Description
Soviet mechanical Raketa “Big Zero” wrist watch with cream dial – the smaller version
MADE IN USSR!
Raketa (Ракета, meaning “Rocket”) “Big Zero” with a cream dial carrying four oversized black numerals — 0 in place of 12, then 3, 6 and 9 — and black wedge-shaped markers for the remaining hours, framed by a fine printed minute track. Black baton hands with a slim black centre seconds hand. The dial is signed “РАКЕТА” under the zero and “СДЕЛАНО В СССР” (Made in USSR) above the 6.
This is the smaller version of the Big Zero: the case measures 39x36mm with the crown, against roughly 41x40mm for the standard Big Zero.
There’s a famous story about the Raketa Big Zero watch being worn by Mikhail Gorbachev in the 80s.
While in an official visit to Italy, he was asked by local journalists what perestroika meant for Russia. Gorbachev replied that Russians decided to start their lives from zero and showed them his own Raketa wristwatch which read 0 in lieu of the 12 mark.
The round chrome-plated case has a slim polished bezel, straight lugs and a plain steel snap-on case back carrying only a number (287).
Manufactured at the Petrodvorets Watch Factory, USSR. The “СДЕЛАНО В СССР” dial marking dates it to before the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The watch is mechanical and does not need batteries to operate.
Original Soviet Raketa watch has mechanical lever movement and manual winding. Caliber 2609.HA (stamped on the bridge) is the Petrodvorets 19-jewel movement with centre seconds.
CASE SIZE 39x36mm (with crown)
THICKNESS 11mm
LUG WIDTH 18mm
CRYSTAL Acrylic
TYPE Mechanical
MOVEMENT 2609.HA, 19 jewels
FUNCTIONS Hours, Minutes, Seconds
CONDITION: The dial is clean and bright, with crisp printing. The chrome plating on the front of the case and lugs is in good order with light wear. On the case flank beside the crown, on the back side, there is a small patch of old corrosion deposit (visible in the case-back and movement photos). The steel case back has light scratches.
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with a new Nagata leather strap.
This watch ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
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.
Russians live from zero
About the watch factory
The Petrodvorets Watch Factory «Raketa» was founded by Peter the Great in 1721. Factory was producing wide range of items, including jewels for watches since 1930.
Factory was devastated during World War 2, restored in 1949 and was making “Pobeda”(Victory) and “Zvezda” watches. In 1954 renamed into Petrodvorets Watch Factory.
Since 1962 “Raketa” watches are produced which became the trade mark of the factory.
The Petrodvorets Watch Factory is one of the rare watch factories in the world that fully manufactures its own movements from A to Z, including hairspring and escapement.
Other band names produced on the factory include Baltika, Leningrad, Mayak, Neva, Pobeda, Raketa, Rossiya, Svet, Start.
Read more about on of few surviving Soviet watch factories on factory’s website.
