A genuine and historically significant piece of Soviet watchmaking history — the Pobeda ZIM Calibre 2602 "Perestroika" edition, produced in the USSR during one of the most dramatic political transformations of the 20th century. The word "ПЕРЕСТРОЙКА" (Perestroika — meaning "restructuring") printed boldly in red across the white dial is not merely decoration; it is a direct document of the Gorbachev era reforms of the mid-to-late 1980s, when the Soviet state itself commissioned propaganda timepieces to mark the ideological shift that would ultimately lead to the dissolution of the USSR. These watches were produced for mass distribution and are today collected worldwide as authentic Cold War artefacts.
The white dial features the iconic Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin printed at centre, flanked by gold-tone diamond-shaped hour markers and bold black baton indices. The red "PERESTROIKA" text dominates the lower half of the dial with unmistakable graphic force — political typography at its most direct. The Pobeda (Победа — "Victory") brand name sits at 12 o'clock, completing a dial that reads as a miniature Soviet poster.
The cushion-shaped chrome-plated case measures approximately 35mm, fitted on a gold-tone stretch bracelet that is very much of the era. Inside runs the legendary Calibre 2602 — a 15-jewel Soviet manual-wind movement produced at the ZIM factory (Пензенский часовой завод), robust and entirely serviceable. The watch winds and runs.
Condition: Pre-owned vintage. Dial is clean with the Perestroika text and Kremlin graphic clearly intact. Case and bracelet show surface wear consistent with age. Crystal has light marks. Movement appears running; service recommended. No box or papers.