Key Features
For a 50+ year-old watch, this watch is in excellent condition. The chamfered cushion case has an almost Art Deco feel to it, and its thin format and practically untouched gold-plating make it a comfortable fit and a treat for the eyes. Another hidden detail is the lovely perlage finish on the inside face of the caseback. Scant signs of wear can be found on the shimmering, silver-plated sunburst dial, and the same can be said for the applied gold-plated indices and baton style hands. In the absence of the original, we’ve fitted the Poljot with a tasteful 18mm black leather strap.
About Poljot
The Poljot brand came to be during the genesis of the Soviet Union. Under orders from Joseph Stalin, the ‘First State Watch Factory’ was established in 1930 as part of Russia’s plan to become an industry powerhouse under socialism. Two defunct American manufacturers, the Anosia Clock Company based out of Brooklyn, NYC, and the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio, were purchased by the Soviet government and repurposed for Soviet use. Some very early products are still stamped with “Dueber-Hampden, Canton, Ohio, USA” and are highly collectible!
Now going by ‘First Moscow Watch Factory’, 1961 saw the production of the Sturmanskie, meaning “Navigator’s” in Russian, which was the watch worn by the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin. This was only the first of two of their timepieces that travelled to the great beyond! In 1964 we first became acquainted with the name ‘Poljot’, which fittingly translates to ‘Flight’ from the Russian. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov completed his historic first spacewalk in 1965 while wearing a FMWF Strela, a chronograph from Poljot. Neither watch was commissioned by the Soviet space program, yet each have marked Poljot with the special privilege of being part of man’s foray into outer space.
It is unclear whether Poljot has survived into the present day, though signs point towards its demise. MakTime, the company utilizing old Poljot equipment to manufacture mechanical movements, went bankrupt. Volmax, the successor of First Moscow Watch Company, relocated to Switzerland, where they produce Swiss-made movements with design cues from Russian watches. To own a vintage watch is to own a part of history, and nowhere does that feel more appropriate than with a Poljot.
Servicing and Guarantee
This timepiece has been serviced with full disassembly. There is a 12-month guarantee, subject to the usage and care guidelines.
Overview
Case
- Original, gold plated cushion case.
- Acrylic crystal.
- Steel screw-on caseback.
- Classic crosshatch gold plated crown.
- New, 18mm real leather black strap
Dimensions:
- Width w/o crown 35 mm.
- Width w/ crown 32.4 mm.
- Full height 39 mm.
- Thickness 9.8 mm.
- Strap 18mm.
Dial and Hands
- Original silver plated sunburst dial
- Applied gold indices
- “Poljot” signature below numeral 12 position.
- Gold plated, Baton style hands.
Movement
- Soviet made movement
- 17 jewels.
- Manual wind.
- Shockproof
- Moistureproof/Dustproof
Testing Results
- Testing duration:
- Average timekeeping range:
Servicing and Guarantee
- Fully serviced with disassembly in our Bristol shop.
- Mechanics in full working order.
- 12-month guarantee.
- Guarantee Terms and Conditions.
