Background.
Developed in the late 1960s following the success of the military exclusive initial version. The tonneau case introduced integrated, shrouded lugs.
The Amphibia features a revolutionary self-sealing design. The wristwatch has thick acrylic crystal, gaskets made of sintered rubber together with a heavy-duty threaded case back locking ring which tightens under increased external water pressure (obviously 50+ years on the watch will require checking if is to be worn underwater).
The watch movement is the highly reliable 18 jewel Vostok 2209 calibre without a calendar complication (to maintain mechanical integrity). The Chief Designers Novikov and Belova created an innovative and highly effective divers watch at a very competitive price.
I have seen a Finnish video where an Amphibia watch was placed inside a Deep Sea Chamber - the watch is rated to a depth of 200m water resistance - it arrived at 800m before failure!
Specifics.
- Vostok
Amphibia Mechanical Manual tonneau (barrel) cased, stainless steel,18 jewel divers watch.
- Manufactured in the late 1960s to the 1970s - the quality forerunner of today's Amphibia 1967.
- The watch was bought with what I believe is the original, thick, horizontally banded, stainless steel strap.
- The watch is 100% original - with neither replacement parts nor modifications nor restoration. It is a genuine period Amphibia wristwatch - one of the first to be made in the Soviet Union for the civilian market.
- The tonneau stainless steel case, chromed bi-directional bezel and stainless steel backplate are in excellent condition.
Likewise, the "wobbly" crown works as designed (and after winding the watch/making a time
adjustment it screws down with ease and sits flush against the case as
it should).
- Winding & time adjustment is effortless. The watch keeps very good time.
- The
dial has a high contrast layout - a pleasing combination of colour - segmented black and grey for ease of reading. One of the more scarce dials (and more expensive of the new, re-issued Vostok Amphibia Automatics).
- The
bezel is perfectly bi-directional - it turns very smoothly clockwise & anti-clockwise. The black/red
painted ring to the bezel shows minimal fading (understandable I feel for a 50 year watch). The crystal, dial, crown, case and backplate are in "A1" condition. The lume on the dial and hour/minute hands are fine - there is some loss to the seconds hand.
- The watch has all the features as specified by the 1960s Russian Amphibia designers Belova & Novikoff.
- Please take a look at all the accompanying photos.
- Increasingly difficult to come across, unrestored, untouched, in such good condition & totally original.
- Bought over 20 years ago. Worn very occasionally. Part of my collection (which I am selling in its entirety) -
watch stored in a cool, dry, dust-free environment when not in use. Periodically wound.
- The
watch will be despatched in the black card watch box (as pictured). It
will be carefully packed and sent using Royal Mail's 48 Tracked service (via ebayUK Simple Delivery).
- For UK sale only (no international despatch).
< PLEASE SEE MY OTHER WATCHES FOR SALE ON EBAY UK >