Raketa Perpetual Calendar Ref. 2628.H (Raketa 'Eternal Calendar')
Complications Watch / Calendar Tool Watch · Raketa, manufactured by the Petrodvorets Watch Factory (the oldest factory in Russia). Part of the Soviet watch industry tier, known for robust, mass-produced tool watches.
Period: Late Soviet Era (1980s). Characterized by its oversized 'cushion' case and utilitarian, information-dense dial design typical of the Petrodvorets Watch Factory in the 1980s.
Type
Complications Watch / Calendar Tool Watch
Brand
Raketa, manufactured by the Petrodvorets Watch Factory (the oldest factory in Russia). Part of the Soviet watch industry tier, known for robust, mass-produced tool watches.
Movement
Manual-wind Caliber 2628.H, 19 jewels, 18,000 bph, approximately 40-hour power reserve. Features a double-calendar (day/date) and a non-coupled internal rotating calendar disk.
Dimensions
Case diameter: 40mm; Thickness: 12mm; Lug-to-lug: 42mm; Lug width: 18mm. It wears larger than common vintage watches due to the wide, flat bezel and circular dial.
Description
The Raketa Perpetual Calendar is one of the most iconic Soviet watches. Despite the name, it is a 'multi-year' manual calendar rather than a perpetual movement. By aligning the current year/month at the bottom, the user can determine which day of the week any date falls on using the top table. It represents the height of Soviet ingenuity—creating a complex-looking complication through clever static graphics and a simple internal rotating ring.
Key Features
Dual-crown configuration; 'Made in USSR' (СДЕЛАНО В СССР) signature; rotating inner year-matrix; Caliber 2628.H robust manual movement; unique 'wide-boy' cushion case geometry.
Dial Description
Matte navy blue dial with Raketa logo in Cyrillic-style script. Features applied gold-tone square indices. Displays day and date at 3 o'clock. The upper and lower sectors contain 'perpetual' calendar matrices controlled by the additional crown.
Case Material
Chrome-plated brass (base metal) with a high-polished finish. Note the visible brassing/pitting on the lugs and crown, common with Soviet plating from this era.
Crystal Type
Domed acrylic (Plexiglass). The image shows heavy scratching and scuffing, which is typical for organic glass of this age but easily polished with Polywatch.
Bezel Details
Fixed outer bezel integrated into the case structure. The 'inner bezel' is actually a rotating disk printed on the dial's periphery, adjusted via the crown at 4 o'clock.
Crown & Pushers
Two gold-tone push-pull crowns. The crown at 3 o'clock sets time and date (quick-set date by pulling). The crown at 4 o'clock rotates the lower year/month disk to align with the upper day-of-the-week table.
Bracelet or Strap
Missing in image (exposed lugs). Traditionally sold on a simple black leather strap or a folded-link stainless steel 'crab' style Soviet bracelet.
Caseback Details
Solid, snap-on stainless steel caseback. Usually plain or featuring a small stamped serial number. No exhibition window.
Movement Type
Manual-wind Caliber 2628.H, 19 jewels, 18,000 bph, approximately 40-hour power reserve. Features a double-calendar (day/date) and a non-coupled internal rotating calendar disk.
Water Resistance
Non-existent. Rated for 'splash resistance' when new, but age has likely rendered the seals useless. Do not submerge.
Origin & Provenance
USSR (Soviet Union). Specifically 'Made in USSR' printed at 6 o'clock. Manufactured in Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad).
Age Estimate
Circa 1980–1991. The calendar wheel on this specific model appears to range from 1980 to 2000, which confirms a mid-to-late 80s production date.
Cultural Significance
A staple of 'Ostalgie' and Soviet watch collecting. It is the most recognizable 'complicated' Soviet watch, famous for its quirky solution to the calendar problem without using a high-cost mechanical perpetual movement.
Condition Notes
Fair to Poor. Significant plating loss (brassing) on the crowns and case edges. The acrylic crystal is heavily scratched. The dial appears intact but has some age-related dust. Movement functionality is unknown, but visually it is a 'project' piece.
Value Estimate
$40–$120 USD. In this 'flea market' condition, it is likely worth $30–$50. Mint examples or those with Cyrillic dials can fetch higher prices.
Care & Maintenance
Avoid all water contact as vintage Soviet gaskets are unreliable. Mechanical service is simple and affordable for most watchmakers due to the commonality of the 2628.H movement. Hand-wind daily until resistance is felt.
Similar Watches
Orient 'Multi-Year Calendar' (a more refined Japanese version) and Wittnauer 2000. Within Raketa, the 'Big Zero' and 'Copernicus' are its most famous contemporaries.
Interesting Facts
The Raketa factory was founded by Peter the Great in 1721. The brand name 'Raketa' (Rocket) was launched in 1961 to honor Yuri Gagarin’s first manned spaceflight.