What On Earth Are Vostok Doing? 🤔

[@Trig672]

A good review comrade no Gulag for you.

[@JustOneMoreWatch]

Siberia calling!

[@Trig672]

Just One More Watch it’s Baltic here in Scotland.

[@dankam5332]

I agree.

[@douglasfuentes2737]

😂

[@jfilm7466]

No soup for you!

[@007SAMRATROY]

The Bezel's usage is not limited. It is Soviet Engineering which means it is a specialized bezel. When you are under water the domed dial window and casebacks will be flattened due to the pressure which in turn will tighten the bezel by a good margin. These Vostok products are really awesome.

[@FredMF]

check the original patent for the fifthy fathoms

[@Alias_Anybody]

I think it's actually the most "everyday watch" compatible line Vostok has in their catalogue. Especially the red and blue ones. Will look sharp no matter if Putin invites you to a gala dinner in Moscow, a short holiday at the Black Sea coast or an extended holiday in Siberia.

[@MrTw2009]

" extended holiday in Siberia" 🤣

[@Feldwaldwiese]

My 34 year old Komandirskie still runs great at about 10s/day. Never serviced! I bought it for a few Euros, replaced the glass, put on the arrow hands of an Amphibia and regulated it. The same with my Amphibia from the early 90s. Tough little watches!

[@ulrikreimann652]

I've bought about 45-50 amphibias and komandierskies over the last 20 years - gave some away as gifts, sold many others to friends, colleagues. Only ONE watch caused problems, and it was probably the owner's own fault. So yes, tough little watches indeed!

[@istvancsap3513]

Mine (classic kommandiskie field watch) is 46 years old, the nickeling has worn off almost completely, it got a full service 10 years ago, and a new cannon pinion because the hour and minute hand slipped, (that cannon pinion problem BTW is a construction fault /product defect with old kommandiskies,) it works very well now, the watch repair guy told me with the modern oils he put in that incredibly simple movement i don't need to do a service for the next 20 years. Minus three to plus five seconds a day if sitting on shelf, but if i wear it all day, it usually gives me +2.

[@MrRedty]

Vostok is like Royal Enfield, they make the best retro watches/motorcycles because they don't They simply never went modern

[@stevefox8605]

Yeah, but Enfields are more reliable (had 4 of each, bikes worked well (although bust leg on one thanks to school run mum) but the watches were utter sh*te)... Maybe more like a Dnepir or Ural. 🤣 Good comment 👍🏻

[@nikitakozinets7924]

Also like Jawa Motorcycles. Another Soviet era call back.

[@andrewallen9993]

@@nikitakozinets7924 Jawa 350 twinsport with sidecar, split window VW kombi and Mercedes w110 200d. Reliability and longevity, they don't make them that good anymor.

[@DaveK385]

I refuse to buy anymore Vostoks with a date function. I can't stand to have the wrong date on a watch but I equally can't stand to run the hands back and forth for 30 minutes to set the date.

[@thehypercovery]

Wear It everyday 😀

[@KlaasDeforche]

@@thehypercovery I think mechanical watches with dates in general aren't really ideal for watch enthusiasts for this reason. I generally buy watches without date, and if I do I rarely set the date.

[@Mike-yy4ll]

Use hand drill.

[@nielsoe8970]

Back to eight, forward past twelve, set the time. Done.

[@rojorohr4723]

@@nielsoe8970 I've tried that so many times and just can't make it work...

[@TheWatchtowerWatchReviews]

Just One More Comrade...we can call it the Bumblebierksie

[@monkelover2056]

petition to call this tht

[@taham33]

@@monkelover2056 Seconded

[@edteach3r]

Daniel Petit : unanimous!

[@AlexanderB.]

Or Bumblephibia! 😄

[@captainbungee]

I will never forget the dirty look my boss gave me the only day I went to work wearing this exact model, but with the vostok 20mm orange silicone strap. It looks like an accident in a highlighter pen factory.

[@MJFallout]

that sounds delightful.

[@M3LTUP]

Might want to put a black or brown strap w. a Yellow Vostok.

[@anp3379]

😂😂😂

[@MolotovSandvich97]

I’ve been enjoying my Amphibia so much, I made the plunge and snagged a classic 70s tonneau case (119). I started with a Komandirskie. I managed to get both of mine running around +5 to +10 a day! This channel is definitely the reason for my newfound Vostok obsession, and I know I’ll end up with a couple more.

[@MrMshossain]

Review more vostoks please

[@hellsalite4444]

Yep i dont want my Vostoks to be demure....i want tanks, scuba dudes and sailboats :)

[@kenpickett9317]

@Man on the poon Tanks! rockets! and planes ! Oh my!

[@mtpruden]

Don’t forget my submarines!

[@burnki]

I'm still holding out hope for a snarling bear... wearing a scuba tank, of course.

[@daddyraksa2228]

The longer I watched this video the more I fell in love with this yellow Vostok. I have the black version of the newer Kommandirskies with date complication and I love it but this yellow is just a must have!

[@mike0400]

In soviet Яussia you don't decide to get "just one more watch", the watch decides to get u

[@hankbannister]

Stalin would have sent the responsible to Siberia. On foot. No shoes.

[@XavierAncarno]

Nowadays they just put some novichok in your tea

[@hankbannister]

@zack oblong B-)

[@hankbannister]

@@XavierAncarno "Novichok" sounds like the name of a russian brand. The watch counts only your last hours on earth.

[@Sanctified_Leather]

That would have been too nice for Stalin

[@Sanctified_Leather]

It's a Russian Tweety Bird Watch 😎👍 Great Video as Always Jody

[@oliverwiantrmerholme112]

Nice one!!! Love the acrylic bezel and crystal! These watches are made like brand-new vintage watches if you see what I mean! ;) I have just ordered a Pulsar PS9451x1. Bit of a Sarb033 look, but with a seiko quartz movement, screw down crown, and at a fraction of the price!

[@inglebybhoy3293]

The 650xxx line has been around for years. Also Vostok has been putting Komandirskie dials in regular Amphibia cases since at least the 1980s.

[@reghudson5444]

I have two military themed Vostoks; a Komandirskie and an Amphibia. Both are good watches, although the Amphibia is more robust. I like the fact that you can build a rather sizable Vostok collection for the price of an entry level Swiss watch.

[@RickDeckardMemories]

That was a decent "до свидания" pronunciation there, at the end! And a correct Russian anthem (not a Soviet one, although they both have same music) I approve 👍🏻

[@danshakuimo]

Lol just like the anthem having the same music, some of the older watch models are basically the same except it says made in USSR vs Russia and the back case doesn't have the Russian Eagle.

[@richardcamp2362]

Have just discovered my love of watches. My first 2 are the Vostok Scuba dude amphibia 420, and Komandirskie. I love them especially the scuba dude. Brilliant value for money. Love your channel.

[@pederlindstrom3132]

I have that yellow as well and I rather like it. It's a second beater after the Bertucci A-3P. They sure are rugged if nothing else and I am getting more Vostok in the future.

[@Getouttahere78]

They call me Mellow Yellow, quite rightly 🤣

[@964tractorboy]

Now you're talking my demographic! A discerning number of likes. :)

[@Getouttahere78]

@@964tractorboy 🤣 Not telling anyone how old I really am

[@mr.t2553]

Well me I'm 30 and I really like Donovan 🤣

[@AlexanderB.]

This is nice summer watch with a cheerful colour. And there aren't many watches where you can buff out scratches from the crystal and the bezel at the same time! 😉

[@bartok75]

"Identity politics hadn't been invented yet" Man, that quote made me laugh so hard. You should be thinking about a career as a stand-up comedian. :)

[@ozludo]

What a ripper - a Bumbleberskie? Shortlist immediately!

[@АзатЕникеев-й1б]

Spasibo, Comrade! I live in Russia and thanks to your reviews I have started buying Vostoks after tons of Japanese and Swiss watches. I am actually surprised by quality and accuracy (+2+30 sec per day) for such money. And if you break it - just order a new one😅

[@Янус_Ырт]

You can also repair them yourself, like I heard some watch maker said "it takes 50 times the dirt required to stop Patek Philippe movement to stop Vostok movement"

[@AlonNahary]

I have this exact model and I love it! With a yellow silicone strap it's my gym watch. It's an Amphibia in every way.

[@jackhuynh3742]

I got my first 24hr dial in my collection model no 650541. At first I was hesitant of getting it but now I love looking at the dial. It’s quirky and beautiful!

[@danijuggernaut]

Excellent report. I got a 650 Komandierskie small second GMT, they are well made SS 24 hours bezel and crown. And i fitted a milanaise bracelet. My only Vostok i won´t mod.

[@Bonobo447]

Thank you again for a great escapistic video in this time of tight lockdown! you don't know how revitalizing it is for a guy in Israel, to see a cool Scottish guy, who lives in Australia, reviewing a Russian made watch, and with a Russian anthem to begin with! I stood in a full salute! keep it up, people's life are dependant on you!

[@aminabellalvaradoaguero9190]

Just ordered one for 101£ without the date. Looking forward to it. Is 3 AM and I think is time to go to bed before I end up buying another one lol

[@kingston6356]

Puting my Vostok on for this one.😁

[@chrispenn715]

Haha I've just put my Amfibia on too! :-)

[@kingston6356]

@@chrispenn715 I have a komandirskie automatic, very nice watches!

[@johnrooney507]

Amphibia SE on!

[@louisdugrain]

Waitin for my komandirskie and will watch again !

[@maxp5422]

Putin you missed a pun

[@paulskalla6845]

On one hand I agree the stock metal bracelet isn’t the most comfy, but it is durable. Mine was rammed into a wall while moving a couch, and it didn’t hurt it ( it might have popped open iirc).

[@shannonpike5359]

The longer I watch this the more I was starting to love the yellow👍. Looks like I’ll be getting a addition to the collection 😂

[@jorritbekema386]

Jody, what have you done! Today I received my first 2 Vostok's (1 Komandirskie, 1 Amphibia), and already I'm browsing the Meranom website for my next purchase. What great watches these are. They are the Lada of watches, simple and unbreakable. I think they've watched your reviews because my Amphibia actually came with a decent bracelet; solid links, solid end links (straight links though) and a milled butterfly style clasp!

[@firefightergoggie]

I have the Yellow, Green (which I'm currently wearing) and the red versions of this watch. Needless to say I changed the bracelet on all of them to nicer, better quality brands. Plenty of great bracelets on Ali Express for low $$. However, I love these and I always seem to get comments and questions about them. Really neat watches.

[@vincentfuria7301]

Everything is out of stock at Meranom. Frustrating to have to order from Amazon and wait 6 weeks. Guess I will try later in the week. Been dying for a Russian-made watch since I went into the Army in 1982. The Amphibia and Komandirskie Automatics are needed in any collection.

[@vincentfuria7301]

Enjoying the channel. Very informative and helpful to me when choosing a watch for my recently started collection.

[@kaunas888]

Nice looking watch. I have another watch with a yellow face and it always seem "happy" to me. This one works well.

[@basilpeewit3350]

Mine arrived today and I audaciously fitted it with an orange canvas Barton strap. Wonderful, bring on the summer!

[@gimbydude491]

I got the ketchup dial with framed date and love it! That red just pops, and I really like the brushed case. Put it on a mesh and yet another Vostok itch scratched! Covid may have hit Meranom hard, as they have even less stock and restocking than they usually do, and that is saying something. Hope things get better for them and their workers soon. I am eying one of the reef gmts as my possible next Vostok, or maybe one of the full lume dials, or...or... 😁😉

[@wristschatz1454]

I got one of these in Russian Red and I love it. The bracelet version was out of stock, so I got the leather and swapped it with a mesh. The Vostok mesh is no joke! Mine did take FIVE MONTHS to get here though.

[@Edgaros]

Russia has the most bad-ass national anthem ever...

[@grindererrofficial3755]

Hi man, wanted to write something similiar. Im not from Russia, but i like their antherm much more than that from my country.

[@scottmcdonald3030]

Canada’s🇨🇦 is pretty cool too👍

[@saintdave1877]

Only the French Marseilles is better

[@shamilmammadov8246]

It's from USSR)

[@cvb6089]

🤔 Wilhelmus...

[@GoldFellaTim]

I got the black bezel variant with the date one a tan barton croc strap which i love but just the way the yellow bezel just pops with the rest of the dial just makes me want it. If i get that variant im putting the brown leather on the yellow variant and maybe a bracelet on the black bezel

[@luapworrag]

I had the same question and this video is a month too late! I looked everywhere including your site and was unable to find out any info on this bizarre Vostok situation. I purchased the Automatic VOSTOK 2416 B 030787 Komandirskie watch amphibia and have come to the following conclusion. There are now three classifications. 1) amphibia 2) komandirskie 3) komandirskie with amphibia depth capability. Love the site. Keep up the good work

[@todwitzel9856]

I purchased a slightly more subdued 650536s prior to the COVID-geddon. The dial is a black with applied batons at the odd positions and cream Arabics at the even positions with a black bezel insert. Looks great on black or crimson Barton rubber straps. Still have not been able to get the bezel tension just right.

[@JeeGee114]

They have some nice SE-versions but once they are sold out they are not available anymore. No date is a real bonus on a Vostok.

[@Andrew-J316]

I love them too! Just not happy with Meranom who always seem to have things out of stock! Once in a while something comes back in stock only to disappear soon. I want to get a few things at once and not piecemeal to save on shipping costs and also my sanity in waiting for the parts to arrive!

[@edwarddelaney513]

I picked one of these up about a year ago. The rotar stopped working after a few months. I orders directly from the factory store and have been unable to gets response. I’m done with Vostok

[@nrbrown5985]

This Vostok is the next watch I’ll be buying actually. I love it.

[@patrickiredale4359]

Your cheery presentation, never fails to make me smile, for all the right reasons of course. I too love Vostoks as they are incredible value. 😎

[@-Dash-]

I have this one, I put it on a steel mesh bracelet with folding dive style clasp that cost £6 from Ebay/Aliex and its a great summer beater watch.

[@hawkeye454]

I have the red version (no pun intended) of this watch and love it!!

[@bomaz293]

I have a red one (with the date complication) and it runs way smoother than my amphibia zissou. It probably is my favorite watch in my collection.

[@thomasm5714]

I have had the red version for about a year. Maybe I got lucky, but mine is phenomenally accurate, gaining just under 10 seconds per week. Switched to a bright red NATO strap, it looks great.

[@spratnk]

Great Review. I've just purchased a Vostok 170891 which has the full face lume and a solid bracelet which secures in the middle. I have to say its no less comfortable than my Explorer II or Sub. Great value and good looking watch.

[@thistleclockworks1292]

I thought I was sold on this being my first Vostok, then I saw the 24 hour version, the Komandirskie 650546. Darn it, Jody, that's ANOTHER watch I'm buying because of you.

[@chrismaryon9082]

An absolute classic Jody! Ordered... Just couldn't resist! Went for the all Yellow no Date from MERANOM. In stock and great price! Now the wait..........

[@markplayford5836]

Neither love em OR hate em. Keep promising myself a submarine dial Amphibia but after the initial fun I really don’t think I would wear it much. What did impress me though (when I handled one), was the build, it certainly felt much more expensive.

[@glenharsh8778]

I ordered a Vostok in May. I was advised delivery could be 8 weeks. I’m still waiting 17 weeks later!!!

[@raelcohen]

Mine took 1 month

[@pilsley4737]

Purchased the red one about a year ago. All was well until recently, I belive I've overwound it & magnatized it too. It's not happy & I'll have to figure out a way to unload the spring & see if it will start running again.

[@CCBovell]

I have one of these with a 24 hr dial in black and it’s definitely one of my favorite watches I own. It makes for a great work watch with that 24 hr dial too

[@duckrutt]

Wearing my 020711 (Green dial, black bezel) at the moment. It was a toss up between the green and the yellow when I bought it.

[@richardshaw1968]

I had a similar with date which due to its lack of quick set date was pain. If you brush out the shiny on the bracelet it looks ok.

[@stusims6567]

Great review as always Jody!!! I love this little watch, especially the yellow, but I wondered if the crown still wobbles, how large a wrist does it fit, and how expensive are they? I must have missed the lume shot so I will watch it again! LOL!!!

[@viperkil13]

Fantastic intro Jody! Don't like yellow or gaudy watches usually, however I'm not sure why but I like this!

[@davidellis6520]

Meranom appears to have sold out of each variant so ordered a green one from eBay (along with a rubber strap because I don't trust that the supplied bracelet will do anything but rip all the hairs off my wrist!!). Very much looking forward to getting my purchase to add to my amphibia which is ACE

[@waldi2302]

I just ordered the red one. My friend said : You're the only one of us who have a Coca Cola watch, you can wear your Pepsi on the right and the Coka Cola on the left wrist.

[@wutangpaul]

The black strap completely transforms the look of that watch.

[@2steaksandwiches665]

Love my amphibia. The most interesting watch in my collection. Everyone loves seeing it. It’s just too small for my big wrist. My Vostok is accurate to like 10 seconds a day.

[@steventhompson3486]

Hi Jodie Shouldn't the lift angle on the Timegrapher for a Vostok be 42 degrees not 52?

[@steviee67]

Great review, love the line “don’t think I’ve had enough vodka to appreciate!l 😂

[@guykoopa5887]

I’m not the world’s biggest or best informed watch aficionado, but I’ve had a standard chromed brass hand-wind Komandirskie for about 5 years and, aside from the occasional bouts of being temperamental and accuracy that you adeptly describe as “agricultural”, it’s been a pretty good watch. The next one will definitely be an Amphibia though.

[@jimmyolber5406]

650541 best 24h if you're going that way. Love mine slightly modded but picking up another to remain stock in all its elongated date wheel numbers glory. Kommandirskie lines such as 650 and 020 are best bang for your Vostok dollars, Thanks for vid!

[@rianmcfie7633]

I've got the same yellow faced komandirski plus the red one too. Love them

[@frankschroth1919]

Great video Jody, but you had the lift angle set to 52° instead of the 42° it actually has. Now I don't know if that messes up the reading on the time grapher, maybe someone can enlighten me. Frank

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I do quite like this, especially the yellow version. It's just a fun looking watch.

[@tyronebaptist5224]

Jodie maybe you are a bit harsh on your assessment of the Vostok bracelet. The 20mm bracelet looks fine and wears well. The 22mm leaves a bit more to be desired but with a little grooming actually works fine. I'm not normally a bracelet fan but there is a rather positive look to the Vostok watch on a bracelet. Thanks for all of your good info and you are absolutely correct when you say one Vostok is not enough I have five.

[@jancovanderwesthuizen8070]

Unrelated to this video, what are your thoughts on taking a watch and putting straps that are technically too small on it? I have a 21mm lug width Chrono and I just put 20mm straps on it, there’s not really a noticeable gap

[@JohnDavis-ol7qg]

I bought my first two from Amazon and they are the smaller 38mm 30 meters tank and submarine which have that cheaper feel and horrible metal bracelet you immediately remove and put a NATO strap on. The third one I bought from Meramon which was a white bezel and dial 24hour Vostok Komandirski but it came with this 200 meter water resistant with the bigger crown at 41mm and a really good bracelet that surprised me, since I ordered the mesh with it expecting to remove the bracelet immediately like I did the first two, but found it to be very comfortable and great looking. Pull the trigger Jodi,

[@JDRevene]

I have the red no date, it’s very red, but it’s solid and reliable.

[@Erik-oi6je]

You have to lower the lift angle on your timegrapher to 42.0 for this movement.

[@Chris-du3jc]

As someone who just bought a Timegrapher and a couple of old Vostoks to play around with, I was very sensitive to that too! 😃

[@kylesalisbury6789]

I have this watch and somehow never saw this video! Love the look of this thing on my wrist. I don't wear it much because it has too many sharp corners and I don't want it digging my son when I carry him.

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

Love these! I have this in green ready for a new bezel!

[@sandybakers690]

Omega's caliber 8900 and similar master chronometers also recommend a 10 year interval

[@kieranzucker]

Why is it that everything appears out of stock at Meranom at the moment?

[@kenpickett9317]

@Kieran Zucker. The ‘rona I suspect.

[@lucafwn]

I suspect Vostok sell first of all to third party retailers, and their "home shop" is limited to the few remaining, unsold items. I usually rely on another online retailer, Moscow based, that has a much larger choice of very fresh Vostoks.

[@vinid91]

@@lucafwn can you share the store?

[@kenpickett9317]

Soviet Market

[@trtmrt2203]

@Time Keeper Probably this one; www.vostok-watches24.com/e-home. I've already bought a few Amphibias from that shop. Shipping to EU during the worst Corona measures took only 3 weeks. Always the whole Vostok range in stock. The owner is helpful and reliable supplier with pretty quick responding to emails (within 24h). Only he is a bit more expensive than Meranom (10-20 %)

[@sebastiantorres1]

I had three Vostoks last year, all of them were far from accurate (which was no surprise as I knew what I was getting into before buying them) losing or gaining a minute or two a day, totally unacceptable by the way. But the thing that annoyed me the most is how short their power reserve is. They would stop running for no reason at all, even when they were manually wound. I don't know if I got a bad batch from Meranom or if they all have those issues but I had to get rid of those watches. I hated when I glanced at them and they were either completely dead or were off by several hours, meaning they had stopped and then kept running afterwards. Some of them are very nice looking watches, though, mostly the 420 series with clean bezels, but they are not reliable at all.

[@ralfybaby]

QC is hit and miss with these. I have a couple hundred of them-most used off the 'bay but also quite a few new ones- and only have had 2-3 failures. Some of them run COSC out of the box! And all can be regulated very close to that!

[@sebastiantorres1]

@@ralfybaby I mustt have said that they weren't reliable at all to me, not in general. Maybe I got some lemons.

[@sinister47]

Just ordered this watch a week ago. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[@nrs6956]

Great review with a sense of humor. Thank you.

[@steven3379]

I love this brand, I currently have 4 Vostoks, my first purchase was 2016 😉! They just keep coming! I also have a 1970's Era Raketa!

[@neilpiper9889]

Vintage Raketas are my favourites. 2609ha and 2628h. I love 18000bph movements.

[@raymondhouser5174]

I've got a 24 hour version, and I love it. I know I've said this before, but you really should get their Buyalov RR002. It's my favorite Russian watch, and the watch I wear the most.

[@WatchWitt]

Surprisingly, I LOVE the yellow. I see one of these in my future...

[@johnvarian6253]

At first glance it looked hideous, but the strap change completely changed it. Have to Vostoks in my collection and have Barton's on both. Great watch for the price.

[@johnvarian6253]

*two

[@ivankorovic3116]

An honest, solid watch with a lot of history and character. By far a way better choice than any chinese made microbrand you can find these days.

[@reaguurder1285]

Thats exactly why i bought a Amphibia classic, i was sick of cheap crap quartz watches with emty batteries and loose bands as beater watches in scenarios where you don't want a expansive watch on. But i ended up liking the watch that much that i bought a glass caseback and using it as a dress watch. And now currently got a Casio a168 as a beater watch, which holds up very good.

[@kerpowski1]

The Komandirskie 650 case is identical to the Amphibia 670 case, only difference is the finishing on the case.

[@blintorzabat5798]

STRONG LIKE BULL!!!!!! Great music - a majestic anthem! Love Vostoks, and highly recommend Meranom. I have three, and maybe it's just luck, but they keep better time than my Seikos, and they're much tougher too. Frankly, I treat them like my G-Shocks and in one respect, they are arguably superior - that back sealing technology is one fine piece of elegant engineering!

[@SubCapt]

What are Vostok doing ? Well, they started upgrading Komandirskies to a standard similar to Amphibias at least 6 years or so ago with the 350 case models and are carrying on gently, still largely relying on what they can do in-house, which has limitations. My take on it is that they will eventually phase out the brass-case handwinders, and that we're in a transitional phase, which may last a few more years still. Besides most of their sales are still made on their domestic market, which does not necessarily work quite the same way as western world markets.

[@martynsmith5374]

I have the red one. Took ages to arrive, I had to regulate it and change the strap, but very pleased with mine.

[@FrostBlackbird]

Unfortunately mine died after a week. I got the red one but is a gorgeous watch in my opinion. I have to send it back to them for repair.

[@jessedominguez543]

They're keeping it funky. God bless them!

[@tjwright]

Jody, I'd love to see you do a water test of the Komandirskie Classic. With the screw down crown and awesome gasket system in the back, I just can't see how they are only 30M. I'd think they have to be swimming pool safe / 50M. Would make a nice video if you want to test one... I don't think that video exists yet. There are lots of videos of the Amphibia in the water, but I want to see the Komandirskie Classic!

[@lobdsk]

There are many selections at Merenom not just military dials