[michele]

The argument of a forum watch was already discussed some years ago, with very hard discussions and quarrels as result.
Since that attempt, the "forum watch" argument was a taboo for all the members - too many personalities, too many different opinions. The main goal was to ensure a basilar and peaceful discussion place, and i think that the target was hit.

Recently i gathered a small but strong group of Italian enthusiasts about Russian watches. The discussions led to the project of an hypothetic forum watch. Starting from the pic of a Vostok radio-room navy clock (http://www.netgrafik.ch/images/radioroom.jpg ), i have proposed the project of a white radio-room Amphibia.

The "radio-room" Amphibia is well-known for its black dial with red sectors. But the white dial was made only for clocks. Carlo Nicolucci ("Nikarlo") made the definitive prototype in the pics (and the beautiful pics too!), and the definitive watch should be made in 50 or 100 pieces on the basis of a classic Amphibia automatic. We asked the price of the watches with custom dial to the Vostok factory, it should be of approximately 65 Euro for each watch.

Just wanted to know your opinions - the project is still under development, it would be nice to joint the efforts between the two forums.

 

[michele]

Vostok would produce these?

Yes, using their service of custom dials.
As home-made (although fully working) prototype, probably the watch will be subject to small changes (i.e. black hands instead of chrome, Amphibia or Komandirskie type). But the 97% of the watch design is substantially definitive. I'm very surprised, Nikarlo did a GREAT work (also following my suggestions ;-) ) and the definitive dial was decided in one week!

The money will be not a problem (each buyer will send the money in advance), but we are searching for a safe way to gather and send the money. :think:

 

[michele]

Hi guys,
thank you all for the proposals and hints :-! Now i'm a bit confused. I'm starting a new job, so my role in the operation will be very limited :-( I have received good proposals for the production of this model. Now we need a plan. Any proposals?

 

[michele]

Michele, on that white dial you use trade mark of Wostok. If you do it for yourself, this isnt problem, but if you make some dials for people who want it too, you make somenthing about crime (illegal production of Michelle Wostok):think:. Just my 2 cents:roll:

Besides you make great dial!:-! maybe make not B in round, but M like Michelle?:

;-)

:-d:-d:-d BTW, my name is Michele (Mee-ke-le). Michelle is for women ;-)

 

[michele]

Last update:

We have received more detailed informations about possible options and costs:

"In case you would like to order 100 pieces with one design (all with date window or all without date window ) - base price will be EUR 45,00 per watch.

In case you would like to order 50 pieces with date window + 50 pieces without date window - this is considered by the factory as 2 separate orders for less quantity each and base price will be little higher - EUR 48,00 per watch.

Base price includes: manufacturing of watch with your design on the dial, luminova dots, leather strap, standard box for Vostok Amphibia.

Possible extra: stainless steel bracelet, cost EUR 1,50 per bracelet

This part of your order will be fulfilled directly by Vostok watch factory in Chistopol.

Manufacturing time is 3-4 weeks and they ask for 100 pre-payment for orders with custom design.

Other part of your order is engraving. As you mentioned that engraving should be individual for each watch - most easy way for us is to do it locally in St. Petersburg after we receive watches from Vostok factory. Cost of individual engraving we can offer EUR 4,50 per watch.

Delivery to your location after order is completed we can do in several parts using insured registered airmail from Finland and cost of delivery will be EUR 3,00 per watch"

I think that the plan is OK. It will satisfy all the watch tastes (many people asked for a dial without date window, and the luminova paint is a good extra that resolves one of the most know Amphibia's lacks, the weak lume). The engraving will be inexpensive too. The shipment from Finland will be very useful especially for EU people, in special way for Italy - the Italian customs are the worst in the world. Now we must organize about orders/payments/shipments. Any opinion?

 

[michele]

Ok, some ideas to restart the project after the Christmas holidays.

It's easily understandable that the main difficulties are the ways of payment and shipping.

I'm definitely for PayPal, no need of a dedicated bank account to raise the funds. It is faster, it allows to make single payments (made in a two-weeks "campaign"), to make easy associations of the payments with the shipping addresses, and to avoid problems with a transfer to non-EU bank account. It has a cost, but considering the low price of the watch, it's not a grave damage for our wallets.

About shipping, we can choose between single shippings to each buyer, and shipping in blocks to each country (a box with 30 watches to Italy, 50 watches to USA, etc.) to cut the costs and ensure a fast express shipping. But if we make ship the watches from Finland (as proposed by the supplier), i'm definitely for single shippings.

Any further opinion?

 

[michele]

I would like to get in on the order if it is not too late.

Michele, what is the final design? (hands, case, date/no date etc.)

Cheers,
gigfy

The final design was already decided some time ago. The watch is based on the Amphibia design, with arrow-shaped hour hands. Hour/minute hands will be black, and the watch (accordingly with the number of buyers) will be available with or without date.
Now Nikarlo (who kept the contact with the seller during these months) is contacting again the seller to decide the details.

If everything will go OK, we are close to the start.

 

[michele]

This is the new, slightly modified version without date window, with darker red sectors and slightly different inscriptions. Carlo did an excellent artwork :-!

The hands will be of this type - black and not arrow-shaped, to be more faithful to the original navy clock, and because the arrow-shaped ones are not available in black...only in chrome. :think: A strange "bureaucratic" rule in Vostok, not easily understandable.

Of course, on the bezel there will be a triangle at 12 (as on the modern Amphibia), not a dot.

 

[michele]

Good news! We have opened the list of buyers.

 

[michele]

Just received an e-mail from Philp Katilin, the supplier of the watches, with some useful details. He explained the phases that will lead to delivery of the watches.

Hello Michele,

I am glad to hear from you !

Please see answers to your questions below:

1) Time of delivery of the first watches since the payments (intended as the needed amount for the minimum quantity). Carlo told me that the time is 2 months, it is right?

The general delivery time for such order as we develop now with you consists of several steps. Let me explain you more exactly these steps so you better understand why I think that it will be about 2 months.

1. Collecting individual payments from each customer via CCNow (payment processing company for PayPal and credit cards payment we use for online orders): as I previously explained to Carlo Nicolucci it is possible and we are ready to do it but it will be little more complicated and longer than receiving one single payment because there are defined by CCNow times for transfer of collected money to us and they take place only 2 times per month. So there is approx. 2 week delay before we can have funds on our bank account after customer actually paid online. This is done by CCnow for fraud protection and unfortunately we can not make this process faster.
We also work with 2Checkout.com but they have approx. the same schedule of payments to merchants. You may ask why we can not accept PayPal directly ? This is because PayPal do not allow so far for accounts registered by Russians to collect money - we can only send money via PayPal. So we have to use for collection PayPal and other payments such companies as CCNow or 2Checkout or we also have partners in USA - Western Bid Inc. But they all take extra commission unfortunately. CCNow is most acceptable with 6 % rate.

2. After we collected individual payments and received funds to bank account we transfer them to Vostok in Chistopol immediately and this is not really long but in any case will take 3-4 working days.

3. Vostok watch factory promises to produce this order in 2-3 weeks after payment received and prototype is ready but from my long term experience dealing with them I know that various extra delays are likely so more realistic time is 3-4 weeks.

4. We receive shipment from Vostok with watches ( it will also take time about 5-7 days from Chistopol to St. Petersburg where we are located ) and start to make personal engravings on each watch - this will also take several days at least.

5 We post watches after checking that everything is ok to individual customers in different countries. Shipping will be done mostly via registered airmail with tracking No. - usually takes 2 weeks from Russia to any location worldwide. To some countries (UK, Germany, Italy it is better that we post from Finland so that customers do not have to pay VAT, duty etc.) so time in post is usually faster from Finland but anyway it will be extra time for delivery from Russia to Finland so the same about 2 weeks.


2) About the definitive prototype. Before the production of the watch, we need to know how will be the final result, so we want a prototype, or a pic of the first watch produced (no computer graphic, please).

I already discussed this point with Vostok watch factory and they promised to provide photos of first watch produced.

3) What types of fonts can be engraved on the caseback, and how many letters.

Our plan so far that engraving will be done manually by very qualified engravers here so virtually anything can be done and any fonts can be used but we will need to have extra conversation about this and may be define just several possible styles/fonts because in other case it may become too complicated to handle for 150 watches and take much longer time. Number of letters is limited by the size of font you chose only - it will not affect the cost much if 9 or 12 letters will be engraved for example.

4) Type of box. We want plastic box, no cardboard boxes.

As I already confirmed to Carlo Nicolucci - yes they will all come in Vostok standard plactic boxes blue or black color with Vostok logo on the box. ( I can send you example pictures if you would like ).

5) Main data of your company - bank, address, etc.

I work since 2001 in this business. I mainly deal with online sales via www.RussianWatch.net and on eBay.
I also work with small wholesale and drop shipping orders with some regular partners in Spain and UK.
In Russia I registered as private entrepreneur ( not requires company registration ) in St. Petersburg.
I also have close partnership with local wholesale watch company located in St. Petersburg - "Gals" LLC - they mainly deal with Vostok, Molnija and Record watches and supply me and other retail sellers and offline shops in Russia and abroad.

My contact and business registration details in Russia:

Novocherkassky St. 47- 2 - 90
St. Petersburg 195196,
Russia

Tel: + 7 812 776-20-84
Fax: + 7 812 373-51-00
Mob Tel: +7 921 920-94-94
Traveller Mob Tel : + 372 595 08 323

My local business partner for wholesale:

"Gals" LLC
Basseynaya St. 53 -4
St. Petersburg 192281, Russia

(bank data hidden on the forum)

[email protected]

www.RussianWatch.net