical watches in this general price range. Simply put, for true watch enthusiasts, I believe they have character. You do a great job & I enjoyed your approach tremendously!
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
No, thank you! I consider it a real stroke of luck to find someone who obviously has a genuine interest, appreciation, and open-minded approach about the timepieces that you review. Also, a nice change that you're a relatable, regular guy and not a snob like some reviewers.
Thank you, I've been that snob before. Fortunately life forced me to wake up and taught me what was really important. I'm really glad that you enjoy my channel. Thank you for watching.
Nice video. Good to see the respect these watches deserve. Just ordered the Komandirskie ' Bat ' with the blue dial, it's such a cool looking watch. Keep up the good videos! Best wishes.
Just got two in the mail today. I'm impressed! Very comfortable.
They built great rockets and make great watches, robust like Kalashnikows and beautifully soviet! Credit where its due!
Thanks for the review. Very honest and down to earth. I watched it after recently getting into Soviet watches. I love the slightly quirky designs and have just ordered exactly the same watch.
One of my first watches was one of these. Russian watches are fantastic value! They offer a lot of interesting complications like alarms and 24 hour dials for not a lot of money. Perfectly reliable as well.
+Yankee Rider Thanks for sharing =)
There's a guy in the UK who froze, then threw off a bridge, then machine washed, then ran over his Vostok Amphibia with his car. The bracelet broke, but the watch itself kept good time through all of it, and survived everything he threw at it. Very impressive.
Be careful though........Russian/Soviet watches are highly addictive!!!
Yes.. it's a bit like the guitarists GAS (guitar aquisition syndrome) ;))
sí, mlsats true! when i saw it for first time i tought they are junk... but now i ordered two! ;)
@@msp459 they are not great, but saying they are (only) charming would be euphemism :)
Yes they are,,I am getting Vladivostok and Komandirski
Because of your review of the Komandirskie I've ordered one 2 days ago. Your review was excellent and persuaded me to purchase it.
I really appreciate that. I really hope you like it. This watch has continued to grow on me, the longer I've had it the more I like it.
Update: Ordered on June 4th, received it on the 15th. I live in So. Florida and couldn't believe it was that fast. As you said J. I am really impressed with the initial quality.
Great review and I'm putting this in my description of my review when it comes out! I can't stand with the watch personally, so having a positive review in there will give the choice to the viewer :)
After reading the title of the video I was going to type - "No!, Why not an Amphibia", but then I heard (and saw) your intro comments. There are very few Komandirskie reviews. So in a way, it's better that you did a review on Komandirskie.
We may see Amphibia in this channel in the future :)
Komandirskie are cheap because they are completely chrome plated brass but Amphibia have SS case and chrome plated brass bezel.
+Manish Sahay Thank you, the Vostok is growing on me so perhaps an Amphibia is in my future. I appreciate your continued support of my channel.
This watch is insane! Thanks for introducing me to another great watch brand J Anthony!!!!!!!!!
+Grant Kuchar Any day sir, your collection is going to surpass mine...
Thanks for the video. I added this brand to my Amazon list. Looking around I've seen that people love this watch. Seeing you enjoy it as well solidified my interest in adding this to my small collection. Again, keep the videos coming.
Thanks David!
Which Amazon seller did you buy it from?
I haven't bought it yet. I will in the near future. I believe they are coming straight from Russia, though.
i now am the PROUD owner of two. I LOVE them!!!! Thank you
At 6, I believe it says Сделано В России (sdelano v rossii) or made in Russia.
And on the top, it says Komandirskie, which I believe comes from the word "komandir" which translates to "commander".
Mine says zakaz mo rossii, do you know what that means?
i got one of these 25 years ago in Anchorage. Got it cuz it still said "Made in USSR" on it. Probably last Soviet batches) These things were the infantryman's watch. As such they are waterproof, shockproof, tanks of watches. There's nothing fancy in the movement, nothing super accurate, but they are built to work, and to keep working. I still wear mine in all the wild places I go; still on the home-made moosehide band. Now that you've got one, you'll probably want another.
I've a made in the USSR Komandirskie with a submarine face in bronze. It's at youngest, 28 years old. The watch is still looking great. I've had to polish the crystal with 1 and 0.5 micron diamond grinding paste, that's all. It runs about 15 seconds a day slow and the lume is now next to useless. That's to be expected though. The Vostok Komandirskie and the Amphibia were designed to take military abuse. They can both take a huge amount of punishment and still keep good time. Okay they're utilitarian. There's also some very clever and innovative Soviet engineering that's gone into designing Vostok watches. Every collector of watches needs at least one Vostok Komandirskie and Amphibia in their collection. They're just really great watches.
This is like the AK-47s of watches, can't wait to get mine!!
Have one coming too. The submarine!
@Brendan W mine is incredibly precise too! Great watch!
Great review. Just ordered one exactly like the one in your video. Looking forward to receiving it and embracing some Russian history!
Nice review. Heard a lot about these and seen quite a few on eBay, but video reviews are hard to beat.
Thanks for watching!
I have a black dial Amphibia. I absolutely love it. It is just a honest, decent, affordable, reasonably accurate timepiece. It GREW on me. That is all there is to it. I am definitely going to get a Komandirskie. Why not? It won't break the bank exactly, will it?
I prefer the Komandirskie because i am a minimalist,the size is perfect and they are very light.Since they are manual only, the case is pretty thin.However they dont like water and not good for swimming.
I feel the same way. I too prefer the Komandirskie.
They made new K 34 range. Even more minimalistic. Not sure what they are like, ordered two days ago, so will see. But design looks awesome.
The Komandirskie has a waterproof gasket on the back, and a screw down stem. Swimming would NOT hurt these watches at all.
New Komanderski’s are SS + automatic on some models with product numbers beginning with 350. Nice dials and bezels. Still great price too.
Swimming does not hurt these watches
Just bought a couple and love them always wanted one and I can see them being very addictive 😊
I have had an amphibia for a few years now. runs rock solid. i have been considering a komandirskie for a while... i might just have to buy one now. the date change is a PITA, and i sometimes just dont worry about the date.
BTW, i think you'll find the strap is a zulu. nice review!
Just try moving an hour hand back and forth 8-12 (or 9 to 12) hack, it'll make date change way easier.
J.Anthony, another good review. I like the points you hit with the watch. I also liked the font for the arabic numerals. Also, I like the ford wrench you have on top of the book in the background. Mine is made by Crescent and I use it often.
+acftmxman Good eye, my biggest passion, even more so than watches is cars so I collect car memorabilia. That wrench is from a great grandfather's personal car. Thanks for your continued support.
I just want to say that I put a Seiko bezel on one of these. It was a new Komandurskie and the bezel was meant for a Vostok Amphibia.
It fits beautifully. Just for Information.
I'd love to see someone water test the Komandirskie. It has the same gasket and case back design as the Amphibia, and it has the screw down crown. I'm guessing it would probably do better than its rating suggests. I understand the Amphibia has something else going on at the crystal and I think that's the only real difference that would affect water resistance. I don't have a big YT channel so I can't really justify torture testing mine... but I think someone else should for science! :-) Nice overview vid.
Was on rolex site & there was a range of Subs that had friction fit bi directional bezel too back in the day. Plus lots of early rolex's had plastic crystals too. Was on a rolex history channel. Even Daytona did for a long while.
I'm partial to vintage Russian tanks, which is why I got the black Komandirskie that looks like it has a little IS-2 heavy tank used in WW2. A black/red regimental NATO strap would make that submarine watch look awesome.
Good tip sir!
I put mine on a black Hirsch strap because I prefer the original look.
I don't like seiko bezels on them either. Please don't otherwise I will come and put Vostok bezels on your Seikos!
It's only a joke.
Thank you. New subscriber as of today. Also just ordered this watch. I hope yours is still working well.
Totally agree, I think I bought a Seiko 5 Sport the other day and it is just simply beautiful to look at and keeps decent time.
I love the Seiko 5 line...
Thanks for the review - looking at the sellers on Ebay it's hard to decide on who to order from, I'll probably just use the one with a 100% feedback.
Indeed, that is what I did.
Indeed.If it says that it takes 2-4 monts to deliver it just forget it.The chance is that you'll never see the watch ...
I like the amphibia but i stay better with the komandirskie. They have more models and variety. Its not al about waterproof. Komandirskie are alsó waterproof but not for diving. If you dont dive a komandirskie is just enough and very fun to dress.
do all komandirskie watches come w/ a domed crystal?
I will never go that deep and I like the thinner case and the Komandirskie is LEGIT!
Mine is on the way. I'm very exceited about it. Thank you for the review
Thanks for showing the quick-set tip for changing the date. I rubbed my finger tips raw (they're still sore) winding the full 24 hours to advance the date from the 28th all the way back to the 21st. Whew!
The Komandierskie is a good value watch for 30 bucks. I personally would go for an Amphibia. All the essentials are there though and the movement lasts for years withouta service. They can keep very good time though regulation is patchy from factory as is lubrication: they can seize up. I would get the watch regulated and given a drop of oil from a good watchmaker if you can find one who won’t turn their nose up at it. Too many these days are only interested in high end stuff. Luckily I know a few here in the UK and both my Vostoks now run well and only gain about 8 sec a day which aint bad.
amphibia is tick and fat. but more important 2414a is durable and reliable. even its keeping time better. kommandirskie dials are more interesting better looking and fancy in my opinion
It says "Komandirskie" just under submarine and "made in Russia" at the bottom :)
+James Babcock That can vary, they have a few designs of that back cover, but they all are simmilar
says Water-resistant not Waterproof
bukm11 Водонепроницаемые - waterproof, Влагозащищенные - water resistant. Says waterproof on the one I have....
bukm11 Водонепроницаемые - waterproof, Влагозащищенные - water resistant. Says waterproof on the one I have....
Great review. I just bought one and now have to wait 4-6 weeks for it to arrive. I will check out other Vostoks. I would be curious to how it is running after a few weeks.months.
Congrats, let me know how it holds up for you.
I had a Komandirskie similar to this one. The watch is nice. A drawback is that on these watches after some time (a year or so) the chrome coat starts wearing out and the brass beneath shows through
+kayetanowicz Not necessarily a bad thing with a watch like this, no? Worn around?
+kayetanowicz Yeah, I have seen that. My vintage Pierce is doing the same thing.
Great Vid ,
I actually ordered one and waiting to receive it directly from Russia.
Take care from Montréal, Québec.
I picked up a Vostok Komandirskie made in 1985. is a smaller case with 2234 movement and 1945 - 1985 40 Year's of Victory. it was made for the USSR MOD. I bought it as a historical price more than a time peice. but it runs extremely well. it will loss a couple seconds in 12 hours, but pick them back up in the next 12 hours. I'm very pleased with the Volsok and am not looking in to some others for daily use. maybe the Amphibian or slightly higher Volstok Europe model like the K36 or Radio.
I just ordered a black faced Vostok Amphibia 420.
Immediately regretted not buying another, so I just ordered a green and a bluefaced 420 amphibia as well ! 😃
I am interested in the engineering, and the automatic function. These seem to be tough watches!
Another manufacturer is Strela. they have some beautiful, more expensive watches. Amongst them the Kosmodrom.
Congrats on your Amphibias.
Great Video, where did you get it from?
I have 2 Komandirskies. They're a great value. One has a raised plastic crystal like yours and the other has a flat glass crystal.
They are awesome little watches.
can you tell me the model number of those two please? thank you
Ok, you've done the Vostok review. I'm going to pick one up, by the way. But now you have to do a review on the Shanghai watch, lol. I've spent time studying Chinese in Asia so I have to pick one up.
Great review! I own a Vostok Amphibia(scuba dude)and love it!I also put mine on a canvas nato strap.
+bruce karalash Thank you, yeah, you can't beat a NATO.
J. Anthony can you provide me with a link to the AD you used...thanks. looks great. can't wait to check them out!
www.ebay.com/usr/ritmm540?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2754
Thanks...love the videos...keep up the great work!
Thank you for the support.
i had this very model as a present from my parents 20 years ago when I was a pupil in a Russian school. Just a caseback was different, and maybe strap. A bit nostalgic to see. Also resembles Russians discovering English manual: "I have no idea what this means".
I'm glad I was able to remind you of your old watch. Thank you for watching.
The komandirskie that I have is the wall clock version that came off of the officers quarters wall of a Soviet submarine. A friend of mine who was working on decommissioning one was given the clock as a souvenir, and I acquired it from him as payment for some work I did for him.😁 ( СДЕЛАНО В РОССИЙ at the 6 on yours it says made in Russia, mine has СДЕЛАНО В СССР made in USSR)
Great video! I have never heard of Vostok, but I'm really interested. So, I just ordered a green faced Komandirskie.
+Max Adkins Congrats, give it some time to grow on you. I think you will be pleased.
Thanks for your review. I watched it to confirm that the movement is hand wind only. I have this one too now. Waiting on a strap to come.
What is your feeling on the later Vostok Europe watches. Most colour combinations are limited to 5000 or 3000 per colour. I have a Gaz-14 Limousine and waiting on the expedition north pole 1 24 hr and the Almaz Space station. Would be great to see a review of them. 😏
Hi, i cannot figure out watching the video if the watchface is a fading blue from bottom to the top or is just one colour?
Given the fact that these have Russian in-house movements, do you think there are watchmakers/jewelers here in the US that are going to be able to service these? Does anyone know if the movement is that proprietary that I'd have to send it back to Russia for service?
No one will repair them if a part breaks,you just throw it and buy another.As for crystal polish,regulating and lubricating everyone can do it.However an overhaul/lube exceeds the price of the watch and is not worth it.I have 8 of these .
+ogostaboy A lot of replacememt parts are actually available from Christopolcity.com and THEY ARE CHEAP. Yes, the watch is cheap but there are also parts to buy. Any watchmaker/repair shop would have no problem understanding and fixing these.
The movement itelf can be bought for about $30
Nice watch. Komandirskie are great
I believe case and bezel are brass.
Good call, thanks for posting.
Yes, and they look great if you strip the chrome with some acid
No, I think main case is SS and bezel is brass. Check out authorised dealer descriptions.
@@redletterl78 My understanding is that the amphibias have brass bezels and stainless steel cases, while the komandirskies are all brass. Some komandirskies may have steel cases, though.
I have 2, 1 ampibian. Love them. I put all watches on different straps. But i also have an Invicta pro diver which is fantastic. Seiko movement with hacking & handwinding. 200m WR, screwdown crown & back. Ss & nice, keeps good time. And for $70.00.
Im waiting for my two first amphibias . One in 090 case made in URSS and the other scuba dude minnistry case. I never had one i and only saw it on videos , but there look very cool.
Anthony, you mentioned buying this from an authorized dealer on eBay. What’s the seller’s name? I’d like to pick a couple up for myself and friends.
Very nice video. I just ordered my first Vostok watch it is Ampfiblia diver watch.
Congrats, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for watching.
Great review as always! I have a question if you or someone could answer. I am in the market for one of these just like yours and have been looking at the both the green and blue dials (like yours) and have been trying to find them without the "gradient colored" dial. From the video it looks like all the same color of blue. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
I made the mistake of chopping a fallen tree while wearing my Vostok Komandirskie. It broke. I had it fixed only recently. So it works well again. It's true what you said about the strap. Still looking for a good NATO.
I found the NATO I have it on for under $10 at an American target store. There are tons of websites online that sell them as well.
The Amphibia has very impressive design ideas, there's a decent thread on WUS forums explaining the design philosophy, I have a kirovskie k-43 and its awesome, big clear dial and a nice auto movement, the back and forth "quick set" date is a little tiresome but otherwise its awesome. Good review as ever the komandirskie looks a little funky to me, the bezel doesn't agree with me but its definitely one of the great vostok designs out there.
+Preeyen Mistry Agree on the bezel, I'm thinking of modding mine personally.
Quick question, i have a VERY nice (perfect condition, crystal, case etc, FLAWLESS) Komanderskie BUT, I was interested in finding a NEW bezel as this one move around WAYYYY to easy. That said, HOW do I do something like that, a type of modification? to BOTH improve the look of the watch and functionality? Quick note, mine is also a hand wind manual, not an automatic which also gives it a touch of uniqueness. Please advise thank you
Have an Amphibia ref. 420270 and I love it, but definately agree with the crystal comment, it scratches worse that my Casio sport watch with a cheap plastic crystal. Stock bracelet it comes on is awful too. But hey, for $70, I can't complain too much.
Russian watches actually rely on the flexibility and shape of the crystal to make them waterproof, so when a uniform pressure is applied, the crystal becomes the seal. There was simply no other way they could have done it with the tolerances of the equipment they had to work with.
Non-waterproof Soviet watches generally came with a mineral glass crystal. Clear sapphire has been produced in Russia and Ukraine, but because it was commissioned exclusively for military use, no more than a few items for the few very special people could be made using that.
Perhaps they could have switched to another plastic among the ones that became available in the 70ies, or hardcoated it like prescription glasses, again something only available more recently, but i guess there's some value in keeping them original, like they were made when they were first engineered. Since the shape is calculated based on material flexibility and strength, the shape would change too if another material was introduced.
I just received mine yesterday.. The band is trash, but the watch seems great. It is not a Rolex and time will tell how long it will last but for $46 who cares?? The best part of this watch is the fact it is made and shipped from Russia. With Russia in the news so much these days and the history, I think that it is so cool.
It is very light and comfortable and I love that is is a mechanical and I have to wind it.
I have the unplated brass case Komadirskie and really like it. I figured that if I'm going to have a brass case, then I might as well have the actual brass case without the plating. Personally I don't want a chrome plated brass case on my watches.
I like the older ones that say сделано в СССР
I have one.
I just gone my first today. Mind has this wording at 6.
The old Soviet Komandirskies are much higher quality than the modern ones.
Hello from San Diego! I’ve seen more than a few watches that are shipped from China and India that I really like, what are your views on those watches? For some reason I’m a little concerned about buying a watch that takes about a month getting to Americas Finest City. Thank You. Buy the way I just ordered that same exact watch can’t wait until it gets here. Have a great day! Henry Gross
They just made a new range "Komandirskie K 34" . Have ordered. Waiting now :)
Hi I ordered one black bassel with the tank but what size do I need for a nato strap
VOSTOKs are very good for folk who want to take watches apart in order to learn. At that price no big shakes if things go wrong.
+youtubister Great advice indeed.
hello buddy i have 431818 paratrooper and i m more than satissified. thank you for your review
Can you tell me where can I get the specific gold plated blue dial komandirskie? I searched a lot.
ive seen the image on the back or some old coins, which i also collect...and i t is beautiful
I can't believe I didn't see this until now. Hope you like it man.
The longer I have had it the more I like it. =)
Disliked it at first but I dislike it less after the video. Good review and good points made.
+Ross Anderson Thank you, I really appreciate that.
Ex soviet here. CCCP watches are (genuine, not Made in Russia written on them!) affordable and reliable pieces, that you could wear for decades. Of course finishing and quality was not comparable to Japanese and Swiss counter pieces, but they were just instruments made for proletariat to not to be late for building communism.
Hello Jay! Thank you for this review and for good marks for this watch. Let me provide some translations of signs written on this watch
"Восток " means East
"Командирские" written below submarine means Commander's
"Сделано в России" at 6 o' clock means Made in Russia.
Back of the case.
"Водонепроницаемые " means Waterproof
Two headed eagle is the Russian Code of arms.
Thanks!
And below Code of Arms at the back of the case written "Россия" which is Russia
+Sergey Kotelkin Awesome!!!!! I really appreciate you posting that. Thank you!
Which lever do you use to fine tune the Komandirskie?
I have one, only the gold colour, good honest watch, at a good honest price, what more could you want, I have other watches, some more expensive, but hey love this watch. 😉
🇬🇧
thanks for your interesting videos, as watch enthusiastic, i always have problem to find proper leather band to replace and i saw you changed the bracelet of your monster here with nice leather band. what is your secret???
As long as you know the lug width it is pretty easy to find a nice leather band. I tend to buy more affordable bands like Hirsch or Hadley Roma however you can pay more money for high quality and exotic bands. I buy mine online as you can usually get a good deal.
Can you swim with the basic model Komandirskie without damage?
That number font on the dial is sweet.
+tommydeadwood I thought so too. It looks better in person.
How would you get this watch to within 2 seconds accuracy?
Is it serviceable and accurate in time?
I like it. It’s currently around £50 on amazon; but I imagine they’re cheaper from buying direct from Russia. I’ll have to get this and put a nato strap on. Thanks.
Very cool watch! Congrats
+Amintas Neto thank you sir.
The case is actually stainless steel but the bezel is chrome plated brass.
It says, Komandirskie and Made in Russia on a dial and Waterresistant and Russia on a caseback.
Love mine dead accurate the KGB Vostok.
Hi, not sure if anyone will read this, but: I'm looking for a watch that I can beat the absolute crap out of. Maybe wear it to the beach, bath, cross a river, bike around with, etc. Should I get an Amphibia for the waterproofness or would the Komandiesrkie do the job? Thing is I like the Komandierskie design a lot better than the Amphibias I find on eBay but I would like a waterproof watch (even though I don't really dive).
Actually, both of them will work. I personally prefer automatic and no data complication.