Description
Vostok Amphibia diver’s watch — 18 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 stainless-steel tonneau (cushion-shaped) Amphibia case with a rotating bezel, fitted with the manual-wind calibre 2209.
About This Watch
The dial is two-tone: a black centre and outer ring with four slate-blue panels at 12, 3, 6 and 9, each carrying a large Arabic numeral and flanked by baton markers, with round lume dots at the other hours and a printed minute track. The script “Восток” logo sits above centre with “Антимагнитные” (Antimagnetic) below it, “18 камней” (18 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 60-minute bezel is marked in red from 40 to 60 and in black for the rest, with a lume pip at 12.
The case has a radial brushed finish on its broad tonneau top. The case back, held by a retaining ring, is marked “Амфибия” and “Водонепроницаемые 200 м” (water resistant 200 m). The 200 m figure is the factory rating from new; we do not claim water resistance for a watch of this age. 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 2209, stamped “2209” on the bridge: manual wind, 18 jewels, central seconds, no date.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Vostok (Chistopol Watch Factory)
- Line: Amphibia
- Movement: Vostok 2209
- Jewels: 18
- Winding: Manual
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Case Size: Approx. 47x43mm (with crown)
- Lug Width: 18mm
- Crystal: Acrylic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds; rotating bezel
- Country of Manufacture: USSR
Condition Report
The dial is clean, with complete printing and only a few tiny marks visible under close inspection. The lume dots and hand inserts have aged evenly to a cream tone. The acrylic crystal shows light surface marks. The steel case shows light scratches from use, and the case back has scratches from wear. The bezel shows clear wear: its paint is chipped and worn in places, most visibly around the black markings, and the lume pip has aged. The steel bracelet shows light scratches, heavier on the clasp.
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with vintage steel bracelet.
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. The tonneau case gives it a broad, chunky 1970s profile that sets it apart from the round Amphibia, and the black-and-slate-blue dial with its four big numerals reads instantly. It keeps the Amphibia’s pressure-sealed construction and rotating bezel, and the slim 2209 is a manual-wind movement with 18 jewels that any watchmaker can service. If you want a cleaner tool-watch look, the worn original 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
