The history of clocks is a fascinating one, stretching back thousands of years to the earliest civilizations. From simple sun dials to highly accurate atomic clocks, the development of clocks has been driven by our need to measure time with ever-increasing precision. In this article, we will take a look at the history of clocks from their earliest beginnings to the present day.
The earliest clocks
The earliest clocks were simple devices used to measure time based on the movements of the sun and stars. One of the most famous of these devices is the sundial, which dates back to ancient Egypt and was used to track the movement of the sun across the sky. Another early clock was the water clock, which used the steady flow of water to measure time.
As technology advanced, so too did the complexity of clocks. One of the most important developments in the history of clocks was the invention of the mechanical clock in Europe during the Middle Ages. These clocks used a system of gears and springs to keep time, and were capable of much greater accuracy than earlier devices.
The rise of the pendulum clock
In the 17th century, the invention of the pendulum clock revolutionized timekeeping. These clocks used a swinging pendulum to regulate the movement of the clock’s gears, resulting in far greater accuracy than earlier mechanical clocks. The pendulum clock was a major breakthrough in the history of clocks, and remained the most accurate timekeeping device for several centuries.
Guide: How to repair soviet-era watches by sovietwatches.shop
Soviet-era mechanical watches are known for their precision and durability. They were built to last and were designed to withstand the rigors of daily wear. However, even the best watches can experience problems over time, and it is important to know how to repair them to keep them functioning properly.
At Sovietwatches.shop, we have received many inquiries from our customers about how to repair their Soviet-era mechanical watches. To help our customers, we have put together a comprehensive guide on how to repair mechanical Soviet-era watches.
Tools Required for Repairing Soviet-Era Mechanical Watches
Before you begin repairing your Soviet-era mechanical watch, it is important to gather the necessary tools. Here are the tools you will need:
Watchmaker’s screwdrivers: You will need a set of screwdrivers with different sizes to work on different parts of the watch.
Tweezers: You will need a set of tweezers to handle small parts of the watch. These should be anti-magnetic to ensure that you do not damage any of the watch’s delicate parts.
Loupe: A loupe is a small magnifying glass that will help you see the tiny parts of the watch. You will need a loupe with at least 10x magnification to get a clear view of the watch’s parts.
Cleaning Solution: You will need a cleaning solution that is designed specifically for watches. These solutions are designed to remove dirt and grime from the watch’s delicate parts without damaging them.
Watch Oil: You will need to apply oil to certain parts of the watch to ensure that they move smoothly. There are different types of watch oils, so make sure you choose the right one for your watch.
Parts Tray: You will need a parts tray to keep all the small parts of the watch in one place. This will help you keep track of all the parts and prevent them from getting lost.
Soviet Watches: The Legacy of Soviet-era Watchmaking
Soviet watches are some of the most sought-after vintage watches in the world. These timepieces were produced during the Soviet era, from the 1920s to the 1990s, and were made to be reliable, durable, and affordable. Despite the challenges faced by Soviet-era watchmakers, they were able to produce high-quality watches that have stood the test of time and continue to be admired by collectors and enthusiasts today.
History of Soviet-era Watchmaking
Soviet-era watchmaking was born out of necessity. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, the country was in a state of economic and political upheaval. The new Soviet government needed to produce affordable watches that could be mass-produced and sold to the general public. In 1927, the Soviet government created the First State Watch Factory, known as “1MCHZ” in Russian, in Moscow. This factory was the first of many watch factories that were established throughout the Soviet Union.
The early Soviet watches were simple and utilitarian, with basic movements and designs. However, over time, Soviet watchmakers began to experiment with more complex movements and designs, and produced some of the most innovative and technically advanced watches of their time. The watches produced during the Soviet era were known for their precision, durability, and affordability, and were highly sought-after not only in the Soviet Union but around the world.
How to buy Soviet Watches – Guide to buying used USSR watches
Luxury watches aren’t the only watches to be faked, and there is a growing number of USSR watches being copied. This makes buying a used one tricky as not only could you encounter a fake, you could also find modded ones which isn’t bad, but they could easily be mistaken for fake. There’s also tonnes and tonnes of different designs of the same watchmaking it even more difficult to spot a genuine one as you can’t be sure if it is a made-up design or one of their original ones.
1. How to spot a fake Russian watch
Spotting a fake Russian watch can be tricky as it’s quite difficult to tell if a watch is simply just a mod or if it’s a fake. But there are a few ways to help identify a real one.
A. Look out for case imperfections – Here, you want to look out for any thinning metal or metal that is starting to flake or dimples in the finish. These are signs that the case material is probably not steel and is likely some cheap metal. Also, look at the colour; if it’s yellow-tinged and not supposed to be that way, then that is another sign of poor quality metal.
B. No Screw-down crown – Most – but not all – Vostoks have a screw-down crown, so if you get one that’s supposed to have this feature and it doesn’t, you could have a fake.
C. Poor fitment of the bezel – Vostoks build quality can vary, but they should have a pretty solid feeling bezel. Fakes have a really poor fitting one and, in some cases, will even fall off completely.
D. Not working – A common thing with fake Vostok and other Russian watches is the fact they’ll arrive dead and not work at all. Most Russian watches take a bit of use to get them started, this is done by either movement or winding, but a fake will not do anything.
E. No lume – Most real Russian watches will have lume; though not the best in the business, they still should have it, whereas a phoney will simply fake this by painting the (in this case) dots on the dial.
F. Sloppy dial work – Russian watches that are really should have pretty cleanly done dial artwork and numerals, whereas a fake will be scrappy looking and often be smudged. (look at the example below)
G. Altered papers – Sometimes Russian watches will come with papers, and often these can be altered; this can be hard to spot, so make sure the watch you are buying is numbers matching to a genuine one. You can research this online and make sure that the model you have bought is an actual model that has been made.
Fake Russian Watch
2. Lookout for modded watches
Modded Vostoks have certainly grown in popularity over the past few years, and while there’s nothing wrong with a modded one, it can sometimes be hard to tell a modded one from an original as there are so many different takes on the same design and also especially if it’s been done right. So if you want to have a fully original Vostok or another Russian watch, be sure to ask the seller if it is all original.
Glory for Ukraine! Due to the fact that we are in Ukraine, problems are possible in our Soviet Watches Shop when paying with Paypal. For information on alternative ways to pay and order goods feel free to email us and don't worry about shipping - mail works very quickly (you will get tracking code) and shipping costs are included in the price of goods. Glory to the Heroes!Dismiss