[Chascomm]

Re: Clearance on Poljot, Volmax, Vostok Europe, ...some Russian watch brands & UFOs

Thanks for that detailed summary, Irina. I particularly appreciate the background info on Juri Levenberg.

I'm very glad that you could find the time in your very busy schedule to visit us here I guess you're taking a moment to catch your breath after Inhorgenta? I look forward to your report if you have time. How was the response to the Red Square?

Are you ready for Basel?

 

[Chascomm]

Re: Clearance on Poljot, Volmax, Vostok Europe, ...some Russian watch brands & UFOs

Thank you for the Moscow perspective :-!

 

[Chascomm]

Poljot-Trade

As already said, there isn't a watch less or more "legitimate".
BOTH the watches are theorically "pseudo-Poljots" or "substantially Poljot".
None of them can use the Poljot brand (at least until somebody will definitely buy the Poljot name), both are made by the Poljot's crew, and the fact that they choose different ways of distribution is not important for me (don't forget that ALL the recent Poljots produced in the last years, included some very collectable models like the Okeah, were sold and distributed on Internet and on Ebay).
Oh, anyway, i would prefer that all those watches -Volmax, Moscow Classic, Denissov etc.etc.)- were ALL marketed again with Poljot brand like before. ;-)

Very interesting situation with Poljot-Trade, based on what you have uncovered with purchases and research (Thanks Michele; we're all glad that it's your cash on the line :-D )

I would guess the Poljot-Trade really is purely a trade company ordering OEM watches from wherever they can get the style that they're looking for (i.e. mostly the old Poljot-Aviator style), hence some watches that appear to be assembled from surplus 1st Moscow parts stocks, as well as those (probably Million Smart) Chinese models that provide an affordable automatic for their product range.

Really they are creating a mine-field for their customers. If I'm looking for an authentic Russian watch, how do I know what I'm getting? If I buy the hand-wind, it's 100% Russian made, but the almost identical automatic is Chinese with a Japanese/Chinese movement O|

The other problem is that the uncertain origins of Poljot Trade's watches cast a shadow over the whole industry.

It must be very interesting working in the old 1st Moscow Watch Factory, with half the tenants approved by the watch industry association, and others definitely not approved. Hopefully the landlord doesn't have to employ security guards to break up the fights :-D (just kidding)

 

[Chascomm]

Re: Poljot-Trade

I always prefer to see the substance with my eyes, and definitely i know if some watch is worthy of some expenses ;-) Definitely i don't regret to have bought those watches.
In my opinion, the situation is even more complex than our thoughts. If you look on the catalogue of Poljot Trade (www.poljot-trade.ru ) you will see also a lot of Poljot models, with Poljot name and with Poljot movement, exactly the same models produced some time ago by Poljot!

My opinion is that all the new companies took a part of the old production lines. Or there is a central production and the distribution is assigned to different companies. Oh, and i'm not yet sure that Poljot Trade produces the Aeronavigator and Pilot chronographs ;-)
I have sent an e-mail to one of those companies, in order to obtain direct informations. Hoping that they will reply. :-D

I look forward to the result of your investigation.

The presence of so many Poljot-branded watches suggests to me that Poljot-Trade may have started as a retailer of Poljot watches only, but has now expanded their range to include their own brands on OEM watches. They are using their connections with the factory to get genuine Poljot-parts watches built to order.

Did you notice that in their alarm watch range, only case pattern 524 is branded 'Pilot Time', the rest are Poljot. 524 is the only case in that selection which was introduced after Volmax started.

 

[Chascomm]

Re: Clearance on Poljot, Volmax, Vostok Europe, ...some Russian watch brands & UFOs

Now that is an outstanding point. The mid-tier watch industry really needs an assortment of good hand-wind calibres to ensure that you have adequate choices for consumers: the Russians really are well placed to provide these before the Chinese, given what continues to be quality control considerations with many Chinese watches. This is the critical thing: I think the Russians really need to improve the finish and quality of their ebauches before the Chinese start in the field in order to get a head start.

JohnF

They'd better get moving fast, given the quality coming out of some of the Chinese factories. Especially if some of the older calibres could be brought back into production. The Jilin HJ1A Meihualu pocket-watch calibre could be a serious competitor for Molnija if the tools were saved when the Jilin factory closed.