Wostok 2809B Watch Movement
The Wostok 2809B caliber is a 12 1/2 ligne wristwatch movement produced by the Chistopol Watch Factory in Russia, beginning around the late 1950s. It is often praised as one of the highest quality Russian wristwatch movements of its time, drawing significant inspiration from the esteemed Zenith 135 chronometer movement. This lineage is evident in the movement’s large balance wheel, fine regulation system, and its unique gear train construction.
Key Features:
Beat Rate: Runs at a relatively slow 18,000 vibrations per hour (A/h), contributing to stable, though not high-frequency, performance.
Jewels: Equipped with 22 jewels, reducing friction and wear in the movement.
Shock Protection: Incorporates two Russian in-house shock protection systems to enhance durability.
Balance and Regulation: Features a Glucydur screw balance wheel with a Breguet end curve hairspring. Fine regulation is achieved using a cam-regulated, long regulator arm set on a curved disc, theoretically allowing accuracy between -10 and +5 seconds per day.
Gear Train: Notably, the mainspring barrel drives the second wheel followed by a double third wheel and a complex gear train design ensuring smooth and flutter-free hand movement. The central seconds hand operates without a friction spring due to this mechanism.
Aesthetic and Functional Details: The balance wheel screws maintain uniform spacing, likely more for aesthetics than precise balance. The hour wheel has an unusually high number of teeth. The dial side employs a spring-beared exchange wheel reducing fluttering of the watch hands.
Power Reserve: About 44 hours typical for its category.
Additional: The movement is stem-wind and set, with a sub-second dial or central seconds depending on the version.
Despite its qualification as a precision or chronometer-grade movement, actual watches using the 2809B frequently run slower than factory specifications and show considerable variance when tested on timegraphers, likely due to aging or the aesthetic design of balance screws rather than purely functional balancing.
Overall, the Wostok 2809B represents an important piece in the history of Russian horology, appreciated for its engineering complexity and robust construction, making it a favorite among vintage watch collectors and horology enthusiasts focused on Soviet-era craftsmanship.
This article provides a detailed yet compact overview, covering technical and historical facets of the Wostok 2809B movement based on verified resources.
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