CCCP Soviet Russian SHARK Navy SPETSNAZ Diver 193 Zlatoust JUMBO Vostok Panerai

English: Special Purpose Forces; or "Special Purpose Military Units". Smallest and most wearable of the CCCP divers also by some degree the rarest theres between 8 and 12 known examples out there. This one is MINT and all original ALL stamped 293 case back dial and even the buckle.

The Agat Zlatoust Vodolaz Dive Watch. A hefty name for the heftiest of dive watches. Although the manned torpedo and water resistant watches had been around since early in the 19th century, a key moment for the subject of dive watches is 19 December 1941. It is when an Italian Navy diver unit attacked the port of Alexandria with three maiale (Human torpedo). The battleships HMS Valiant and Queen Elisabeth and an 8,000-ton tanker were sunk in shallow water. With this very successful attack by the Italian maiale pilots on the British warships the (sabotage) divers' watch was established. The divers used a depth meter, a compass and a wristwatch to navigate and coordinate. The Italian navy used a Panerai made for them by Rolex. The same in unbranded guise was used by the German Kampfschwimmers. Unamused the British marine had their own Longines engined ones made by a London watchmaker for the Chariot drivers. All of the above followed traditional watchmaking in the shape of a case with a front window and rear lid made watertight. The Soviets took a different design path for the dives. As Russia had no watchmaking industry of its own, in 1927 the strategic decision was taken to set up a factory for chronometers and chronographs. In 1931 the First Moscow Watch Company started producing for the military.

Autumn 1941 the factory was moved far into the motherland, divided over two locations, to safeguard it from the advancing German troops. One part went to Chistopol to become the Vostok factory.

The other went to the military industrial complex of Zlatoust and his new factory, the current Agat Clock Factory, where the military dive watch would be produced. During WW2, the Agat factory produced. 77.000 tank clocks = 73% of soviet tanks. That diver's watch was developed along the same thinking lines of a diving helmet; it was a single piece case into which the movement was mounted from the front, with a sturdy ring screwing down the crystal on the rubber seal. Instructions manual dated 1948 have illustrations featuring this watch which had the technical spec.

The model was know as the 191Chs and had a beefed up version of the Dueber-Hampden pocket watch caliber inside. The 191Chs was made exclusively or the military. It remained property of the state and was issued for a job only. It was 100% a dive tool and unavailable for sale.

As such it had no branding, no markings whatsoever save for a serial number on the back. It remained in production unchanged until 1974 when the last batch was made. In all some 6.000 of the Zlatoust Vodolaz dive watch had been made. It only knew some minor detail differences over time. The earliest ones have minute marker, which disappeared at the end of the fifties. The end of the fifties also saw the use of radium for the luminescent paint disappear. After 1974 the Agat factory made no dive watches. Ditto the modern marketing created Invicta' Russian Diver' of traditional watch concept about thus nothing more needs be written.

The real things had however found their way to the watch collectors and became quite iconic. During his period as The Governator of California Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared frequently in public while wearing one, including in the "big knife" video on youtube. This watch is all GUN METAL.

Zlatoust Produced Divers Wrist Watch. These beasts of the depth are often dubbed the "Russian Panerai" and it's easy to see why. The entire outer case is a heavy solid Monoblock. Smallest of the russian divers at a "mere" 49.5mm diameter excluding crown, 69mm inclusive. Huge crownguard with undamaged chain link and thick mineral glass case front.

A Matte Black Pre 1950 all Arabic even numerals "Stencil cut" type. This is a "Rad" dial often used for Water Divers use rather than submarine use much like the USA No Rad Waltham watches of the same era. The "SHARK" is not only the smallest of the CCCP divers but also the most detailed dial wise. The strap Is the Original textile rubber coated strap in un-used condition. A 15 Jewels Mechanical Hand Wound Movement. Sub Seconds "Lepine" Movement in "Hunter" reposition. JUST ONE OF OUR MANY PARTS AUCTIONS AND MANY MANY MORE TO COME SO "Follow" and watch this space! We can offer a comprehensive servicing facility we can service most watches at a fraction of the high street cost, we can look after most watches from pocket watches to trench watches to high end chronographs. ALSO our feedback and star ratings are very important to us. We will do all that we can to resolve any issues swiftly and amicably and ensure you get the best. The item "CCCP Soviet Russian SHARK Navy SPETSNAZ Diver 193 Zlatoust JUMBO Vostok Panerai" is in sale since Thursday, June 27, 2019. This item is in the category "Jewellery & Watches\Watches, Parts & Accessories\Wristwatches". The seller is "fullywound" and is located in Folkestone. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Gender: Men's
Number of Jewels: 15 Jewels
Strap Material: Rubber
Model: Divers Watch
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Russian Federation
Watch Shape: Round
Style: Diver
Caseback: Solid
Case Material: Gun Metal
Strap Type: Two-Piece Strap
Dial Style: 12-Hour Dial
Movement: Mechanical (Hand-winding)
Face Colour: Black
Features: Arabic Numerals
Year of Manufacture: 1950-1959
Case Finish: Matte
Age Group: Adult
Display: Analog
Lug Width: 22mm
Brand: Vostok
Strap Colour: Black
Case Size: 49mm
Case Colour: Black