Russian watches have become rather popular among collectors because of their low cost. By Swiss watch standards, however, Russian watches could be considered to be "unfinished." The pictures below are of a Wostok wristwatch (1999) from the Wostok Watch Factory in Chistopol, Tatarstan, about 500 miles east of Moscow. It has a colourful dial (or face) and a shiny chrome-plated brass case.
Anyone looking for a low-cost mechanical watch might consider a new Swiss Gruen automatic watch instead. I saw one in Wal Mart and decided to look on the internet, where I found one for considerably less. My watch required adjustment as it ran fast by thirty seconds per day, but the micrometric regulator made this relatively easy. Now it runs about three to four seconds slow per day, as accurate as I have seen in any mechanical wristwatch I have worn (including Seiko, Bucherer, Tissot, Omega, and Rolex). The mechanism is an Swiss ETA 2824 with 25 jewels. The automatic rotor has ball bearings, which are visible through the crystal on the back of the watch. These Gruen watches sell on Ebay for about $100. At this price, every watch collector should have one! Look for one with a white dial, which is easier to see, and a stainless steel band, which is more durable. Do a search on Ebay under "gruen 2824." It is no longer necessary to spend a lot of money to buy a fine quality watch. It is the best value I have seen in a new watch in the last twenty years!
Another watch to consider is the Seiko "5" automatic watch. For a slightly lower price, you could get a 21-jewel automatic Seiko with day and date. Seiko USA does not import these watches into the United States, but they are available in many other parts of the world, especially in areas where batteries for quartz watches are difficult to find. Look for a Seiko that says "automatic" and "21 jewels" on its dial. Avoid all others. For a small increase in cost, consider the Seiko S-Wave. The metal band is higher quality, with a better finish. The mechanism is the same, but it is visible in the back of these watches, a nice feature. They are available with dials in several colors. I got one with a black dial. Here are three photos I found on the internet and edited for this page. You can find them on Ebay: just do a search under "seiko wave" and look for one with a metal band (these represent better value).
There are also several new Swiss watches in military watch style cases that have 25 jewel automatic Swiss Ebauche (ETA) movements. These Swiss watches cost a little more, but they represent an unbeatable bargain for collectors who like the appearance of military watches.
