Another unusal one, but an understated stunner
Discussion
Less extreme this time 
Poljot Ocean mechanical chronograph...
as with most of the Poljot watches it's a reissue of an old design but all the better for it. Stunning quality and I must say it has really got some fans. Several people have already made comment after noticing it on my wrist (I'm not one to wave watches under peoples noses, I buy them for me). And it's testament to the quality that not one person has even got close to guessing the correct price (they are all way, way over).
The original Ocean chronograph had a stainless steel case with a flat stainless steel caseback secured by a screw down ring and an acrylic crystal. The dial has a telemeter scale, and the inner bezel can be rotated using the crown at 9. This watch was manufactured solely for the Soviet Navy and was never made available to the public. In fact, the Poljot 3133 was only made available to the public in 1983; seven years after it was first introduced for military use. The recent reissue (which I have bought) is pretty much identical to the original with the same stainless steel case but with a screw down caseback and a slightly domed mineral crystal.
Both The original and reissue use the Poljot 3133 movement. There are minor cosmetic differences between current movements and those produced over 20 years ago but they are mechanically identical. Both versions also have the emblem of the Russian Navy and the words ÊÎÌÀÍÄÈÐÑÊÈÅ ÂÌÔ (Navy commander) on the case back.
Poljot produced the Ocean chronograph during the 70's for the Soviet navy, however it is most famous for having been worn by cosmonaut Rozhdestvensy during the ill-fated Soyuz-23 mission. Soyuz 23 was supposed to ferry supplies to the Salyut 3 space station but for technical reasons, was unable to dock. Then, during re-entry, mission control applied too little reverse thrust. This, and the unusually windy conditions resulted in the capsule landing 150km away from the expected landing zone, on a frozen lake, in the middle of a snowstorm! The capsule was heavy enough to break the ice covering the lake, and the parachute attached to the capsule quickly filled with water. The weight of the parachute caused the capsule to turn over, so that both the fresh air valve and the escape hatch were submerged. The cosmonauts managed to close/block the fresh air inlet but were now trapped. They turned off everything that they could in order to save power for the CO2 scrubber unit. This included the heating so it became extremely cold inside. Although many attempts were made, the capsule could not be turned over, and eventually the order was given to use a helicopter to drag (it was too heavy to lift) the capsule 6km to shore. The cosmonauts were eventually rescued after having been trapped for 24 hours.
ps. Mine is numbered 090/999
Poljot Ocean mechanical chronograph...
as with most of the Poljot watches it's a reissue of an old design but all the better for it. Stunning quality and I must say it has really got some fans. Several people have already made comment after noticing it on my wrist (I'm not one to wave watches under peoples noses, I buy them for me). And it's testament to the quality that not one person has even got close to guessing the correct price (they are all way, way over).
The original Ocean chronograph had a stainless steel case with a flat stainless steel caseback secured by a screw down ring and an acrylic crystal. The dial has a telemeter scale, and the inner bezel can be rotated using the crown at 9. This watch was manufactured solely for the Soviet Navy and was never made available to the public. In fact, the Poljot 3133 was only made available to the public in 1983; seven years after it was first introduced for military use. The recent reissue (which I have bought) is pretty much identical to the original with the same stainless steel case but with a screw down caseback and a slightly domed mineral crystal.
Both The original and reissue use the Poljot 3133 movement. There are minor cosmetic differences between current movements and those produced over 20 years ago but they are mechanically identical. Both versions also have the emblem of the Russian Navy and the words ÊÎÌÀÍÄÈÐÑÊÈÅ ÂÌÔ (Navy commander) on the case back.
Poljot produced the Ocean chronograph during the 70's for the Soviet navy, however it is most famous for having been worn by cosmonaut Rozhdestvensy during the ill-fated Soyuz-23 mission. Soyuz 23 was supposed to ferry supplies to the Salyut 3 space station but for technical reasons, was unable to dock. Then, during re-entry, mission control applied too little reverse thrust. This, and the unusually windy conditions resulted in the capsule landing 150km away from the expected landing zone, on a frozen lake, in the middle of a snowstorm! The capsule was heavy enough to break the ice covering the lake, and the parachute attached to the capsule quickly filled with water. The weight of the parachute caused the capsule to turn over, so that both the fresh air valve and the escape hatch were submerged. The cosmonauts managed to close/block the fresh air inlet but were now trapped. They turned off everything that they could in order to save power for the CO2 scrubber unit. This included the heating so it became extremely cold inside. Although many attempts were made, the capsule could not be turned over, and eventually the order was given to use a helicopter to drag (it was too heavy to lift) the capsule 6km to shore. The cosmonauts were eventually rescued after having been trapped for 24 hours.
ps. Mine is numbered 090/999
Wow that's a great story behind a very good looking watch, the question begs to be asked - How much was it and where did you get it from?
Was the military navy watch only water resistant 3ATM? Doesn't seem alot for a watch that is meant to spend most of its time at sea.
Great pics of a lovely watch with a interesting write up, cheers.
Was the military navy watch only water resistant 3ATM? Doesn't seem alot for a watch that is meant to spend most of its time at sea.
Great pics of a lovely watch with a interesting write up, cheers.
I got it via ebay (As usual with the rarer stuff) and paid 214euro's including shipping (approx £163). I still havent found a UK supplier of Poljot that sells the watch for reasonable money so always tend to hit the 'bay (I have 3 Poljot's now)
It does seem strange that it is a navy watch but only 3ATM, but remember, this is for the officers only. Hence the "Navy Commander" inscription around the russian navy emblem on the back. If a Navy captain gets below 3ATM his day is kind of over
Russian Navy divers wore these things...
(3 inches across)
It does seem strange that it is a navy watch but only 3ATM, but remember, this is for the officers only. Hence the "Navy Commander" inscription around the russian navy emblem on the back. If a Navy captain gets below 3ATM his day is kind of over
Russian Navy divers wore these things...
(3 inches across)
I don't own a Poljot but I know a couple of people who have them and I've got to say I'm tempted. I really like the divers watch in the seocnd picture and I think there are a couple on Ebay at the moment so the temptation is huge at the moment.
The one you've just bought is a really nice looking watch as well...
Cheers
DC
The one you've just bought is a really nice looking watch as well...
Cheers
DC
I've got one of the Poljot "Aviator" Fortis style chronos - If there's a cheaper way of putting a mechanical chronograph on your wrist[1] then I don't know what it is... These things really are quite ridiculously nice for the money and you've just got to love the cyrillic script on the dial...
[1] I've got a nice "generic"[2] vintage swiss chrono which I got for not-a-lot-of-money off eBay but that's not for the faint hearted unless you're brave and put enough old junk across the local horologists counter that he does servicing for you at trade prices...
[2] As in I don't have it to hand, I can't remember what it says on the dial, but it's definitely not a well-known name - the movements a Landeron and my freindly local watchmaker reckons it's late '50s vintage.
--
JG
[1] I've got a nice "generic"[2] vintage swiss chrono which I got for not-a-lot-of-money off eBay but that's not for the faint hearted unless you're brave and put enough old junk across the local horologists counter that he does servicing for you at trade prices...
[2] As in I don't have it to hand, I can't remember what it says on the dial, but it's definitely not a well-known name - the movements a Landeron and my freindly local watchmaker reckons it's late '50s vintage.
--
JG
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