Q&A Expertise thread: Is this watch legit or a franken? Part 3

350682 Views 4659 Replies 372 Participants Last post by steros, 10 d ago

EndeavourDK

Discussion Starter · Jun 20, 2019 (Edited)

This is a continuation of the "Q&A Expertise thread; Is this watch legit or a franken? Part 2".

https://www.watchuseek.com/f10/q-expertise-thread-watch-legit-franken-part-2-a-4514699.html

Q&A Expertise thread part 1 can be found here: https://www.watchuseek.com/f10/q-expertise-thread-watch-legit-franken-894887.html

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Simon

· #4,601 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

2

palletwheel said:
In almost all respects but the most subtle this Poljot chronograph seems to check out. Where I get hung up is with the dating. According to our esteemed Italian colleagues about 5000 Strelas were made each year. The serial number on the balance bridge gives a running total. After around serial number 15000, the anchor bridge got stamped with "3017". Note that the serial number of this watch is 14477, and there is no stamp on the anchor bridge. So OK? But then this is dialed a Poljot not a Strela (and the case is correct for a Poljot). So here's the question. Were these export Poljots made at the same time Strelas were made, or is this a franken that has a Poljot body with an earlier Strela movement (or pieces thereof, note the marking of "19 Jewels" in English on the main bridge)?

Hey Pallewheel, I was fascinated to read this post and it raised some questions about my Sekonda 3017 and I wonder how you (and any others here) would read mine? When I bought it @Odessa200 suggested the balance bridge may have been replaced as he wasnt sure the early number fitted the later watch - It has 19Jewels in English, 3017 stamping, but bridge is a low 15509
Perhaps in an un jewelled watch, the balance staff broke, easier to slot in a whole balance+bridge than repair and the watchmaker sourced an earlier bridge/balance???

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palletwheel

· #4,602 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

I would tend to agree with @Odessa200 on this one. I'm not sure about the origins of that chart, it seems to come from an earlier discussion that was familiar to the participants back in 2015 but I can't track it down. But given @mroatman posted it, I'd certainly give it a very high degree of trust. The dials are in order of the curve, so your dial is later and most likely made its debut in the 70s. Finding the catalog entry would help confirm a more exact date, I haven't had a chance to look. I'm sure @Sekondtime would know. So based on that analysis I would say that the balance bridge on yours is a replacement. For sure that's the way a repair tech would deal with a broken balance staff or other issue with the balance assembly. The rest of the movement looks reasonable. If this is your only issue and you bought it well, nice catch. If you are looking for perfect historical accuracy, you can always try to find the right replacement. But if its running well I'd probably not bother and instead look for that perfect earlier one to complement this.

Actually this article is worth reading:

The Strela chronograph is a genuine legend of Soviet watchmaking

One of the best Russian Watch Manufacturers blogs about Sturmanskie Watch Production, History of the Brand, Reviews of new Models, New Watch Releases and much more.

sturmanskie.com

There's a nice reference to your watch in it:

"In 1978, another Strela was worn by Aleksey Gubarev, when, as commander of the Soyuz-28 spacecraft, he docked it with the Salyut-6 ..."

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Ligavesh

· #4,603 · 2 mo ago

Could this be original? Shouldn't the hands be silver?

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Odessa200

· #4,604 · 2 mo ago

Ligavesh said:
Could this be original? Shouldn't the hands be silver?

View attachment 17336107

Hands should be nickel but this is a lesser issue…. Dial is fake!

Btw, finding these nickel hands is harder than finding an authentic dial. So I would not consider buying this watch unless both hands and the dial are correct.

Reactions: 2

979greenwich

· #4,605 · 2 mo ago

Good luck finding a Sputnik in that condition.

Odessa200

· #4,606 · 2 mo ago

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979greenwich said:
Good luck finding a Sputnik in that condition.

I recently sold this. So finding one is for sure possible. Quite hard, agree. And not cheep.

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Ligavesh

· #4,607 · 2 mo ago

Odessa200 said:
Hands should be nickel but this is a lesser issue…. Dial is fake!

Btw, finding these nickel hands is harder than finding an authentic dial. So I would not consider buying this watch unless both hands and the dial are correct.

Yeah, the dial did seem 'too good' to be authentic. The thing is, in Germany you can find some very well kept old watches, cause Germans like to collect things and they tend to keep them well, but this does look too 'fresh'

Reactions: 1

979greenwich

· #4,608 · 2 mo ago

I'm sure the buyer is very happy with that purchase. Don't think I ever saw one like that for sale. 99.9 % you see for sale are fakes & frankens, and the rest are usually in poor condition and overpriced. Almost always missing the original second hand.

Reactions: 1

Odessa200

· #4,609 · 2 mo ago

Ligavesh said:
Yeah, the dial did seem 'too good' to be authentic. The thing is, in Germany you can find some very well kept old watches, cause Germans like to collect things and they tend to keep them well, but this does look too 'fresh'

for sure. My best finds were in USA where people brought the watches decades ago and stored them. Finding a true rare watch in Russia and Ukraine is much harder because a)there is many more buyers and b)people used the watches cause these were just normal Soviet watches (as opposed to a family heirloom someone brought from the native country)

Odessa200

· #4,610 · 2 mo ago

979greenwich said:
I'm sure the buyer is very happy with that purchase. Don't think I ever saw one like that for sale. 99.9 % you see for sale are fakes & frankens, and the rest are usually in poor condition and overpriced. Almost always missing the original second hand.

very true.

tranzchina

· #4,611 · 2 mo ago

Does anybody recognize the model and date of this? It has a poljot movement? Can't say I've seen this before.

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AaParker

· #4,612 · 2 mo ago

tranzchina said:
Does anybody recognize the model and date of this? It has a poljot movement? Can't say I've seen this before.
View attachment 17343338

That is a Svet. Here's a very informative link to Watches of the USSR which should answer any questions!

Svet | Watches of the USSR

Explore Soviet Watches: Svet, Chef, Свет, Watch, Часы, USSR, СССР

mroatman.wixsite.com

tranzchina

· #4,613 · 2 mo ago

AaParker said:
That is a Svet. Here's a very informative link to Watches of the USSR which should answer any questions!

Svet | Watches of the USSR

Explore Soviet Watches: Svet, Chef, Свет, Watch, Часы, USSR, СССР

mroatman.wixsite.com

Thank you so much. Indeed it is the first Svet that I've come across.
Will have to take a closer look.

Much appreciated

palletwheel

· #4,614 · 2 mo ago

3

I came across this early Signal alarm watch. I've been looking for one with this dial for awhile. I know the dial and handset is correct (though not the best condition), but not sure about the movement or caseback. Opinions are as always very much appreciated.

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Odessa200

· #4,615 · 2 mo ago

All looks correct to me except the seconds hand looks a bit short. But maybe it is just a photo taken at an angle.

Reactions: 1

tranzchina

· #4,616 · 2 mo ago

Twice in 24 hours. Any idea if this is a genuine Poljot? Never seen a Bill Clinton one before.

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It would clearly be from between 1994 and 1998 and it has a 2614.2h movement.
TIA

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palletwheel

· #4,617 · 2 mo ago

Odessa200 said:
All looks correct to me except the seconds hand looks a bit short. But maybe it is just a photo taken at an angle.

Thanks, great catch as always. After looking a bit more, comparing to @mroatman examples, it's a replacement, though a decent one as these things go.

Reactions: 1

RaymondVDK

· #4,618 · 2 mo ago

Found this Maya today but I am doubting if its the correct case?

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Victorv

· #4,619 · 2 mo ago

5

Hi guys, what do you reckon about this Slava?

Cant find it on catalogs, and never saw any like this

I feel it is from the early 90s, made in Russia. But thats only my thoughts

I can provide more and better photos if needed

Thank you in advance guys

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Chascomm

· #4,620 · 2 mo ago

Victorv said:
Hi guys, what do you reckon about this Slava?

Cant find it on catalogs, and never saw any like this

I feel it is from the early 90s, made in Russia. But thats only my thoughts

I can provide more and better photos if needed

Thank you in advance guys

View attachment 17382855 View attachment 17382856 View attachment 17382857 View attachment 17382858 View attachment 17382859

I’ve never seen this model before, but that is a Slava movement in a Russian case (looks more like Vostok). Slava Design was a sub brand of Slava about 20 years ago.

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