[wood]

I have a few questions regarding Vostok desert shield.The Vostok mark logo over #5/4 index is seen in some of the watches but in some watches there are not there?Has it to do with the year of production, or is it because of auto/manuel winding, or is it just random?In the Vostok sticky there is also 2 types of amphibia cases. One with 2mm and one with 3mm case (se picture borrowed from the sticky)I have a dessert shield with 3mm case but with manuel winding. The 3mm was according to the sticky is just for automaticmovements? :think:Thanks!

wood

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I have a few questions regarding Vostok dessert shield.

The Vostok mark logo over #5/4 index is seen in some of the watches but in some watches there are not there?
Has it to do with the year of production, or is it because of auto/manuel winding, or is it just random?

In the Vostok sticky there is also 2 types of amphibia cases. One with 2mm and one with 3mm case (se picture borrowed from the sticky)

I have a dessert shield with 3mm case but with manuel winding. The 3mm was according to the sticky is just for automatic
movements? :think:

Thanks!

View attachment 595802 View attachment 595803

wood

I bought one some time ago, a soviet that did not have the vostok logo, which didn't bother me because I don't like it anyway, but did raise a question as to authenticity. I was able to find examples in "well-respected-collections" of both types so I concluded it was random. I am convinced that mine was brand new based on the lack of marking and the difficulty of removing the back along with box and papers blah blah that didn't match, of course. It has the 2414 movement. The case measurement for mine is less than 3mm I believe (using a ruler). Evidently every available amphibian and komandirskie bodies were fitted with this dial at the time and mine is just one of the variants. These had a pretty short production run I believe.

Yours looks to be in nice shape although I can't tell from your pictures if it is new. If it is used then the obvious choices are:
It's automatic but auto-wind not working. I assume you've checked this. The back would also state automatic if it should have been there.
It's automatic but has been "repaired" by replacing 2416 with 2414. Again, back will help here.
It was 2414 from the start. Back without automatic designation would come close to trumping fat case in my mind.

Curious to know what you've got. This is one of the most interesting watches from an historical perspective ever produced in my humble opinion, commemorating unique joint soviet/american military action, and well worth having.

 

[JRMTactical]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

Only thing I have to say is that it's been 21 years since I was deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield.... I was a 20 year old kid. Within a month of arriving, we started bombing the crap out of the Iraqi army......and within 2 months my friends and I had helped rout that SOB Hussein out of Kuwait. We were ordered to halt operations within sight of Baghdad. Coulda, woulda, shoulda....we had them on the run and could have (might have) saved that nation from its current state of affairs. I don't know. I live with those ghosts every day.

Anyway, I have been looking at a couple of those watches just for their historical value to me. I'd like to get one, and I'll eventually do so. Anyway, wood, I like your examples...I wonder if the issues are just like our buddy Paul says? Time to start opening them up and take a look!

 

[wood]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I don´t know what to say tactical. I´m sorry if those memories comes to live! i didn´t know..:-(

wood

 

[JRMTactical]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I don´t know what to say tactical. I´m sorry if those memories comes to live! i didn´t know..:-(

wood

No, wood, no apology necessary at all! I just can't believe it's been 21 years! War is what it is, my friend, RARELY are there many good memories....that's probably a good thing... Otherwise we'd find ourselves in the middle of it all the time. One thing about war, the 'ghosts' (memories) always haunt you and you end up 'second guessing' everything. Like I said, it's a 'coulda, woulda, shoulda' situation...wishing we could have solved the problem back then and maybe the situation we're in now might not have happened. BUT, it didn't....can't change that. Please don't apologize, there's no need for an apology from you, my friend. Besides, as I said, I've been looking at a few of them as a souvenir in my collection....but I'm in no hurry as I still have a lustful eye on that matte cased Poljot Traveller!!

 

[wood]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I bought one some time ago, a soviet that did not have the vostok logo, which didn't bother me because I don't like it anyway, but did raise a question as to authenticity. I was able to find examples in "well-respected-collections" of both types so I concluded it was random. I am convinced that mine was brand new based on the lack of marking and the difficulty of removing the back along with box and papers blah blah that didn't match, of course. It has the 2414 movement. The case measurement for mine is less than 3mm I believe (using a ruler). Evidently every available amphibian and komandirskie bodies were fitted with this dial at the time and mine is just one of the variants. These had a pretty short production run I believe.

Yours looks to be in nice shape although I can't tell from your pictures if it is new. If it is used then the obvious choices are:
It's automatic but auto-wind not working. I assume you've checked this. The back would also state automatic if it should have been there.
It's automatic but has been "repaired" by replacing 2416 with 2414. Again, back will help here.
It was 2414 from the start. Back without automatic designation would come close to trumping fat case in my mind.

Curious to know what you've got. This is one of the most interesting watches from an historical perspective ever produced in my humble opinion, commemorating unique joint soviet/american military action, and well worth having.

Schnurrp!

I´ll have the watch in a safe-deposit. Send the pic later this week. Yes, Russian watches in the bank!

wood

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

Schnurrp!

I´ll have the watch in a safe-deposit. Send the pic later this week. Yes, Russian watches in the bank!

wood

And no krona!

 

[Vaurien]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

@JRMTactical, I'm curious.
You were in Iraq at the time, but you didn't receive one Desert Storm watch? I was thinking, following this knowledgeable WUS thread that every US soldier had received one!
Also, an interview reported by ill-phil seems to say that 20000 watches were deployed in the USA.;-)

Accordingly, I was thinking that in the US you could find one of these watches for few bucks, due to their widespread - was I wrong? :think:

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I have a few questions regarding Vostok dessert shield.The Vostok mark logo over #5/4 index is seen in some of the watches but in some watches there are not there?Has it to do with the year of production, or is it because of auto/manuel winding, or is it just random?

In the Vostok sticky there is also 2 types of amphibia cases. One with 2mm and one with 3mm case (se picture borrowed from the sticky)
I have a dessert shield with 3mm case but with manuel winding. The 3mm was according to the sticky is just for automaticmovements?

:think:Thanks!

View attachment 595802 View attachment 595803 View attachment 595933

wood

Yes, Wood, that shows 2414 movement (assumed with date function window). Does back have "Автоматический" (automatic) at bottom? If so, movement has been replaced, probably. If not, then yours is kind of like mine except they used some available 420 cases which would work fine with plenty of room and wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[phd]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

//Vostok Dessert Shield// This, presumably, is a watch of sufficient size to keep custard off your shirt cuff?

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

Also, Wood, I would like to revise my statement that Gulf War was US-Russia joint action. It obviously was not. Russia just ended up on the same side with the US coalition after attempting to broker their own UN peace solution which was turned down by Iraq. This was probably due to the weakened state of Russia at the time. Ten years earlier and Russia would have strongly supported their historical ally, Iraq.

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

//Vostok Dessert Shield// This, presumably, is a watch of sufficient size to keep custard off your shirt cuff?

Took me a while!

Darn! Went back and looked...only one "s" in "desert" on watch dial. The two "s" model..."mega-rare"!

 

[JRMTactical]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

@JRMTactical, I'm curious.
You were in Iraq at the time, but you didn't receive one Desert Storm watch? I was thinking, following this knowledgeable WUS thread that every US soldier had received one!
Also, an interview reported by ill-phil seems to say that 20000 watches were deployed in the USA.;-)

Accordingly, I was thinking that in the US you could find one of these watches for few bucks, due to their widespread - was I wrong? :think:

I never saw a Desert Shield or Desert Storm watch until I came to this forum! Not unusual dormant of us....most of those watches probably went to REMF's ( Rear Echelon Mother F******) who never left Riyadh or Dammam. The Russians, at the time, weren't quite as much 'on our side' as most were led to believe. i.e. there were some advisors on Mr Hussein's side at the time......but once they saw the inherent weaknesses in Soviet Armor, etc.....they were quickly gone.

We had 500,000 'trrop' there at the time, so 20K watche wwouldn't have gone very far! Lol Anyway, I missed out! :-(

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I never saw a Desert Shield or Desert Storm watch until I came to this forum! Not unusual dormant of us....most of those watches probably went to REMF's ( Rear Echelon Mother F******) who never left Riyadh or Dammam. The Russians, at the time, weren't quite as much 'on our side' as most were led to believe. i.e. there were some advisors on Mr Hussein's side at the time......but once they saw the inherent weaknesses in Soviet Armor, etc.....they were quickly gone.

We had 500,000 'trrop' there at the time, so 20K watche wwouldn't have gone very far! Lol Anyway, I missed out! :-(

I have seen some in collections or for sale on line that look like they may have seen some use during the Gulf War but never one advertised as such. Anyone seen an authentic watch that was there?

Thanks for your service, Bobby!

 

[wood]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

Sorry! for my school English :-(

wood

 

[schnurrp]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

Sorry! for my school English :-(

wood

I envy your bi-lingual ability, Wood!

 

[JRMTactical]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I have seen some in collections or for sale on line that look like they may have seen some use during the Gulf War but never one advertised as such. Anyone seen an authentic watch that was there?

Thanks for your service, Bobby!

Well, I appreciate that Paul! I do it all over again, if I coud! I loved wearing the uniform, but most of all I love my country!

 

[duffhessian1776]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

A common myth (myth-understanding?!) is that these were made for soldiers. They were not. Absolutely, not. It was a business venture initially from Massachusetts. There was a limited run of about 200,000 watches. We had a lot more than 200k soldiers, so mathematically, it is unrealistic to say they were made as gifts for our boys and girls. Realistic or not, logical or not, the myth persists. The FACT is that these were made for sale. I have at least one of every type, with the exception of my grail, the decorative, luxury case. They were not marketed in the US very well, so they are not well known; certainly not widespread. So, no, you cannot get them for cheap in America. Not many people even know about them.

 

[tikitubab]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

I wonder where i was when they issued these? Oh yeah, probably living in a hole on the wrong side of the border. Right with you on the REMF thing. We didn't even get desert boots until we redeployed back home and they wanted us to look good for the parade! Of course if i would have been a water purification specialist or mail clerk...

I never saw one of these watches in country and in fact, have never seen one other than on the bay in the US. I did see a NOS one in Ukraine a couple months ago.

Warren

I never saw a Desert Shield or Desert Storm watch until I came to this forum! Not unusual dormant of us....most of those watches probably went to REMF's ( Rear Echelon Mother F******) who never left Riyadh or Dammam. The Russians, at the time, weren't quite as much 'on our side' as most were led to believe. i.e. there were some advisors on Mr Hussein's side at the time......but once they saw the inherent weaknesses in Soviet Armor, etc.....they were quickly gone.

We had 500,000 'trrop' there at the time, so 20K watche wwouldn't have gone very far! Lol Anyway, I missed out! :-(

 

[mp34me]

Re: Vostok dessert shield question

You can still buy as new the Junior version from ebay - Zentar and Meranom. On Meranom just type in "junior" in the search field.

Russian Military Style VOSTOK Wrist Watch 1586 New | eBay

Search - junior Meranom.com

I also have a small collection of these watches - both amphibians 2414 and 2416, the 2416 Generalskie and a Komandirskie type 33x. All have the vostok logo. Below are a couple of juniors with (replacing #6) and without the logo. Also notice that one has the lollipop second hand.