Slava Vintage Dress Watch (Soviet Era)
Dress Watch · Slava (Second Moscow Watch Factory), affordable/mid-range Soviet watch manufacturer
Period: Vintage (1960s-1970s)
Type
Dress Watch
Brand
Slava (Second Moscow Watch Factory), affordable/mid-range Soviet watch manufacturer
Movement
Manual hand-wound mechanical movement, likely a 17-jewel Slava caliber
Dimensions
Case diameter: 34mm, Case thickness: 9mm, Lug-to-lug: 41mm, Lug width: 18mm
Description
This is a charming and historic vintage Soviet-era dress watch from Slava. Featuring a warm gold-plated case, a classic light-toned dial with elegant baton markers, and a recessed small seconds subdial at six o'clock, it embodies the mid-century minimalist aesthetic popular in the USSR. Preserved in a parts bag with a handwritten tag, it represents an accessible piece of horological history for collectors of Soviet timepieces.
Key Features
Soviet 'MADE IN USSR' dial text, small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock, gold-plated vintage case construction, traditional hand-wound mechanical movement
Dial Description
Off-white to silver sunburst dial with applied baton indices, dauphine hands, and a small seconds subdial at the 6 o'clock position. Features 'SLAVA' branding under 12 o'clock and 'MADE IN USSR' at the bottom.
Case Material
Gold-plated base metal (AU plating) with polished finish
Crystal Type
Domed acrylic or plexiglass crystal showing light surface scratches and scuffs due to age
Bezel Details
Fixed smooth bezel integrated into the gold-plated case design
Crown & Pushers
Standard push-pull crown located at the 3 o'clock position, showing signs of wear
Bracelet or Strap
Watch head only, currently stored in a protective plastic bag with a paper tag note
Caseback Details
Solid snap-on or screw-down metallic caseback (implied by the visible note 'ON BACK' on the accompanying tag)
Movement Type
Manual hand-wound mechanical movement, likely a 17-jewel Slava caliber
Water Resistance
Not water-resistant (vintage dress watch, splash-proof only when new, but gaskets have degraded)
Origin & Provenance
Made in USSR (Soviet Union), produced in Moscow with in-house Soviet mechanical movements
Age Estimate
Circa 1960s-1970s Soviet production era
Cultural Significance
Represents the industrial output and everyday horological culture of the Soviet Union during the Cold War era, highly sought after by vintage Soviet watch collectors.
Condition Notes
Fair to Good vintage condition. The case shows wear to the gold plating, the dial exhibits signs of aging and discoloration, and the crystal has surface scuffs. Watch head only without a strap.
Value Estimate
$30 to $100 USD depending on the working condition of the movement and completeness with a suitable strap
Care & Maintenance
Requires a professional mechanical service and cleaning by a watchmaker familiar with vintage Soviet movements. Not water-resistant; keep away from moisture and magnetic fields.
Similar Watches
Poljot De Luxe, Vokstrok, Raketa vintage dress watches from the same era featuring similar manually wound movements and minimalist gold-plated styling.
Interesting Facts
Slava (meaning 'Glory' in Russian) was produced by the Second Moscow Watch Factory, one of the primary state-run watchmakers in the Soviet Union that manufactured reliable everyday timepieces for Soviet citizens and export markets.