Raketa USSR Watch — Embossed Black, Sub-seconds (1960s)
Only 1 available
Shipping from Europe — taxes and customs duties are the buyer's responsibility outside the EU
Lifetime authenticity guarantee
Movement checked & guaranteed for 1 year
International shipping
Photo taken on a 17.5 cm wrist
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Atelier Note
A black woven like a fabric, two gold hands set upon it, a sub-seconds register beating below — the dress Raketa of the sixties.
A sixties Raketa, embossed black enhanced with gold
This watch is a Raketa, produced in the 1960s by the Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — Russia’s oldest factory, founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the atelier lapidary factory of the Peterhof Palace, and renamed Raketa — “rocket” — in 1961, the year of Gagarin’s flight. The Latin signature Raketa 16 JEWELS identifies it as the export version.
Its embossed black dial defines its character: a fine raised grid, woven like a fabric, which catches the light in a discreet checkerboard pattern — a texture rarely found on Soviet productions, and one that gives the black its depth. The silvered baton hour markers punctuate it with restraint, and the golden hands — hours, minutes, and the sub-seconds with round counterweight, at six o’clock — stand out in gold against the dark ground: the dress contrast of the sixties.
The sub-seconds is a period refinement: instead of a central seconds hand, the seconds beat on its own axis, at the bottom of the dial — the architecture of classic dress watches, uncommon at Raketa.
The chromed round case, measuring 33.6mm, with tapered lugs, carries the dress format of the decade. The 16-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement has been checked by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is fitted with a later black crocodile-style leather strap.
Three points to note
01
Embossed black dial — the raised grid that weaves the black like a fabric, rare at Raketa.
02
Gold hands and sub-seconds — the dress contrast of the sixties, on its own axis at six o’clock.
03
Peter the Great manufacture — Petrodvorets, founded in 1721, named Raketa for Gagarin.
Why choose a vintage Soviet watch?
This vintage Raketa watch holds a precise place among vintage men’s and women’s watches: its 33.6mm case can be worn by either, and it is the most dressy of our catalogued Soviet watches — deep black, golden hands, sub-seconds: it slips under a shirt cuff like an evening watch, at the entry budget of authentic vintage. A piece from the 1960s , more understated and rarer than the mass-produced output of the following decade.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: movement verification, examination of the dial, hands, and case. Every vintage watch we offer comes with an Atelier Victor invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and lifetime guaranteed authenticity.
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Technical characteristics
- Brand: Raketa
- Model: Sub-seconds, black embossed dial, export version
- Estimated year: 1960s
- Origin: USSR (Petrodvorets)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, 16 jewels
- Functions: Hours, minutes, sub-seconds
- Case: Chrome-plated, round, chrome-plated back
- Diameter: 33.6mm (35.5mm with crown)
- Lug to lug: 39.4mm
- Thickness: 10.1mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Steel, fluted
- Dial: Black embossed with raised grid pattern, baton markers, original
- Hands: Golden, sub-seconds with counterweight, original
- Crystal: Plexiglass (condition 9/10)
- Strap: Black crocodile-style leather, not original
- Buckle: Pin buckle, not original
Condition and guarantee
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation. The original black dial is crisp, its embossed texture well-defined, with fine signs of age visible from certain angles, shown in our photographs; the golden hands are intact. The chrome-plated case shows wear from use on the lugs and sides. Crystal plexiglass crystal in very beautiful condition.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Mechanical movement checked, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice Atelier Victor
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
What is a sub-seconds display?
A seconds hand that beats on its own small dial, here at six o’clock, instead of a central seconds hand crossing the entire dial. It is the historical architecture of dress watches — inherited from pocket watches — and it gives the dial its classic balance: the large hands for the time, the life of the movement in a discreet circle below. Few Raketa are equipped with it.
What is an embossed dial?
A dial whose surface is struck with a fine raised grid — like the weave of a fabric — catching the light in a subtle checkerboard effect instead of reflecting it uniformly. The texture gives the black its depth and changes with every angle of the wrist. It is workmanship rarely seen on Soviet production, where smooth dials predominated.
Who is Raketa?
The Petrodvorets manufactory, near Saint Petersburg — Russia's oldest factory, founded in 1721 by Peter the Great as the lapidary atelier of the Peterhof Palace. Converted to watchmaking after the war, it took the name Raketa in 1961, “rocket,” in tribute to Gagarin's flight. It produced its calibres entirely in-house — a true manufacture — and still exists today.
How do you wind a hand-wound watch?
Gently turn the crown clockwise, about twenty turns, until you feel resistance. Never force it beyond that point. Daily winding, at the same time each day, is enough to keep the watch running — Petrodvorets calibres are renowned for their robustness.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
With a 33.6mm diameter, 39.4mm Lug-to-lug, and 10.1mm thickness, it suits wrists from approximately 14.5 to 18.5cm — a guide, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. It is the dress format of the sixties, slipping easily under a shirt cuff. The Lug width measures 18mm, making it easy to change the strap.
Mechanical warranty — 1 year
Each watch is inspected by our watchmakers before shipping. In case of a mechanism malfunction during the first year, we cover the repair.
Authenticity warranty — lifetime
If a watch turns out to be non-authentic, we will take it back and refund you in full. Without time limit.
What is not covered
- Exposure to water or humidity
- Shocks, impacts, or vibrations
- Consumable parts (strap, Crystal, crown, pushers)
- Battery replacement (quartz movements)
- Opening or disassembly of the watch by a third party
- Improper use
The accuracy of vintage watches varies according to the model, movement, and year of production. A request for accuracy improvement deemed within acceptable tolerances cannot be covered by the warranty.
Shipping fees
After-sales service is free. Shipping fees outside the United Arab Emirates remain the responsibility of the customer.
Authentication Process
Each watch is examined by our partner watchmakers before being offered for sale: verification of authenticity, checking the conformity of the components, identification of any modification or replacement of original parts.
If any element has been replaced during the life of the watch (dial, hands, crown, Crystal, strap), we systematically indicate it in the product sheet. You buy knowing the exact history of your piece.
Certificate of Authenticity
Your Atelier Victor invoice serves as a certificate of authenticity: it attests to the origin and conformity of the piece, and is covered by our lifetime authenticity guarantee — if a piece sold by Atelier Victor were found to be non-authentic, it would be fully refunded, with no time limit.
We accept several payment methods:
- Bank card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
- Bank transfer (AED, EUR, USD)
- Cryptocurrency (USDT, USDC)
- PayPal
Other currencies accepted upon request. Exchange fees of approximately 3% may apply.
A 3% discount is granted for any payment by bank transfer from €1,000.
Does the strap not suit you? Add the strap of your choice to your order: we will fit it to your watch before shipment, at no fitting charge.
International Shipping
Shipped within 48 to 72 business hours by DHL Express or an equivalent carrier depending on the destination. Delivery in 2 to 6 business days. Each shipment is insured and delivered against signature.
- Free delivery from €1,000 of purchase, as well as on the Jewelry Atelier Victor
- Tracking number sent as soon as the shipment is dispatched
- For certain destinations, delivery may be made to a secure collection point in order to guarantee the integrity of the shipment
Pickup in Dubai
Hand delivery by appointment in Downtown, Dubai. Make an appointment.
Taxes and Customs
The shipping origin is indicated on each product sheet. If the delivery country differs from the shipping country, customs duties and taxes may apply upon receipt, at the buyer's expense. In exceptional situations, customs checks may extend the delivery time, regardless of our wishes and those of the carrier.
For full details, please consult our shipping policy.
FINAL SALES
All sales are final: no return, exchange, or cancellation is accepted after order confirmation. Each piece is authenticated, inspected, and described in detail before being offered for sale.
BEFORE PURCHASE
Our advisors remain at your disposal for any questions and can send you additional photographs or videos upon simple request, by email or on WhatsApp.
NON-CONFORMING ITEM
In the exceptional case of an item that does not match its listing, please notify us within 72 hours: it will be eligible for a refund or an exchange. If the parcel shows damage upon delivery, it should be refused or its opening filmed continuously.
For full details, please consult our return policy.
A piece selected by Atelier Victor
Authenticated, checked, and photographed by us. As all sales are final, our team remains available 7 days a week on WhatsApp to answer your questions, share additional photos or a video of the piece in hand — so that your choice can be made with complete peace of mind.
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