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.
The tonneau (barrel-shaped) case is one of the classic Amphibia shapes of the 1970s and 1980s. The early Amphibias ran on the manual-wind calibre 2209, as this one does; later production moved to the 2409 and the automatic 2416.
About This Watch
The dial has a black centre, a blue-grey chapter ring with luminous batons and dots, and a black outer minute track with white strokes. A red triangle marks 12. The script “Восток” logo sits above centre with “Антимагнитные” (Antimagnetic) below it, and “18 камней” (18 jewels) and “Сделано в СССР” (Made in USSR) in the lower half. 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 steel rotating bezel carries red and black segmented markings with 15, 30 and 45 and a red dot at 12.
The stainless-steel tonneau case has a brushed sunburst finish on the top. The case back, held by a retaining ring, is marked “Амфибия”, “Водонепроницаемые 200 м” (water resistant 200 m) and “Противоударные” (shock-resistant), with the Soviet State Quality Mark and the serial number 723937. The 200 m figure is the factory rating from new; we do not claim water resistance for a watch of this age. Inside is the Vostok calibre 2209, stamped on the bridge: manual wind, 18 jewels, central seconds, no date.
The watch comes with its original Vostok box and its original passport (паспорт), with both warranty coupons still attached. The passport carries a 1985 release stamp, a shop sale date of 14 August 1985 and the original retail price of 47 roubles. The handwritten watch number on the passport reads 72393…, with the last digit lost to a tear, and matches the case-back serial 723937 as far as it can be read. That is how this watch is dated to 1985.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Vostok (Chistopol Watch Factory)
- Line: Amphibia
- Movement: Vostok 2209
- Jewels: 18
- Winding: Manual
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Case Size: 47x43mm (with crown)
- Lug Width: 18mm
- Crystal: Acrylic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds; rotating bezel
- Year: 1985 (from the passport)
- Country of Manufacture: USSR
Condition Report
The dial is clean, with complete printing and no visible spotting. The lume on the dial and hands has aged evenly to a cream tone. The case keeps its brushed sunburst finish, with only light marks on the edges. The bezel has light wear on its outer edge and small marks in the paint. The case back and the lug undersides show light scratches from use. The box is in good order. The passport is complete with both coupons but has aged: it is creased, has tears along the folds and has lost small pieces at the edges.
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with a new Komandirskie padded leather strap, the original Vostok box and the original passport.
This watch ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
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. What sets this one apart is the full set: the original box and the original passport with both warranty coupons, whose watch number matches the case back. Paperwork like this is usually the first thing lost, and it is what lets us date the watch to 1985 instead of guessing. The tonneau case and the early calibre 2209 make it a classic 1980s Amphibia, and the 2209 is a simple, robust manual-wind movement that any watchmaker can service.
Modes of payment:
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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
