[watchloco]

I have been wanting to purchase a vintage Raketa for a while, especially a Perpetual Calendar model, but have been putting it off. So I came across these two on web site. Reading horror stories from others who have made purchases for a franken watch, I wanted to first ask you all what you think if either one is authentic from a seller who is based out of Ukraine. I really like them but I am not sure if $ 50 US dollars are worth the price. The seller seemed to use the same picture for the movement. I know I am surrounded by experts who can shed some light to these beauties. :think:

 

[schnurrp]

Here's what the blue one should look like according to Mark Gordon's collection (I have one too):

Your candidate has a replacement second hand and crown. Also Latin dial but cyrillic date wheels.

Here's what a red one should look like (I think the chrome-plated case is also authentic but I'm not sure).

Your candidate has a replaced second hand (maybe hour and minute hands, too) and replacement crown. Dial and date wheels match.

I think you can do better. These are pretty common.

 

[phd]

[schnurrp]'s right on all points, apart from the hands (I've seen that combo of black hour and minute with black seconds many times) and the chrome case (I'm pretty sure that all the perpetual calendars came with either gold or chrome cases). Also, the seconds hand on the blue example is too short.

The mismatched crowns on both the examples you posted are wrong, as are the combination of Western-style dial "Raketa", and English month names with Cyrillic day names.

Keep hunting - $50 should get you a nice original example

Paul

 

[OCDood]

nevermind...

 

[liahim]

And what Mark Gordon's collection on the Rocket logo is better? Than at Alexander Brodnikovskogo? It not so.

 

[schnurrp]

And what Mark Gordon's collection on the Rocket logo is better? Than at Alexander Brodnikovskogo? It not so.

No, just more accessible. Alexander is the best (In my opinion, of course)!

 

[GuessWho]

I have one of those red perpetual calendars, although it has seen better days.. mine looks like this:

 

[watchloco]

Thank you gentlemen. I will continue to search and avoid the frankens! I must concur that Mark Gordon has an exceptional collection. I should have checked his collection at USSR Time first beforehand. The best shopper is an informed one.

 

[preguntenaalice]

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a raketa calendar, 100 dollars aprox. Do you yhink is expensive? Thanks a lot

 

[OCDood]

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a raketa calendar, 100 dollars aprox. Do you yhink is expensive? Thanks a lot

I would consider it expensive.

I paid $35US for mine. It looks like the blue one in schnurrp's post and just shipped today from Russia.

 

[bcy]

I just bought this Raketa perpectual using the information shared in this thread. I hope this is original. What do you guys think?

Can I find out how do i set the dates and day? As this is my first piece, I have not been able to work it out.

And for the case back, how do I open it? Is it a screw on or Do I just pry it open from the slight recess on the back?

Thanks.

 

[Chubstain]

Howdy bcy.. finally I can help someone on this forum!
I would say definitely say original, I cannot see any problems.
To set the dates, pull out the crown all the way and then some, and it will pop out a bit increasing the date by a day. Repeat as necessary
To set the day, well I just kept changing the time until I got the write day
Also this is the exciting part! To be able to tell your friends you know the future:
1. Set the year into the fitting month. (1991 is the same as 2013) So for this month, put 1991 (rotating the botton crown) into the JUL part.
2. Then just look in the correct column at the top for the date. So lets do the 28th. Look for the column that has 28 and then read the day above and BAM! You know the day correlating to that date of that month! I'm born in 1995. So to find out my birthday move the years until 1995 fits with the normal looking JAN (not the filled in one - those are for the filled in years (1988 on your example) so when you are using a filled in year, use the filled in months) Ok so the 1995 should be in the non filled JAN. Then look for 29 (my D.O.B.) and you will see that my birthday is on a ....... Its for you to find out

As for the caseback, just use a knife and pop it open, its really easy.

That got a bit muddled.. I was a bit excited If you don't understand just ask again. And sadly (which is pretty cool) since this watch is from the Soviet Union, it only goes up to the year 2000. However, certain years from then are the same as certain years nowadays. For example 2013 fits the 1991 lay out. 1997 is 2014. Just google "same years as ____"

I hope I was a good help Enjoy your watch. I love mine!

 

[phd]

Hi bcy,

That one looks fine, assuming that the movement is OK (should be 2628H). In particular, the dial and the day/month wheel match (ie, they are both in English and not mismatched with one Russian and the other English).

To set the date, you pull the crown out slightly further than you would to set the time - each pull and release will advance the date by one. To set the day of the week, though, you just have to wind the time forward. Normally you set the day of the week first, then the time, then the date.

Do you know how to use the perpetual calendar? You align the year and the month in the bottom window, then the top window tells you the days of the week. So, in your photo, for example, 1989 is aligned with March (bottom window), so the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of March 1989 are Wednesdays (from the top window), 2nd, 9th etc are Thursdays... Your year wheel only goes up to ?1991?, but the years repeat so you should be able to work out which year is equivalent to 2013. I think the "Feb" and "Jan" in white are for leap years.

The caseback is a press-on one. There will be a little groove in the body, opposite the main crown, where you can insert the tip of a knife to lever the caseback off. Just be careful to hold the knife in such a way that, when the caseback pops, the knife does not slip and go into the movement. The caseback can be replaced by hand pressure alone (just don't press hard on the crystal, in case it cracks).

Enjoy!
Paul

 

[bcy]

Thanks Chubstain and phd! That will certainly help me! The calendar is so cool. I was trying to figure it out and now I know !! Thanks again!!

 

[bcy]

I'm born in 1995. So to find out my birthday move the years until 1995 fits with the normal looking JAN (not the filled in one - those are for the filled in years (1988 on your example) so when you are using a filled in year, use the filled in months) Ok so the 1995 should be in the non filled JAN. Then look for 29 (my D.O.B.) and you will see that my birthday is on a ....... Its for you to find out

/QUOTE]

Thanks for your help and the interesting exercise.. The answer is Sun.. Did I get it right?

 

[watchloco]

I found this perpetual calendar with a green dial. All the clues seem to point that it is legitimate. What do you all think?

 

[schnurrp]

I found this perpetual calendar with a green dial. All the clues seem to point that it is legitimate. What do you all think? View attachment 1214138 [/QUO

TE]

Looks good with consistent wear suggesting all parts started life together but the hour marks are a bit corroded.
This one appears authentic from what you've shown (movement?) but ones in this condition do not command a premium price so don't overpay.

Oh, I didn't notice but it has a replacement winding crown.

 

[liahim]

There have to be three white or three golden arrows.

 

[watchloco]

Thanks. I will contact the seller to see if I can barter with them. I find colored dials interesting and quite attractive.

 

[schnurrp]

There have to be three white or three golden arrows.

Looking a little closer liahim may be right, the second hand may be silver instead of gold. I would ask about that.