Could this be my new watch?

1972 Views 15 Replies 9 Participants Last post by phd, Oct 22, 2013

watchloco

Discussion Starter · Sep 24, 2013

4

So I have been scouring the web and I came across these two. I believe the Raketa Perpetual Calendar looks to be authentic after seeing other prime expamples. :think: But the Raketa Big Zero is one that seems to still give me a hard time. :-s I need to do more homework that is for sure.

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I don't have either in my collection but would I would not mind either. These two seem to be from the 90s, correct me if I am wrong. As always I welcome yours feedback.

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hks3sgte

· #2 · Sep 24, 2013

They're both strangely weird. Is that a true Perpetual Calendar? If so, that would be my choice.

schnurrp

· #3 · Sep 24, 2013

Both state they were made in the "CCCP" (USSR) so pre-1989. Both appear authentic and from a well-known and respected seller judging by the photos and background.

Perdendosi

· #4 · Sep 24, 2013

I would agree with schnurrp. The calendar watch is definitely from the 80s -- the calendar dial has 1980s years on it (maybe you'd put one past year when you sell a watch, but not 10!)

That Big Zero looks nice too.

I've been pining for a Big Zero (actually a Big Zero quartz for my hard-of-seeing and forgetting-to-wind father-in-law) but I do like my perpetual calendar (from the Russian era) as it makes me work to remember the months and days of the week in Russian!

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watchloco

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 25, 2013

Now that I pay much closer attention, I do see that the calendar is of the 80s. I once saw a model that had a calendar for 2000, I believe. I am hesitant in getting this one because of the pitting on the case back. I still dont own a Raketa and so I am afraid the corrosion will get worst.

On the Big Zero, I saw in the Raketa web page from their 1998 catalog archives an example that does have cyrillic and CCCP but no logo like the one above. That is where I am confused with the dials. I see that Big Zeros have a flat crystal and have a beveled case front along with indices markers. I am learning a little at a time.

sci

· #6 · Sep 25, 2013

If you want Raketa with some authentic design, better go for big zero. This or another one. The perpetual is a good watch, but is a direct copy of Orient perpetual calendar.

Jani1

· #7 · Sep 25, 2013 (Edited)

watchloco said:
Now that I pay much closer attention, I do see that the calendar is of the 80s. I once saw a model that had a calendar for 2000, I believe. I am hesitant in getting this one because of the pitting on the case back. I still dont own a Raketa and so I am afraid the corrosion will get worst.

On the Big Zero, I saw in the Raketa web page from their 1998 catalog archives an example that does have cyrillic and CCCP but no logo like the one above. That is where I am confused with the dials. I see that Big Zeros have a flat crystal and have a beveled case front along with indices markers. I am learning a little at a time.

The perpetual is late 80's. It's original. The ones with the 2000 calander are post Sovjet. The logo on the big0 is a Sovjet quality mark. See Raketa leafelet 1989. I don't know what movement is original in the big0 the 2609N or the NA

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watchloco

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 25, 2013

That is true, one can obtain an Orient new in the box for under $200. I did see the similarities in the older models between both. I agree with Sci that the big 0 does have character and is more distinctive. One last thing, I came across a 38 mm sized big 0 that is somewhat smaller than the model I mentioned above. Did Raketa make a smaller variant in anytime in their history especially in the 90s?

skapig

· #9 · Sep 25, 2013

watchloco said:
I came across a 38 mm sized big 0 that is somewhat smaller than the model I mentioned above. Did Raketa make a smaller variant in anytime in their history especially in the 90s?

The smaller one looked like the photo below. I do believe it was released after the larger one. I had a black dial smaller zero, and my opinion is that the larger case is the one to get. The one in your original post looks convincing to me, although the dial might be a little crooked---maybe just a camera trick.

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watchloco

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 25, 2013 (Edited)

Yes it was similar in that the crystal was concave looking and it had hardly any bezel. And it did have the stamped logo below the hands. What is the significance between the larger vs the smaller sized one besides the size?

I like the the watch bands that Jani showed off from the catalog with the CCCP stamped on it.

watchloco

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 22, 2013

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So I didnt purchase the first Big Zero I had mentioned before in this thread, but I found this model that is in much better condition. The seller states its from the 90s, I looked it up in the Raketa catalog and it seems to be a match.:-s This seller has received good and bad reviews, but we can't satisfy them all. I am just wondering in the movement, I see a black object located by the winding wheel pictured at the left by the bridge (i hope I described it correctly). I cant make out what it is? :think:

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schnurrp

· #12 · Oct 22, 2013 (Edited)

I think what you're seeing is a dirty or missing movement attachment screw and both such screws look too small. I would say in general that whole movement looks a little dirty and not what one would expect from the nice condition of the dial and case so perhaps all those parts didn't leave the factory together? Also the crown is sticking out which could mean the seller forgot to push it in after setting the hands or it is the wrong length shaft. I would buy that one only if the price was too good to pass up, personally.

Oh, and also big zero 101: Only blunt hands are authentic. Since it was made for sight-impaired people the skinny batons don't make any sense. Definitely replacements, in my opinion. Pass!

watchloco

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 22, 2013

It's all in the details, I am just a young grasshopper. I did notice how dirty the movement is and I thought, then this not a "unused watch" or the movement is a donor. I see how the crown sticks out, interesting though. Well the hands, I can see from the earlier pictures I posted the difference of the width of the hands, certainly those scrawny hands look very anemic. The watch has a hefty price of 77.00 or so plus shipping. Pass it is. Again thanks.

schnurrp

· #14 · Oct 22, 2013

Welcome....revisit the guy you were originally considering, he has a couple that you might want to follow. Good luck!

G.Zgidnick

· #15 · Oct 22, 2013

That Raketa is pretty tempting!

phd

· #16 · Oct 22, 2013

One other comment: the "small" big zero in an earlier picture has a suspicious-looking dial. Note how the ends of the 6, 3 and 9 are sloped on the authentic dial, but are horizontal on the fake dial. Also, the triangular hour markers have rounded points on the original, but are sharp on the fake.

There are lots of authentic "big zero" watches around, but also many redials, because this is such a popular dial for collectors.

Cheers,
Paul

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