Vostok Compressor Project Information and FAQ

17960 Views 23 Replies 10 Participants Last post by Sullivanjt, Dec 27, 2020

Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · Jul 8, 2020 (Edited)

Because of all the new people joining the project, I've decided to dedicate an entirely separate thread simply to the confirmed information about the watch. This thread is not for discussion, but rather for me to put out significant updates and information about the project.

ORIGINAL WATCH:

Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Material property

DIAL AND BEZEL DESIGNED BY MIGUEL FAZENDAS:

1: What is the purpose of this project?
- To create a true-to-original reissue of the original Vostok Compressor, a Soviet dive watch made in the mid- or late-80s. Very few were made (or at least exist today), but the design is incredibly unique.

2: What are the dimensions of the watch?
- 40mm case width, 47mm lug to lug, 18mm strap width. Height: unconfirmed (most likely around 14mm) UPDATE 12/27/2020: height is 15.1mm. Dmitry from Meranom has an original case, which we are basing our design off of. The case itself is stainless steel, and will have 200m of water resistance.

3D RENDER FROM MERANOM:

3: What is the price of the watch?
- As of December 27th, 2020: USD $322.

4: What is the crystal made of?
- The crystal will be a double-domed sapphire. This will mimic the original shape of the plastic crystal. We asked about a plastic crystal, to be true to the original, but Dmitry from Meranom said it wasn't possible.

5. What is the time frame to receive my watch, once I have paid?
- No idea just yet. the current global pandemic has messed with the postal service to a significant degree. I am hoping to have watches start shipping before the end of the year, but be prepared to wait until some time in 2021.

6. What movement is inside the watch?
- The standard Vostok 2416b movement. This should facilitate ease of servicing in the future.

6: What are the risks associated with the project?
- That the supplier will be unable to make the watch to the specifications we desire, which, if significantly different, could cause people to abandon the project. Another risk is an increase in price, due to a shift in global economic fortunes caused by COVID-19. We will not request money from anyone until, at least, we can get pictures of a prototype for everyone to assess whether it is sufficiently close to the original.

Link to the registration thread:

www.watchuseek.com

2020 Vostok Compressor Project Registration Thread

Glad we've made it this far! See below for the link to register. A quick note: as discussed previously, we are not going to do limited edition numbers, so we can have both dial variations. EDIT: We made it to 300! Below I have posted the waitlist. If you are still interested in joining...

www.watchuseek.com

www.watchuseek.com

Thanks for reading, and welcome to the project!

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mudylych

· #2 · Jul 14, 2020

The watch is depicted in soviet catalogue from early1990-s , ref number 300158

Text Turquoise Paper

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 15, 2020

Update to project information:

Two decisions were made this past week - one on case finishing, one on the hand set.

- We have chosen to go with a polished finish on every surface except the case back (which will be brushed). This decision was made due to the abundance of evidence that the original case, much like many regular-production Vostoks, also had a polished finish.

- For the hands, Dmitry (Meranom's representative) provided us with two hand sets to choose from: one regular Vostok hand set, and one hand set which will be specifically made for this project. Although the first hand set is closer in size to the original watch's, the issue became our ability to match the lume on the hands (made by Vostok) with the color of the lume on the dial (made by a contractor). Ultimately, we felt that the second set, with matching lume, was better-suited to the design of the watch. It was also noted that if participants do not like the hand set, they are able to source a different pair of hands for their watch, and the movement has plenty of after-market pairs to choose from!

The photos of the watch renders above reflect the updated hand set. If you have any comments, I would encourage you to post in the discussion thread!

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 27, 2020

Second update - crowns. While we are unable to use the original "wobble crowns," we are attempt to replicate the look. The dimensions of the crowns we are using are the exact same as the original. Additionally, in order to replicate the crimped appearance of the bottom of the old crowns, we have decided to cut a diagonal edge on the bottom of the crowns for this watch - see below.

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 16, 2020

Third update: colors and strap options. First, we have changed the orange dial to include a lighter shade of orange; we feel it reflects the original color better. Second, we have begun the process of choosing a strap for the watch, and have settled on two to choose between: a custom tropic strap, and a custom, solid link bracelet.

These are the renders we have right now. Many people want both, but we ate waiting on final price estimates from Vostok before we make a decision.

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rewt

· #6 · Aug 18, 2020

Is the change in colour to a more muted tone a firm decision - to be honest I preferred the brighter, stronger earlier version. Will the green also be changed to a similarly muted version? One other question - will it have a Vostok gasket or an O-ring? I have the previous project version which I do love and wear almost every day so please don't consider this a big hate list but it does have a list of 'not quite rights'. Principally: too big by about 2mm dia (this project sorts that which is just great), not orange (likewise sorted here), inner bezel proportionally narrow and crucially, misaligned at 12 (can this be avoided in this project? - I have not seen a discussion of number of clicks etc if that was the cause for the issue - apologies if I have missed that), and...(maybe this is just me)...O rings rather than a gasket. cheers, A

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haejuk

· #7 · Aug 18, 2020

If your old project watch bezel is mis-aligned, just spin the bezel all the way around a couple of times. In most cases this will get it to align. I remember this problem with one of mine. The issue is that there is an an odd number of clicks.

rewt

· #8 · Aug 18, 2020

Thanks, I did try that and it is close but never quite there - it's a fraction of the pip out which is not the end of the world - it aligns on 9 perfectly so I just leave it there. Like I say, I love it and greatly appreciate all the hard work put into that project.

Reactions: 1

Leandro_MRE

· #9 · Aug 25, 2020

I agree with you about the tone (I prefer a brighter version), but people got mad when I started a discussion about this in another thread.

rewt said:
Is the change in colour to a more muted tone a firm decision - to be honest I preferred the brighter, stronger earlier version. Will the green also be changed to a similarly muted version? One other question - will it have a Vostok gasket or an O-ring? I have the previous project version which I do love and wear almost every day so please don't consider this a big hate list but it does have a list of 'not quite rights'. Principally: too big by about 2mm dia (this project sorts that which is just great), not orange (likewise sorted here), inner bezel proportionally narrow and crucially, misaligned at 12 (can this be avoided in this project? - I have not seen a discussion of number of clicks etc if that was the cause for the issue - apologies if I have missed that), and...(maybe this is just me)...O rings rather than a gasket. cheers, A

Leandro_MRE

· #10 · Aug 25, 2020

Sorry I did not get it. What is the e difference about the two hand sets? They look the same to me.

Sullivanjt said:
Update to project information:

Two decisions were made this past week - one on case finishing, one on the hand set.

- We have chosen to go with a polished finish on every surface except the case back (which will be brushed). This decision was made due to the abundance of evidence that the original case, much like many regular-production Vostoks, also had a polished finish.

- For the hands, Dmitry (Meranom's representative) provided us with two hand sets to choose from: one regular Vostok hand set, and one hand set which will be specifically made for this project. Although the first hand set is closer in size to the original watch's, the issue became our ability to match the lume on the hands (made by Vostok) with the color of the lume on the dial (made by a contractor). Ultimately, we felt that the second set, with matching lume, was better-suited to the design of the watch. It was also noted that if participants do not like the hand set, they are able to source a different pair of hands for their watch, and the movement has plenty of after-market pairs to choose from!

The photos of the watch renders above reflect the updated hand set. If you have any comments, I would encourage you to post in the discussion thread!

Sullivanjt said:
Update to project information:

Two decisions were made this past week - one on case finishing, one on the hand set.

- We have chosen to go with a polished finish on every surface except the case back (which will be brushed). This decision was made due to the abundance of evidence that the original case, much like many regular-production Vostoks, also had a polished finish.

- For the hands, Dmitry (Meranom's representative) provided us with two hand sets to choose from: one regular Vostok hand set, and one hand set which will be specifically made for this project. Although the first hand set is closer in size to the original watch's, the issue became our ability to match the lume on the hands (made by Vostok) with the color of the lume on the dial (made by a contractor). Ultimately, we felt that the second set, with matching lume, was better-suited to the design of the watch. It was also noted that if participants do not like the hand set, they are able to source a different pair of hands for their watch, and the movement has plenty of after-market pairs to choose from!

The photos of the watch renders above reflect the updated hand set. If you have any comments, I would encourage you to post in the discussion thread!

mariomart

· #11 · Aug 25, 2020

Leandro_MRE said:
Sorry I did not get it. What is the e difference about the two hand sets? They look the same to me.

The explanation is in the post you quoted

Sullivanjt said:
Although the first hand set is closer in size to the original watch's, the issue became our ability to match the lume on the hands (made by Vostok) with the color of the lume on the dial (made by a contractor). Ultimately, we felt that the second set, with matching lume, was better-suited to the design of the watch.

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 25, 2020

Leandro_MRE said:
Sorry I did not get it. What is the e difference about the two hand sets? They look the same to me.

The confusion is because I deleted the old renders with the first set of hands. The photos in the first post all have the second set that we chose.

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 8, 2020

UPDATE: The final product renders are here.

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EBasil

· #14 · Sep 15, 2020 (Edited)

Great updates, particularly with the renders!

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Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #15 · Sep 15, 2020

EBasil said:
Great updates, particularly with the renders!

We shifted the holes that that it's an extra 1cm (Miguel can correct me if my measurement is off) up toward the end of the strap. That way, the strap isn't too long, and it can still fit larger wrists.

Reactions: 2

GianLa

· #16 · Sep 16, 2020

Excuse me when will it be available and can you pay for it?

Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #17 · Sep 22, 2020

UPDATE: The final price is around USD $322. We have chosen to include both the bracelet and the strap.

Additionally, there are now 400 watches available, rather than 300. This is not because we have placed an order for extra watches, but because Dmitry was already planning on requesting an additional 100 watches to sell on his own. Because the waitlist is already nearing full capacity, he has agreed to give us those extra 100 slots.

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mariomart

· #18 · Sep 22, 2020

Now that we are in the final mile, what happens from here?

Has Dmitry given a timeline of expected milestones and a roughed in date for first batch production/release?

I expect that Meranom will send out individual invoices for payment once batches are completed.

Great job by the way @Sullivanjt , for pulling it all together and keeping things on track

Cheers, Mario

Reactions: 5

Sullivanjt

Discussion Starter · #19 · Sep 22, 2020

mariomart said:
Now that we are in the final mile, what happens from here?

Has Dmitry given a timeline of expected milestones and a roughed in date for first batch production/release?

I expect that Meranom will send out individual invoices for payment once batches are completed.

Great job by the way @Sullivanjt , for pulling it all together and keeping things on track

Cheers, Mario

He has not. I want to give him some time to contact his suppliers, give them the specifications for the parts, etc. The plan is to ask him at the end of this week/beginning of next for a timeline.

As far as payment goes, I am also uncertain, but that's probably what is going to happen. I was actually hoping to notify people myself when the watch was ready, maybe send out a link Dmitry provides. But seeing as how I'm not an employee of Meranom, it seems unlikely that that's going to be the case.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

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GianLa

· #20 · Sep 22, 2020

Sullivanjt said:
UPDATE: The final price is around USD $322. We have chosen to include both the bracelet and the strap.

Additionally, there are now 400 watches available, rather than 300. This is not because we have placed an order for extra watches, but because Dmitry was already planning on requesting an additional 100 watches to sell on his own. Because the waitlist is already nearing full capacity, he has agreed to give us those extra 100 slots.

Please can you tell me when and how will I have to pay?

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