Quick trip to the East with Raketa - where were these taken?

Jun 14, 2016,08:11 AM
 

I recently had an opportunity to take my Raketa that I got earlier this year closer to its spiritual home and place of manufacture. smile


To start off with, a special prize to the Purist, who will be able to tell, how much closer to home I brought the watch from the picture below - i.e. what city is this in? smile



The following picture should make it somewhat easier smile I have to say that these days I would have attracted a lot more attention with something sized at 45mm plus, from a Swiss or German brand. Be that as it may, I really enjoyed the slow beat movement, the tractor like sound of the watch (both in pitch and volume), the simplicity of operation (no date to set, hand wind only), its honest nature... It has an appeal from times past and I may well end up with the modern equivalent (looks wise) as a result, namely a Glashütte Original Senator Sixties. smile



Having left the East behind, I also wore it a couple of times back home, and the same charming aspects convinced me equally well in the West wink The Oerlikon case size, the light weight, the charm of another era...



It even goes with that most capitalist of drinks, as long as it is served in a suitably communist glasware wink In fact this gave me an idea for a little trip with the watch, which I will definitely share, once performed. 



So if you are willing to take a step away from the beaten path, far away from the standard horological centres, there is a lot of left field appeal to be had for peanuts smile Definitely a purchase I do not regret!

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What I thought :)

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-08:45
Was definitely not a planned acquisition but I felt very much drawn to it from when I first saw it

Wide guess.....Vladmir? LOL....

 
 By: S F : June 14th, 2016-08:38
Can't agree more.......My Poljot says hello Cheers SF ...  

Did not know you had one!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-08:50
Looks quite interesting - never seen one like that... As for place, no

I have a Vimpel Poljot as well.....

 
 By: S F : June 14th, 2016-09:11
very similar to the Poljot.... same factory but not sure why the different branding. The dials are awesome for the price And your Raketa looks like a GO 60's. ...  

It does :)

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-09:26
Looks a bit like a GUB Spezimatik, which was probably the inspiration for the GO Senator Sixties. As for Vimpel - were they not an aerospace supplier, which possibly got some co-branding on watches? Very cool specimen you have there - impressed!

Will need to research more, the russians have a rich history.

 
 By: S F : June 14th, 2016-09:37
Absolutely right on the GUB Spez (with many variations) influence for the GO. Do let us know where you are . Cheers!

Not Moscow :)

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-10:03
Let\'s see if anyone guesses, otherwise I will of course reveal it

Is it Peterhof? [nt]

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-08:39

Damned ;-) [nt]

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-08:59

That is funny because I recently fell in love of the Raketa Kopernik

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-08:40
I could not resist too much time as this watch can be found for $50 ;-)

Got pictures? [nt]

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-08:52

So...

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-09:02
Did you decide on one?

Are you starting with watchmaking?

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-09:44
Or already seasoned?

Very cool!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-09:48
Doing a course / degree, or more hobby like?

Wow!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-09:53
Out of curiosity, or are you planning to do it for a living?

Good on you!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-10:45
Hope to have the time for something such in the years to come

It is a real privilege to do something like in a lifetime that is why I savour

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-10:50
I hope you will have the chance to know that kind of feeling one day

Thank you so much!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-11:26
That is very nice of you

Wonderful!

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-10:46
A sabbatical seems quite appealing at the moment And for such a cool reason, too!

Yes of course [nt]

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-11:34

To obtain the diploma of watchmaker... it takes at least 5 years.

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-13:06
I will only study the first year (after, you must find a company to work and study at the same time). So, before I create a new caliber, I think you can wait for a very very long time ))

Is is enough...

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-13:52
To repair your own watches, though?

Not sure

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-14:04
Because we will only learn two ETA calibers (manual and automatic) and, if you want to repair a watch, you need pieces, oils, greases... If it is a very basic caliber why not but if you covet to repair your AP or Lange you can forget that ;-)

Well, knowing what is in there and how it works is certainly worth it...

 
 By: KMII : June 14th, 2016-14:09
Even if you don\'t actually actively use it afterwards

:-) [nt]

 
 By: Alkiro1 : June 14th, 2016-14:22

Saint Petersburg [nt]

 
 By: sutats : June 15th, 2016-21:01

Not quite...

 
 By: KMII : June 15th, 2016-21:45
But getting closer St. Petersburg is where they were and still are made but the pict was taken elsewhere in what used to be the SSSR

Getting quite close now ;)

 
 By: KMII : June 17th, 2016-10:40
Certainly a city with some German history, just like Kaliningrad

Gdansk? . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 17th, 2016-12:27
. . . for sure it's not Anaheim, California ;-) . . .

Wrong direction ;)

 
 By: KMII : June 17th, 2016-12:48
Northeast of Kaliningrad should be the place to look... A Hanse League city, if that helps

Memel? . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 18th, 2016-22:10
. . . now known as Klaipêda? The last time I had to think about the Hanseatic League was during history exams in high school ;-) . . .

You're really good - just a bit further North :)

 
 By: KMII : June 18th, 2016-22:51
Last time I have been confronted with Memel was playing Hearts of Iron 3

Gotta be . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 19th, 2016-01:54
. . . Riga!

Bingo!

 
 By: KMII : June 19th, 2016-02:49
Here a more complete shot And as promised, here\'s a preview of the present - will deliver in person first time I\'m in the area ...  

I'll be in London in late November . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 19th, 2016-09:42
, , , is that close enough?

That could work!

 
 By: KMII : June 19th, 2016-10:40
If you PM me the details and I can make it happen, I\'ll throw in a dinner, too