Worlds Toughest Watch - Vostok Amphibia

[@ccw1961]

These watches are fab. well built, comfortable and the ultimate tool watch with real history. Mine keeps really good time. No issues. I own a lovely Rolex Sub and they compliment each other beautifully. love the Vostok every bit as much. It is not about the money it is about history, design, practicality and usability. At about £40 for a new one, you get a watch that really makes you question the prices western watch companies are asking. Quirky ...definitely, rough around the edges...a little....but an all round excellent timepiece. I was so pleasantly surprised by how good they are. Gert one!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+ccw1961 Thanks for the great comment, obviously it doesn't keep time as well as a Swiss chronograph but it's accurate and strong enough for daily wear.

[@ccw1961]

True! But hey, my piece gains 4 seconds a day. I think that's a real challenge for the rest

[@jimrees1778]

I recently bought a Komandirskie and have worn it non stop for 7 days now. In 7 days, it has not lost or gained even ONE second. This has totally amazed me. None of the other mechanical watches in my collection keep time this good. Maybe I just got lucky?

[@bg-id1uo]

Spot on !!

[@raindog951]

I've found the Lume on my Vostok to be perfectly good all night once your eyes adjust to the dark.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+raindog951 I think it varies a lot from Vostok to Vostok

[@lebon2002be]

Mine too, I can the hours all night long.

[@SantiagoAyoso]

Beautifull watch. My favorite watches Vostok

[@DavidUKesb]

I have a large collection of Vostoks, both new and vintage, and only wear Russian or Soviet watches. They are outstanding value for money with a great history and in-house movements. By the way, the Amphibias are not handwinding, but automatic.

[@adrianmonk6974]

Jorn Navarre I have an Amphibia from the 80s that is automatic

[@jimrees1778]

The Amphibia is automatic, but you can also wind by hand if you want to. You really don't need to, these watches do a great job winding themselves.

[@Denis-uy5ue]

They can be wound manually surely, at least the ones that made in recent years

[@bnjmnNC]

Hey, great video, thanks for posting. There are a lot of videos on these watches but rarely do people have any insight on the watch or brand at all. Nice work. From a fan in North Carolina, stay up sir. Benjamin

[@oliverfasola19]

Crashed a dirt bike wearing one of these; dislocated my shoulder but the Vostok is perfectly fine

[@911naimplate]

I'm a big fan of these watches. Provided you do not get a dud, the Amphibian should last a lifetime. It’s a conversation starter. It looks like it is worth far more money than it actually is. The build quality is impressive and I am comparing it to several quality watches that I own. While not made as well, at approximately 1/10 or 1/20th the cost of several much higher end watches, the watch truly is impressive. The only real complaint I have is that the Lume is horrible and literally lasts about 5-10 minutes which is a joke. Other than that, the watch is impressive and I plan on buying several more for myself and family members.

[@jimrees1778]

I have a HUGE problem with Vostok watches. I want to buy every single model that they make! I had been trying to build my collection with various brands, and was doing pretty good until I came across Vostok.. the Komandirskie model. Now all I can think of is buying another model Vostok! Kidding aside, these are the best watch values on the planet. Great review, thank you.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah they're very tough and interesting for the relatively cheap price.

[@jimrees1778]

My Amphibia arrived today. Looks even better in person than in photos. I removed some links to get it to fit properly, but plan to replace the metal band soon anyway. Although too soon to tell, it's keeping perfect time so far. Thinking of getting a K-35 model next just to add to my collection. Hard to decide on which one to wear, all Vostoks are fantastic watches.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Glad your liking it so far, I get a lot of troll comments on these videos saying they fall apart, can't keep time and are not water resistant.

[@jimrees1778]

It amazes me the number of idiots that make comments on here. Anyway, so far, my Amphibia is accurate to the second which is a good sign. It seems to keeps itself wound up very well. Lums are average, but lasted until I fell asleep last night. So far, so good.. no complaints at all.. love Vostok watches.

[@jasonamoako9729]

prefer a digital G-Shock But this watch is a truly beautiful watch for the price 😊

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

I'm tempted at some point to get the Titanium Waveceptor. Accurate to a second every day and solar powered and less than £200.

[@jld3229]

I totally agree on the lumination of this watch. Good review. Thanks!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Thanks, other than swapping the strap out on it I don't really have many complaints about the Amphibia.

[@ilcattivomaestro]

I have got two amphibia vostok, the 710634 which is the famous "scuba dude black" and the 420374 which is the famous "steve zissou" and I made too videos about my amphibians in my youtube channel. I love them both very much and you are right: they are very strong watches. Enjoy yours and welcome in the amphibia brotherhood

[@Lex5576]

I'm thoroughly pleased with all my Vostok watches. Would not have dreamed beforehand, that quality like that could be had for under $75. I very much like the green dial shown in this video, mine is a 710 case in that color. I modified all my Vostoks with Murphy bezels and new inserts. I put Hadley-Roma solid link bracelets on a couple of the watches, and premium silicone straps on the other two. I end up spending more on mods than the actual watch, but to me it's damn well worth it. I get lots of questions from people about my Vostoks. They usually want one themselves.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Lex5576 Out of interest how many seconds accurate a day do you find your Amphibias to be, mine tends to be anywhere from 20-60 seconds fast a day, while the Komandirskie cadet is within 10 seconds accurate a day.

[@Lex5576]

I'm not really sure, but it's such a small variable that it keeps up with my Victorinox Quartz Chrono quite well. I still wind my favorite 710 auto a few rounds for good measure every so many days. But I probably don't need to, truth be known.

[@blindriv3r]

I regulated mine to within 2 seconds a day, from what I have read many people have gotten these results after regulating

[@nickv4073]

Good watch. One of the best values around. Very durable. The bracelet is cheap and should be replaced.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Nick V Yeah swapped mine with a mesh

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Mark The old type is a normal amphibia with a red and white face however Vostok Europe do a modern version of it that has different internals I think.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Weaponsandstuff93 Also I can't reply to your comments directly or PM you, check your Google+ settings.

[@tikiduck]

Got mine today, and I think it gives my Omega Seamaster 300 a run for the money on my wrist. Even like the bracelet.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Cool, the Bracelet might start annoying you after a while though.

[@jimrees1778]

After now having two Komandirskies, I finally ordered an Amphibia.. I can't wait to get it..

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

It's a great watch.

[@gunsuk3176]

what can we say about the Russians mate things are built to last, great video.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Guns Uk31 Cheers, bought it as a survival/hard wearing work watch, I personally like having a watch that doesn't need a battery.

[@TubeRadiosRule]

I have one from the late 1980's or early 1990's (late Soviet era) with the so-called "sniper dial" (looks like cross-hairs in a scope) and the 2409 movement. It's the only mechanical movement watch I have found so far that can stand up to my work environment, as I work in a machine-shop with a lot of dirt, cutting fluid, and magnetic fixtures. Keeps good time, too!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+TubeRadiosRule Yeah they're great for what they are, there was even a model with a magnetic resistant case.

[@TubeRadiosRule]

Mine has the antimagnetic case, with a shielding insert inside the back of the case and a special Beryllium alloy winding stem. In fact, the dial says (in Cyrillic), "Antimagnetic/17 Jewels/Made In USSR" On the back, it says "Waterproof 200 meters/Amphibia/Shockproof".

[@АндрейМихайлович-й2ъ]

casio g-shok have not tried in such conditions ?

[@ryanlichiwai]

I have a exactly the same model for a year, it is the best value watch I have ever bought, but the bracelet is the most uncomfortable I have ever wear, I changed it into nato, and it is great

[@WeaponCollector]

Very nice, great bit of history and info behind it too, very eye catching with that green face too. Great vid, cheers for sharing L

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+WeaponCollector Cheers, gonna do a comparison video of some survival watches soon as this one is probably the best, supposedly these have been used by Cosmonauts on space walks as well. You can get them with pretty much any face possible so a lot of people get them to customise them.

[@WeaponCollector]

+Weaponsandstuff93 A custom watch face would be cool., pretty much limtiless options then.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

I think the first 3 numbers designate the case style and not the bezel. The next 3 numbers designate the dial.

[@devilslayerthesaintofkille1317]

Raketa Amphibia is even tougher and a true diver's watch that can withstand 400m of water pressure where as the Vostok version can withstand only 200m, and regular proper dive watch can withstand at least 300m of water pressure.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

The Amphibia was top of the line in the 60s when it was invented, obviously modern watches are stronger.

[@davidboardman8590]

Devil Slayer The Saint Of Killers ! 300 meters is irrelivent.How deep can the average diver go?

[@pericodelospalotes5738]

David Boardman. I got the Open Water Diver certificate which is the common among amateurs. We can't go deeper than 30-40 meters, beyond that you need a special training and a special composition of compressed air in the tanks. Absolutely nobody does scuba diving 200 meters deep, so 300 is a marketing trick.

[@devilslayerthesaintofkille1317]

The deepest any scuba diver went was 332.5 meters, so a watch like the 400 meter Raketa Amphibia should suffice for most divers.

[@keirtaylor4669]

for years I've been sucked into the g shock hype that only Gs can cope with this kind of abuse. just got my first amphibia (scuba dude) and love it. could have saved myself a whole lot of cash if I'd bought these instead of g shock!!!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Keir Taylor Out of the Casio's I like the waveceptor a lot more, the titanium one is very solid, another good dive watch is the Seiko SKX, best lume on any watch.

[@keirtaylor4669]

+Weaponsandstuff93 yes I agree with you there. the only g shock I really love is my Codename from 1999 I think. it's an alaska dog mushers association special edition and has a cool backlight as well as the usual Codename morse code functions etc. Saving up for an SKX they seem to have gone really dear

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

007s and 009s turn up on Amazon for £100-200, assume you can get them in dollars for something similar.

[@leebalmforth2269]

Lovely dial. Did you have any trouble with UK customs?

[@jimrees1778]

I ended up putting a leather band (waterproof) on my Amphibia. Much more comfortable now. This is my daily watch now for some reason. All I can say is that everything good said about the Vostok Amphibia is true. They are accurate, waterproof, and can take any kind of treatment you put them through. What an amazing value. Ebay had the best price for me, got it for $61, shipping included.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah I don't use mine as an EDC watch any more as I use a fitness tracker most days, but it works whenever I wind it up.

[@IAT1964]

I disagree with your statement that Vostok reverse engineered Swiss watches. The sealing mechanism philosophy is fundamentally different from the Swiss and Japanese manufacturers. The Russians developed an ALTERNATIVE design, which apparently works very well. It is true they did study the Rolex et. al. but found it too difficult and expensive to replicate hence the alternative brilliant design.... Soviet engineering at it's best.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+IAT1964 So backwards engineered then improved.

[@IAT1964]

Well, for the price, I think they are brilliant... I cant afford a high end Rolex....

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+IAT1964 I love my Vostok

[@RadioStreetsunited]

@Jorn Navarre with thicker caseback they could go even "deeper" than 820 meters, when they failed that test conducted by german engineers. And once again, the cheapest Russian standard watch only for 45 Euro!

[@dodgydruid]

I've got a 1982-83 Amphibia in an octagonal case and a dial missing anything except the Bostok and other informative stuff but no scuba dude or battleships etc, it keeps abs perfect time which for a nigh on 40 year piece is astonishing, it does need a new crystal but that is a few quid, even my local jeweller looking at it said to go back in like 10 years if it plays up as it was in such good beat. Abs adore this watch and one Vostok has become many but the 80's Soviet one is my favourite :)

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah I still like my amphibia sadly a part came loose and seems to require a specialised screwdriver I can't find for sale

[@PaulGPhotography]

Hi, have you been swimming with your Vostok? Any corrosion problems by the crown area because of the 2 different metals. Have you upgraded the crown? Enjoyed the vid. Cheers

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

No but I've used it in sinks, washing with chemicals and no damage to the watch or bezel

[@PaulGPhotography]

@@Weaponsandstuff93 OK that great, I have one on order and was worried I'd need to upgrade the crown as seen/ read about galvanic corrosion.

[@ziggyjinx]

Cool video 👍

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Thanks.

[@vaultboy1086]

What song is that at the end?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYu9lGhvlrmahbM

[@Shadow_Hawk_Streaming]

If it's gaining it should be adjustable,by removing the back there's probably a lever/screw inside to adjust the speed, My victoranox watch gains a couple of seconds a day,I reset it every few weeks if I remember since 5 minutes fast creeps up quick. As far as the strap I'd go with brown leather,very soviet

[@devilslayerthesaintofkille1317]

Vostok Amphibia 200 meter water resistance, Raketa Amphibia 400 meter water resistance.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah the Raketa sounds really good

[@daniellaw5285]

I like the music in the end.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

It's "March of Stalin's Artillery" if you search on youtube, you should be able to get the full versions.

[@YZFMANIAC08]

Just ordered this beauty today, going to put this baby through its paces

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Nice, putting a custom strap on it?

[@YZFMANIAC08]

Weaponsandstuff93 I've read the stock bracelet is quite crappy, considering a nice nato. Do you have any advice? Thanks!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah a NATO strap looks nice on them, depends on the face for what strap you want, personally I like mesh straps.

[@YZFMANIAC08]

Weaponsandstuff93 do you know the lugwidth of the latest models?

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Unless the new models changed anything Vostoks have always been 18mm.

[@torgomax]

Thanks for this video. I really like the green face of the watch.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+torgomax Cheers, Vostoks have really cool stand out faces.

[@michaeltihon3485]

Hope the watch won't kill me :D Just ordered one ;)

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Nope, no radiation in Soviet watches funnily enough, they stopped using radium paint before the West.

[@ilcattivomaestro]

I also subscribe to see more in the future

[@DiamondJo]

I was looking at some other Vostok watches and there is one with a red cross on the dial. Think its for a radio room or something. Anybody know more about these?

[@RadioStreetsunited]

The history behind that is simple. When Titanic was sinking, noone could hear their SOS and send them a rescue because the air was extremely busy with other background noise. So, now every 15 mins there are 3 minutes of complete silence, when you can send or receive SOS. So these red sectors mean "radio silence mode"

[@nephildevil]

very similar to mine, only the dial is different.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Endrikh Darkvine CXVI Cool will have a look at your video.

[@solstar4778]

Darkvine ?

[@mjusiqtube]

Beautiful. What is the width of the bracelet. Any advice on a seller with good quality NATO strap or - mesh. Thank you.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

The bracelet is 18mm. My strap came from Watch gecko.

[@mjusiqtube]

Thanks. :-)

[@woodchipper3538]

Just ordered one

[@solstar4778]

Mine’s not working where can I get it fixed in USA!

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

At a watch repair shop

[@solstar4778]

Weaponsandstuff93 - true and where is that shop?

[@salty-as-heck9915]

Great budget divers, but I doubt they are better than a $250 Seiko SKX007, which most watch afficionado will agree is the best budget divers, period. That being said, the Amphibia is still a great budget divers. I've had one for 3 years and I can't complain about what I got for the price I paid.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

The Seiko is probably the better watch, but the Amphibia is a lot cooler in my opinion due to the insane variety they made of them and that it's a Soviet bad guy watch.

[@salty-as-heck9915]

Weaponsandstuff93 True, the plexiglass domed crystal and the simple dials definitely give the Amphibia a mid 60s, early 70s vibe that you won't get with the Seiko.

[@bookmn0926]

420 designates the case not necessarily the bezel.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+bookmn0926 Ah yeah thanks had heard that in some other videos while others said it was the Bezel, I quite like the 420 case though as it's not gigantic compared to the caseback and face.

[@GetIntoYourLife]

Yes, they are tough, when they aren't becoming magentized - LOL!

[@semymaccaroni1992]

My Amphiba hold the Time in 36h for -2sec. Check the 830Meter Presure Chamber Test Video from "behind the Press" Channel. 1.2km at all the Acryliq Crush. How ever the Kaliber are very very Tough...!! My best Choice.

[@freqeist]

ordered a Komandirskie today.

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Cool, which watch face?

[@EinarHovdastad]

Nice explanation about this genious Russian engineering. Best engineering; as few as possible parts, still "complete".. -Even best ;) I read that they tested them glued on submarines. Even survived 2000m deep.. :)

[@YZFMANIAC08]

Einar H. M. Hovdastad is this just some marketing slang or did this really happen? Can imagine that it can take that much pressure without giving in...

[@igordem555]

the strap made in China. The movement ever best 2209(Восток) was made in USSR times. Although it is cheapest factory divers 60-65$ now

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+Дем Иванов Yeah that would explain why the strap isn't as good as the watch.

[@sinawali92able]

Weaponsandstuff93 A

[@johnq4565]

what is the diameter of this watch

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+John Q about 41mm I believe, don't have a ruler handy atm

[@johnq4565]

+Weaponsandstuff93 Thx mate

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

+John Q Yeah double checked with a tape measure now, from one side to the other of the edge of the bezel it's about 40-41mm, depending on the case model or bezel design that will vary slightly.

[@TheFlyrodder68]

+John Q Go to Meranom.com and they'll have all the info you'll need about the case size, i.e. lug to lug width, width, length, and height for each case.

[@GetIntoYourLife]

Why are is that design called, "Suba Dude" ? Dude doesn't sound very Russian - LOL

[@bg-id1uo]

👍 video on the battle tested durable Vostok ! Please too check out the extreme tests Simon Crane of the UK did on them a few years ago on youtube His channel is Simondo

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Seen those, very good tests, deep freeze, thrown from a bridge, run over etc

[@possiblebot6858]

Just bought a all black komandirskie

[@johneli495]

Nice green dial. Not a fan of that bezel

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Yeah you can get them in all sorts of bright colours.

[@pinburg]

I,ll have the strap for mine

[@Rfpepe7295]

I love Vostok and I love their history and they are a great value, but to say that they are "toughest watch in the world" is false.. not even close..

[@Weaponsandstuff93]

Back in the 60s they certainly were, guess the Raketta amphibia is technically the toughest now.

[@Rfpepe7295]

I am not an expert by any means, but in just plain toughness.. The G Shock is still King... and please, don't get me wrong.. I LOVE my Vostoks and plan on buying many more of them, they are one of the best values in watches today

[@bg-id1uo]

Please check out Simon Cranes extreme tests on the great durability of the Vostok including it being run over twice by his car ! His you tube channel is Simondo