Description
Vostok Amphibia diver’s watch — 17 jewels
MADE IN USSR!
Manufactured at the Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok”, USSR.
Амфибия (Amphibia) is the name Vostok gave its 200-metre diver’s watch: a watch meant to be as much at home underwater as on land.
“Антимагнитные” under the logo reads “Antimagnetic”. There is no “Заказ МО СССР” (Ordered by the Ministry of Defence) marking on this dial: this is the civilian Amphibia, sold in ordinary Soviet shops.
About the Amphibia Line
The Chistopol Watch Factory was appointed official supplier to the USSR Ministry of Defence in 1965, and the Komandirskie was created that same year. The experience gained developing the army watch led directly to the Amphibia in 1967: a stainless-steel diver’s watch rated to 200 metres (20 atm). Instead of an expensive screw-down crown, Vostok sealed it with a case back that is pressed down harder by water pressure the deeper the watch goes, a simple solution that made a proper diver’s watch affordable.
This is the classic round stainless-steel Amphibia case with a rotating bezel, fitted with the manual-wind calibre 2409.
About This Watch
The dial has a champagne sunburst finish with large black Roman numerals, a printed minute track and round lume dots outside the hour numerals. The script “Восток” logo sits above centre with “Антимагнитные” (Antimagnetic) below it, “17 камней” (17 jewels) in the lower half and “Сделано в СССР” (Made in USSR) at the bottom. The hour hand is an arrow with a lume insert, the minute hand is a lume-filled sword, and the central seconds hand is red with a lume dot. The rotating bezel carries red markings on the left half, black on the right, and a lume pip at 12.
The case back, held by a retaining ring, is marked “Амфибия”, “Водонепроницаемые 200 м” (water resistant 200 m) and “Противоударные” (shock-resistant), with the serial number 337696. The 200 m figure is the factory rating from new; we do not claim water resistance for a watch of this age. Vostok case-back numbers are serials, not date codes, and nothing on the watch dates it more closely than the “Сделано в СССР” on the dial, so we do not give a year. Inside is a Vostok calibre 2409: manual wind, 17 jewels, central seconds, no date. We identified it by its bridge layout; the calibre stamp is not visible in the photos.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Vostok (Chistopol Watch Factory)
- Line: Amphibia
- Movement: Vostok 2409
- Jewels: 17
- Winding: Manual
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Case Size: Approx. 45.5×43.5mm (with crown)
- Lug Width: 18mm
- Crystal: Acrylic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds; rotating bezel
- Country of Manufacture: USSR
Condition Report
The dial has aged to a deeper tone towards its edge, and there is fine spotting across the surface, most visible on the left side and around the centre. The printing is complete. The lume dots and hand inserts have aged evenly to a cream tone. The steel case shows light scratches from use. The bezel has light scratches and small marks in the paint, and its knurled edge shows a brass tone where the plating has worn.
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with a new Komandirskie padded leather strap.
This watch ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
Shown with optional black bezel — highly recommended add-on!
Why Collectors Want This Watch Today
The Amphibia is the most famous Soviet diver’s watch, and plenty were made, so the appeal here is not scarcity. Roman numerals are an unusual choice on a diver’s watch, and on a champagne sunburst dial they give this Amphibia a dressier look than the usual diver dial, while the case keeps the Amphibia’s pressure-sealed construction and rotating bezel. The 2409 is a simple, robust manual-wind movement that any watchmaker can service. If you want a more purposeful tool-watch look, the bezel can be swapped for the optional black diver’s bezel.
Modes of payment:
- PayPal
- Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
- bitcoin
We guarantee the item you receive looks and works exactly as advertised — or your money back.
About the watch factory
Watch Factory “Vostok” – began as the “2nd State Watch Factory” was evacuated during World War 2 to Chistopol in 1941.
In 1943 began producing Kirovskie watch – first Soviet man’s wrist watch earlier made on 1st Moscow Watch Factory. From 1949 famous “Pobeda” watches were made here.
From 1965 “Commander’s” watch Vostok were made on the factory.
Since 1965 factory was official supplier of Ministry of Defence, all watches produced were branded as “Vostok”
Other brands produced: Albatros, Amphibia, Buran, Chaika, General’s, Kama, Kolos, Komandirskie, Mir, Pobeda, Saturn, Sekonda, Sputnik, Svet, Uran, Vostok
