Raketa USSR Watch — Guilloché Dial 21 Jewels (1970s)
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 hobnail pattern around a striped center, four gold numerals set on top — the guilloché of Petrodvorets, the atelier that cut for the tsars.
A guilloché Raketa, two textures beneath four gold numerals
This watch is a Raketa, produced in the 1970s by the Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — the oldest factory in Russia, founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the atelier lapidary workshop of the Peterhof Palace, and renamed Raketa — “rocket” — in 1961, the year of Gagarin's flight. The wording MADE IN USSR marks it as the export version.
Its guilloché dial plays with two textures: a hobnail background — the pointed grid that shimmers like a checkerboard — and a center of vertical stripes, framed by a fine beaded minute track. Each engraving catches the light in its own way, and the dial changes with every turn of the wrist. Four gold-tone Arabic numerals — 12, 3, 6, 9 — and gold diamonds at the intermediate hours punctuate it, beneath the cursive signature and the wording 21 JEWELS.
The movement is quite simply the other strong argument: a 21-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement — a generous count for a three-hand watch of this period, which the manufacture displayed on the dial. It has been checked by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year.
The polished round 34mm case features a later fluted crown — replaced during the watch’s lifetime, as we would like to point out. The watch is fitted with a later black woven perlon strap, adjustable to the millimeter.
Three points to note
01
Two-texture guilloché dial — hobnail and vertical stripes, changing with every light.
02
21-jewel mechanical movement — the generous count displayed on the dial, checked and guaranteed for one year.
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 distinct place among vintage men's and women's watches: its 34mm case suits both, and its guilloché dial offers engraving work usually found on far more expensive watches — the direct legacy of a manufacture born as a atelier lapidary workshop. A vintage mechanical watch with character, at the entry-level budget of authentic vintage.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and checked by our partner watchmakers: movement verification, examination of the dial, hands and case. Every vintage watch we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year warranty, and lifetime-guaranteed authenticity.
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Technical specifications
- Brand: Raketa
- Model: Guilloché dial, export version
- Estimated year: 1970s
- Origin: USSR (Petrodvorets)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, 21 jewels
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
- Case: Steel, round, steel back
- Diameter: 34mm (36.3mm including the crown)
- Lug to lug: 40mm
- Thickness: 11mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Fluted, not original
- Dial: Clous de Paris guilloché with striped center, golden numerals, beaded minute track, original
- Hands: Steel baton hands, fine seconds hand, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 7/10)
- Strap: Black braided Perlon, not original
- Buckle: Pin buckle, not original
Condition and warranty
- General condition: Good state of preservation. The original guilloché dial is crisp, its two textures well-defined, with fine signs of age near the numerals, visible in our photographs. The polished case shows signs of wear on the bezel and lugs. Acrylic Crystal with marks, rated 7/10. The crown was replaced during the watch's lifetime.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanical: Checked mechanical movement, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Invoice Atelier Victor
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
What is a guilloché dial?
A dial whose surface is engraved with a regular recessed pattern — here two: a clous de Paris, the diamond-point grid that sparkles like a checkerboard, and a vertically striped center, separated by a beaded minute track. Guilloché catches the light differently from every angle, and it is workmanship usually found on far more expensive watches. A historical nod: Petrodvorets was founded atelier the lapidary workshop of the Peterhof Palace — engraving was its original trade.
What does 21 jewels mean?
Twenty-one jewels: the synthetic stones used as bearings for the movement’s pivots to reduce wear. It is a generous count for a three-hand watch from this period — above the standard 17 jewels — and a selling point that the manufacture proudly displayed on the dial, intended for buyers of the export version.
Who is Raketa?
The Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — the oldest factory in Russia, founded in 1721 by Peter the Great as the atelier lapidary workshop 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 diameter of 34mm, 40mm Lug-to-lug and 11mm thick, it suits wrists of approximately 15 to 18.5cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. It is the classic size of period men’s watches, now back in fashion. The Lug width measures 18mm, and the perlon adjusts to the millimetre on any wrist.
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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