[Alexander-watches]

Watch «CITRON» supposedly English assemblies. Toned dial. On the dial near the hour mark green dots marked phosphor (svetomassa). Within the hour and minute hands are also stained with phosphor. Watch case (in excellent, NOS condition) is made of stainless steel. The back cover is made of stainless steel, on the cover "paper" PCHZ with inscriptions (denoting either that these watch were in the museum of PCHZ, or that they were in the design). Swiss movement on a one jewel.
These watch is the prototype for watches Petrodvorets watch factory in a TV cases. It is copied from external design.




Examples of watches «Raketa» in the TV case

 

[phd]

That is interesting! Is it absolutely certain that the Citron was the model for the Raketa?

Paul

 

[Sodiac]

Very cool, would like to see some modern homage version!

 

[Chascomm]

Finally some evidence. So the Raketa TV was based on a 'Citron'; a Hong Kong(?) Citizen-like 'bogus brand' (i.e. the metallic applied version of the 'CITRON' logo looks very similar to 'CITIZEN' at arm's length. This printed logo example is less obvious).

As was discussed on another thread recently, Citizen may have been the first maker to draw together all the distinctive elements that constitute the archetypal 'TV dial' case style i.e. wide tv-shaped dial, heavy tonneau case, bold markers and stumpy hands. Later variations from various makers include hooded lugs, integrated bracelet, jump-hour display, LED electronic display, etc.

One distinctive Raketa design element that I like is the vertical striping on the sloping top surfaces on the case. They seem to have made several variations, and the style was also picked up on the Elektronika-1 LED watches and matched by certain aftermarket steel bracelets manufactured by Vitsebsk Instruments.

 

[emoscambio]

The number 9 mimics Ricoh while Citron mimics Citizen. As you know, the Japanese big Threes bear numbers in a shield on their dials: Seiko 5, copied by Citizen 7, Ricoh 9.
The Citron is a fake Citizen which imitated a Seiko. I think that Seiko was inspired by a Western maker...

 

[Sekondtime]

This is quite surprising. Citron watches in the UK have always been known as a very cheap brand, the sort of thing you buy one day and throw away the next. Modern Citron watches are still available, usually in budget book shops.

 

[Alexander-watches]

That is interesting! Is it absolutely certain that the Citron was the model for the Raketa?

Paul

Yes, I am absolutely certain.

 

[phd]

Incidentally, is it just me, or does that Citron look crooked?

//Citron watches in the UK have always been known as a very cheap brand, the sort of thing you buy one day and throw away the next. // You mean, Citrons are lemons?

 

[Sekondtime]

Incidentally, is it just me, or does that Citron look crooked?

//Citron watches in the UK have always been known as a very cheap brand, the sort of thing you buy one day and throw away the next. // You mean, Citrons are lemons?

Yes, I noticed that the setting for the crystal looks crooked. May be it's the photo.

As for Citrons being lemons, quite possibly!

 

[Alexander-watches]

Incidentally, is it just me, or does that Citron look crooked?

May be it's the photo.

Yes, it's the photo.

 

[emoscambio]

Guys, I found out the truth: Raketa, Seiko, Swiss, a symbiosis!

 

[phd]

//a symbiosis//

With that colour scheme, more of an infertile hybrid...