An ultra-thin watch from... the USSR?!

Today we're working on a very, very interesting and unique watch; a Raketa 2209 from the late 1960s/early 1970s. The Soviet Union made various ultra-thin movements back in the 1960s, even one as thin as 1.85mm!
Join Stian for a full service of this watch and a discussion of the Soviet Union watch industry and some related products!
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bit.ly/43ITWjM Screwdrivers
bit.ly/468B8wq Case opener
bit.ly/468Bfbk Rodico
bit.ly/3J8mX0u Polywatch
bit.ly/42wAZQf Presto tools
bit.ly/3J6UND7 Bergeon tools
bit.ly/3X21iwL Horotec tools
bit.ly/3X2xiAU Chinese made watchmaking tools
bit.ly/3qFqgWk Digital microscope
bit.ly/3CkZt4f Ultrasonic cleaner
bit.ly/3qAAPtX Ultrasonic cleaning solution
bit.ly/43V9HEr Denture cleaning tablet
bit.ly/3X1rpUl Chinese “Horia style” jeweling tool
bit.ly/3P5EQR7 Demagnetizer
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[@bullnose01]

A watch movement that bends on the wrist sounds like something MB&F would do . . . deliberately. The eccentric to adjust the depth of the yoke seems like a really good idea. It's always a pleasure to find a new video from you to enjoy while sipping coffee on a quiet Saturday morning. You and the family be safe and well until the next time.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks as always, Bullnose 😊👍

[@user-oh3ov4uk6b]

Hello, this movement is most complicated across 2209 from the design point from soviet time. There were three different 2209 movements designed at almost the same time by three different watch factories/ Fnd most russian watchmakers hate this movement because it's difficult tho put all multiple weels together when assembling. BUT, you are doing it easily - Great !

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks! 😁

[@waverley610]

Thank you Stian. I first discovered you by way of you servicing a Soviet watch and have been hooked ever since. So glad that you have finally taken the time to restore another one as these watches tell the time but tell of time too.

[@VintageWatchServices]

My pleasure! 😊

[@neilpiper9889]

The Rackets 2609 ha is a brilliant movement used in lots of watches.

[@carloscarvalhido2424]

Hi. There is one more 2209 soviet movement - it is from Vostok / Wostok / Boctok with 18 jewels. I know that they are not much of a thing but, nevertheless, I have a soft spot for soviet watches. So, thanks for showing this one.

[@GEO_Brest]

Вы замечательный мастер, спасибо вам за видео. Никогда не видел таких часов.

[@brucebarlow6604]

Stian apart from a couple of ‘Arse Buzzer’ moments I can’t believe that there is no reports of trouble in paradise. The Norwegian Oak does it again. Keep well from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@VintageWatchServices]

😁👍

[@MrLukealbanese]

Excellent work Comrade ❤❤

[@MichaelB-qx1eh]

I really appreciate the explanation of the Soviet movement numbering. I had wondered about this for a long time.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Yeah, its just a GOST code. First two digits is the diameter of the movement, second two describes the type of movement it is.

[@alfredklek]

I bought one of those Poljot ultra thin watches from Ukraine late at night in a moment of weakness from the ebays. Pretty sure it's been recased but the insides are pure USSR jank. It looks pretty awesome and runs well enough to get me though any occasion where my Seiko isn't quite dressy enough. Most definitely not a daily driver though.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks for sharing!

[@alfredklek]

@@VintageWatchServices Thanks for the great videos! I watch them all, sometimes a few times over.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Yeah, those Poljot ultra thins have a nasty habit of being regularly bodged-over by unscrupulous Eastern European online merchants. You have to really know your stuff so you don't get a Franken, as I believe you have.

[@JochenVogel]

The one Raketa movement missing in my collection. Hard to find these days. And to make things more complicated, there was a Vostok 2209, too.That one I have (and a 2214) and I like it a lot. Less extravagant than this one but very elegant, too.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Yeah, its like every single Soviet watchmaker deliberately made their 2209-coded movements technically audatious. Vostok 2209 is positively tiny (and was the foundation for the better-known 2409). Poljot/Luch/Vympel 2209 is likely the thinnest USSR movement made in large numbers. The Raketa 2209 seen here was the actual thinnest three-handed Soviet movement ever made at just 2.7 mm. Zaria also made a 2209, a rather interesting lozenge-type construction with raised bridges.

[@user-oh3ov4uk6b]

Hello, this movement is most complicated across 2209 from the design point from soviet time. There were three different 2209 movements designed at almost the same time by three different watch factories. You have two of them. If you can read russian you cn get detailed story about that from that time in the internet. As for the Raketa 2209, the initial name for the movement is Record, because it was thinnest across 2209 movements). You still can get it in Russia as movement with dial and hands or as the whole original watch with different dials for relatively low price.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@user-oh3ov4uk6b There was also a Zaria 2209, although information about it is scarce today. A rather interesting lozenge-type construction with raised bridges

[@user-is3wy1ue3l]

​@@jakekaywell5972есть еще тоньше

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@user-is3wy1ue3l Indeed there was. The Poljot 2200, as explained in the video, does hold the title of being the actual thinnest Soviet movement ever made at just 1.85mm. The Raketa 2209, however, is merely the thinnest Soviet THREE-HANDED movement ever made. Another impressive piece is the Chaika 1200, the smallest Soviet movement ever made. Overall dimensions 9X13mm.

[@CeesMaas]

Yes, indeed a very cool layout that movement. Thanks, Stian!

[@angelherrera6820]

Wonderful restoration. Your channel is a joy to watch and the variety of watches you present are equally wonderful. You'r work is fantastic! Cheers!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thank you so much 😊

[@domino051970]

0:22 Raketa 2209 is the slimmest 3 hands Soviet made movement, Poljot 2209 is the slimmest one, but it's 2 hands

[@VintageWatchServices]

Oh, the Poljot 2200 shown in the video was much slimmer than the 2209, at only 1.85mm

[@domino051970]

@VintageWatchServices I mean R2209 is the slimmest mvmt among Soviet 3 hands ones. P2200 is much slimmer, that's true, but it's a NO second hand mvmt.

[@alaindrolet_atlt_2019]

Very nice one, straightforward and different movement, cool final result ! Thank you for share ! Best regard Stian !! 👍

[@followthetrawler]

Thanks for sharing Stian - a really nice watch, and a great find!

[@stevemoreno6241]

Thank you for showcasing an uncommon watch. Excellent video as always.

[@Volodia2141]

О качестве советских часов говорит хотя бы то, что они известны по всему миру 👍

[@jakekaywell5972]

Thank you very much for doing this watch I suggested so many months ago. It is a joy to be able to share this little-known technological marvel in horology with others. Excellent video besides, but that's a given.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks for the idea!

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@VintageWatchServices You're quite welcome! Another impressive piece is the Chaika 1200, the smallest Soviet movement ever made. Overall dimensions 9X13mm. I can only imagine your reaction to that one.

[@michaelfonseka7657]

Thank you Theon, another inspiring service.....as always.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks, Michael! Stian 😉

[@samnova450]

Interesting watch.

[@dennisallport5704]

Another good one. Thanks for leaving in the little slips! We ALL learn from these.

[@laurigardner6227]

A soviet joke is the trains ran so precisely on time they had to adjust the clocks every time. Thank you for reminding me of this old soviet movement. It would indeed be interesting to see a modernized and developed movement based on the Raketa 2209. Thank you for your lovely videos!

[@jcaam8094]

Looks a lot like a Universal Geneve I own.

[@pierre-yvesp3769]

Awesome work, as usual! Would have loved to see the work you did on the mainspring in the video! This looks like a nice movement, indeed. I would love to see you work on a Citizen Diamond Flake (0700 caliber). At 2.75mm, it is muuuch thicker than this Raketa ;-) but it is a work of art in my opinion (which is not to be trusted in this case, I'm very partial to Citizen).

[@jakekaywell5972]

Unfortunately, the original mainspring in his Raketa was trashed. He simply replaced it with a new one that fit the dimensions of the barrel. I had a look at the Citizen caliber 0700. A very nice movement for sure, and exactly as thin as Raketa's 2209 (2.7 mm). However, its safe to say that the 2209 is the more technically-audacious movement. I mean, just look at the thing!

[@ygrbooks]

Dear Stian, thank you so much for another most instructive and beautiful video. It is a pity that you cannot wear Russian watches any longer, but the quality of the finishing and design of this one is much better than what you get from some very expensive Swiss brands today (Panerai anyone 🤪?). I do own a Raketa Perpetual Calendar, which is about as "Perpetual" as 99% of the Rolexes you can buy under this moniker, but it really looks cool and is - like this one - very different.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks, Yves! I would honestly rather have this watch than a Panerai....

[@davelowey3074]

Eta stile cannon pinion before the ratchet wheel, great video Stian haven't seen this movement before great stuff

[@pippomai9559]

Ciao Stian . Thought you were in vacation near the Garda Lake, but not . 😢 nice watch , I like the old USSR watches . I have a 24 hrs dial one . Ciao

[@HansMeijner]

Great to see a 2209 in one of your videos. I've had a few watches with these movements. Mostly the Luch version which is a bit different. I still have one working one left and a few donor moments. But I really like it. I wear it from time to time. And because of the situation of the world today I sometimes get the comment "how can you wear a watch from the Sovjet Union due to the situation today?". Well the simple answer to that is always that I don't think the people then have any responsibility of what's going on today. They didn't even had anything to do with what was going on then either. They were just hard working people that had a low salary trying to survive. And that's usually how the discussion ends.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Its worth mentioning that the Raketa 2209 and the Vympel/Poljot/Luch 2209 are completely different movements technically. Only the GOST code is the same. As the video went over, 22 stands for the diameter of the movement (22 mm) and 09 indicates a central-seconds movement with a shock-protected balance.

[@benfoust7424]

Another great video, thank you for sharing Stian.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ben!

[@frodriguezpc]

Again, a great video! Soviet watches have a place in many hobbyist watchmakers' hearts, many of us have learnt our skills on Raketa, Zim, Vostok or Poljot movements. I would love to see a 3017 or 3133 chronograph service for your next Soviet adventure, these are some of the most interesting (and valued) soviet era watches.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Thanks! I actually already did a 3133, you'll find out on the channel

[@frodriguezpc]

I havent seen that one! Next in my playlist definitely. I have a small collection of these, all soviet era, and most of them military versions. Lovely and very collectible.

[@VintageWatchServices]

@@frodriguezpc 😁👍

[@frodriguezpc]

Just saw that one, lovely again! Left a comment on quality of these, it takes a bit of knowledge of this specific model to pick the real interesting ones! As a rule of thumb, perestroika and post soviet pieces are of less quality overall

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@frodriguezpc I agree. Quality remained pretty solid in the 50s-70s, then took a hit in the 80s. Post-Soviet Russian watches (Slavas, Poljots, etc.) were indeed significantly worse for a long while, which likely contributed to the unfortunate shut-down of a few of these factories. Luckily the ones that survived and are presently operating, such as Raketa, Vostok, and Molnija, make products that surpass Soviet quality.

[@9_kin]

From Russia with love! Great job! 👍

[@boydsargeant7496]

Lovely watch and movement, would love to work on one of these, will keep my eyes open!

[@jakekaywell5972]

They appear on eBay all the time for under $100 USD.

[@user-qp8jk5dj2e]

thanks to uploading restoration videos ,also its very rare and thin movement ,keep it carefully

[@VintageWatchServices]

😁👍

[@endy_fx]

I've worked on a bunch of Vostok 2414s, which use the same shock setting and can confirm they are a pain in the proverbials.

[@ydnartitcomb1]

Thank you for sharing your work

[@VintageWatchServices]

My pleasure!

[@hectorcortez3888]

Thank you for the info, keep doing those videos 📹

[@ronl7131]

I have couple Raketas….good users. Keep time.

[@andreyche193]

Soviet watches were great. They would run forever and were pretty accurate: cannot say that about something like Timex!

[@metaldetectingthenortheast1294]

Cool to see this one. Always thought it was an interesting design. Hope you can get your hands on a Hangzhou 5000a chinese micro rotor because I'm really curious to see someone disassemble one.

[@johnhannon]

Thanks for this video of a very interesting watch. Could a pin vise also be used to tighten the seconds hand? I looked up the Bergeon 3010. It looks like a very nice tool but $700!

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hello John, yes, you can try that but it might be difficult. If you have a lathe, you could put the hand tube in a collet and tighten it also. You could probably find a Chinese version of this tool?

[@wspaulding89]

This is the second Soviet watch I've seen you restore. I can't say that when I think watches my mind goes to the Soviet Union. There may be a reason for that, but it's usually Japan or Europe.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Well, I can answer that question. If you're American, the U.S. government banned any trade whatsoever with the Soviet Union from 1959 until the collapse of the USSR. Therefore, any Soviet watches that entered the U.S. were privately purchased abroad and brought back. From the early 50s-early 80s, the Soviet Union was the second-largest maker and exporter of watches in the world, second only to the Swiss. Much of their watches were sent to either their allies in the Eastern Bloc or neutral nations in the third world, but a good number were sold in the capitalist West under different names. For instance, "Sekonda" for the UK market and "Cardinal" for the Canadian one. Therefore, it's entirely possible you may well be familiar with Soviet watchmaking already. You simply didn't realize it before. Overall, Soviet watchmaking is a great, useful, very much unsung addition to watchmaking as a whole. A number of innovations wouldn't exist without them (ex. the first movement in the world made using an assembly line, the Zvezda 1802).

[@SubTroppo]

"...sweet, sweet sound..." I'm glad you've come around to my way of thinking about the ultrasonic cleaner. Did you have a trip to the south of France and hear the pulsating cicadas on a hot day?

[@VintageWatchServices]

Not yet!

[@anthonycaryl1079]

Looks good, cool to see another soviet movement

[@jimbrown8842]

Similar to the small.square watch sold in uk under "sekonda" brand in 70s and 80s,i have 3 of these,they have a date window at 4 o clock,otherwise visually the same.i think these might have been "slava"brand in ussr.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Sekonda was the trade name the USSR sold their watches under in the UK between the 1960s-80s, before becoming an independent company after the collapse. You're right in that the ones with a date window at 4 o'clock were sold as Slavas (SMWF), with 2414 type movements. Only similarity between the two is the square case.

[@damen1575]

i have a prepetual calender raketa 1980 blue dial and its so amazing it feels like a million bucks watch the casing is milled stainless the movement sounds and looks gentle and steady and i bought it for about 30 dollars from a local guy

[@jakekaywell5972]

If it was from 1980, that Raketa would have had a chrome-plated brass case. Still, the perpetual calendar is an iconic Soviet-era Raketa for a reason.

[@damen1575]

@@jakekaywell5972 nice didnt know this

[@pipodorologio1648]

nice one again Stian, lovely thin Russian, I did not know they had these....finishing is rough as always but it looks really nice

[@jakekaywell5972]

It was a proper technical marvel, being the tinnest three-handed movement the USSR ever made. Just 2.7 mm thick. I truly believe the only reason it isn't as appreciated in the watch community as it likely should be is because the Soviets made it.

[@pipodorologio1648]

thought only Piaget,JLC or VC made made these ultrathin watches...lol@@jakekaywell5972

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@pipodorologio1648 Nah, there's a good number of these ultra-thin designs from makers who have nothing at all to do with the "Holy Trinity". Raketa, obviously, but also Poljot (2200, 2209), Seiko (9A85), Citizen (0700), Omega (1332), and NOMOS (Tetra).

[@hectorcortez3888]

Love watching your channel, anyway can you tell me we're u get those buffing sticks from. 😊

[@VintageWatchServices]

They should have them in any material house, I got mine from cousinsuk.com

[@greggc.touftree5936]

Looks guys, Stian has the collet style of hand collet closer, instead of the block kind. That's how you know he's loaded. Edit: It's relieving the movement was so straight forward and classic (almost American). Every time I see a thinny thin thin I get spooked. Same with rice sized movement like the Omega 212 (did I get that number right?

[@tomo9224]

Shock settings would help when accidentally falling out a window....

[@ryanjofre]

Ouch. 🤣🤣

[@tocsa120ls]

The Central Committee designed a follow-up movement to this but they couldn't hoist it out of the factory gate.

[@jakekaywell5972]

What was the design parameters? To create the worlds largest movement?

[@giacintoboccia9386]

The case being so big on a thin movement reminds me of the Groma Kolibri (an East German typewriter) that was exceptionally small and had a huge case to carry it.

[@alanmckinnon6791]

Nice job Stian! I have a few Russian watches lying around and they do things their own way, very much so. I was intrigued by that eccentric to set the yoke - why? Was Soviet stamping so poor they couldn't rely on yokes being correct? Can't think of any good reason to *require* that.

[@jakekaywell5972]

I'm pretty sure its to increase overall reliability of the radical setting levers and springs to begin with. With a movement design this thin, unorthodox measures have to be taken.

[@valerystpnv1180]

I have to confirm with some regret your joke about buzzer. 😢

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂👍

[@johnsrabe]

12:03 Obviously, you are fixing a watch while wearing black shoes and a brown belt.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Obviously! 😂

[@endospores]

Hi Stian, great work with such a delicate watch. Would you be interested in servicing a 1970s Pronto 25 jewel automatic? Inherited it from my late father. Can't find much information about it. Since it is an old swiss brand maybe you know something.

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hello, thanks for your confidence in me, but for now I am much too overloaded to take on any further work...

[@fattern_]

Hei Stian, takk for flott video. Hva bruker du for å rense pivots?

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hei fattern, jeg bruker et produkt som heter EVE Flex

[@robertwalker9625]

Stian, did the Soviet watch company outsource parts to build their watches? I'm also curious if other watch makers use outsourced parts to build their watches? By the way, I sold my Soviet ass buzzer on ebay and made less than a dollar. You're half right, mine didn't fit, but it buzzed. Cheers from this old retired coot living the dream in Tennessee.

[@VintageWatchServices]

😂 I believe the Soviet factories were fully integrated, thus that they built everything themselves, but I'm no expert.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Just another couple of questions, if I may: what was the hardest part of working on this movement? I got the impression that you really liked the design of the Raketa 2209, but wish the Swiss made it with better resources available. I agree, it would certainly be interesting seeing someone like ETA or Stellita making an updated version of this movement. I can't imagine this fifty-year-old design would still be claimed by IP laws anyway. Also, now that your example is fixed, what's next in store for it?

[@hamishspencer]

Does this movement have anything to do with the Vostok 2209 movement?

[@jakekaywell5972]

No. Technically completely different movements. Only the GOST code is the same.

[@BokiPetrovic88]

Hi, Stian great video. What brand and size pin vices would you recommend for watchmaking? Thanks

[@VintageWatchServices]

Hello Bojan, you should ideally get a few sizes. Bergeon makes the best ones, with the jaws closing very symmetrically

[@BokiPetrovic88]

@@VintageWatchServices thanks for the answer, what sizes I should get, what you find are most useful?

[@VintageWatchServices]

@@BokiPetrovic88 Depends on what you work on etc. Check one of the material houses

[@BokiPetrovic88]

@@VintageWatchServices which one do you use the most,i would use it for winding stems mostly, do you use Eclipse ones?

[@davejordheim1826]

What is/was the thinnest movement ever made?

[@VintageWatchServices]

www.wristenthusiast.com/latest/worlds-thinnest-watch#:~:text=Richard%20Mille%20RM%20UP%2D01%20%2D%20The%20World%27s%20Thinnest%20Watch&text=It%20just%20seemed%20that%20Piaget,a%20mere%201.75mm%20thick%20(. These extremely thin watches have integrated cases, where the case provides the structure for the movement.

[@jakekaywell5972]

The thinnest Soviet mechanical watch ever made, as explained in the video, is the Poljot 2200 at 5 mm overall back in the mid-60s. However, the thinnest mechanical watch as of now (2023) is the Richard Mille UP-01 Ferrari at 1.75 mm overall.

[@freerider1082]

Everything was great, with the exception of the decay error of 1.4 msec. is too big and needs to be corrected. From 0.5 msec. a correction is necessary. Respectful regards

[@extremelydave]

Well, the case being square doesn't do it any favors, but other than being thin, it's a tad hum drum to me....

[@jakekaywell5972]

You also have a cross-sectioned dial with applied square markers. Both nice flourishes to what was meant to be visually a simple dress watch.

[@unwokeneuropean3590]

Soviets had great ideas but they had to work with subpar materials.

[@jakekaywell5972]

True enough, especially for electronics such as the VEF-12 radio I still use. Impressive fidelity and user-accessibility, but the plastic case is a bit rough. The USSR never completely perfected making modern phenol plastics.

[@jamieadams7550]

Will you teach me?

[@VintageWatchServices]

The membership option could be interesting for you, perhaps?

[@SvenForbes]

Die Uhr sieht nicht hübsch aus, aber sie ist sehr selten. 😊👍👀

[@steveblake8766]

461 Thumbs uP

[@michaelcorvin4330]

The Soviet joke! 🤣🤣🤣

[@johnsrabe]

I haven’t gotten that far… is it something like “In the Soviet Union, a Raketa watches you!”

[@michaelcorvin4330]

@@johnsrabe Even better!

[@johnsrabe]

Oh, I disagree. I just heard the ass buzzer joke, and remember it from when he told it before. It’s so good. And so Soviet.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@johnsrabe Eh, there's some truth to that, but some revisionism too. The quality of Soviet consumer goods just depended on the percieved importance of what was being made and why. Soviet razors (such as the Trud-Vacha straight I still use) and radios (VEF-12) still work fine and dandy both back then and nowadays.

[@johnsrabe]

@@jakekaywell5972 In America, you listen to the radio. But in Soviet Union, the radio … plays Soviet radio shows and music and such.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

:)

[@mM30040]

worsttt movment to work on i hate this one locks nice but bad to work for me at least 😅

[@Donkim420]

He soinds swedish...

[@jakekaywell5972]

Close. Norwegian.

[@raymondo162]

arse buzzer .................... lolz

[@bessiebraveheart]

Sorry, I just don't like Russian watches. Russian and Chinese movements, NO.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Luckily for you, this is Soviet.

[@unwokeneuropean3590]

Soviet had supreme dress watches but also great military style watches. If you need to go into water Vostok watch is better than anything else and only for a fraction of the price.

[@waverley610]

Genuinely am wondering why you can no longer wear Russian watches?! Not only do they tell the time but they tell *of* time itself.

[@daintiestquarters3411]

Beautiful watch!!!!!

[@jakekaywell5972]

I very much agree there!