Raketa USSR Watch — Shadowed Numerals, Day-Date (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
Twelve shadowed numerals, РАКЕТА in capitals, Friday in Cyrillic in the window — Soviet seventies typography, on the wrist.
A Raketa day-date, Soviet typography on the wrist
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 works of the Peterhof Palace, and renamed Raketa — “rocket” — in 1961, the year of Gagarin's flight. Everything is written in Russian: this is a version for the Soviet domestic market.
Its off-white dial is an exercise in typography: twelve black shadowed Arabic numerals — the stroke doubled by a shifted outline, a printer's effect that gives depth without a single applied marker — beneath the signature РАКЕТА in capitals, rare compared with the house's usual cursive scripts, and the mention Сделано в СССР. At three o'clock, the Cyrillic day-date window: ПТН for Friday, СБТ for Saturday — the Soviet calendar turning over each morning.
The round case with striated shoulders — engraved guilloché lines above and below the bezel — measures 36.5mm, a full seventies presence, beneath its original fluted crown.
The Petrodvorets 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
Shadowed numerals — seventies printer's typography, relief without a single applied marker.
02
Cyrillic day-date — ПТН, СБТ: the Soviet calendar in the window, domestic market version.
03
Peter the Great's 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 36.5mm case can be worn equally well by either, and the Cyrillic domestic market versions are, in the eyes of collectors, the most authentic of Soviet watches — produced without concession to the West, they wear their history in full, down to the day of the week. A vintage mechanical watch complete — day, date, seconds — at the entry-level budget of authentic vintage.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: movement check, examination of the dial, hands and case. Every vintage watch we offer comes with an Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.
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Technical specifications
- Brand: Raketa
- Model: Cyrillic day-date, domestic market
- Estimated year: 1970s
- Origin: USSR (Petrodvorets)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Mechanical hand-wound
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, day (Russian), date
- Case: Steel, round with fluted shoulders, steel caseback
- Diameter: 36.5mm (39.3mm including the crown)
- Lug to lug: 44.7mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Fluted, original
- Dial: Off-white, Arabic numerals with drop shadow, Cyrillic day-date window, original
- Hands: Black baton hands, fine seconds hand, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Black crocodile-pattern leather, non-original
- Buckle: Pin buckle, non-original
Condition and guarantee
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation. The original dial is crisp, its shaded numerals and window are clear, with fine traces of age visible from certain angles, shown in our photographs. The case shows wear scratches on the bezel and fluted shoulders. Crystal acrylic with light marks, rated 8/10.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Mechanical movement checked, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
How do you read the day in Cyrillic?
The window displays the Russian abbreviation for the day: ПНД Monday, ВТР Tuesday, СРД Wednesday, ЧТВ Thursday, ПТН Friday, СБТ Saturday, ВСК Sunday. You memorize them in just a few days, and that is precisely the charm of the piece: the Soviet calendar advances each morning on the wrist — an original detail that export versions, converted to English, have lost.
Why is everything written in Cyrillic?
Because this watch was intended for the Soviet domestic market: РАКЕТА in capital letters, « Сделано в СССР » — made in the USSR — written out in full, and even the day of the week in Russian. The export versions translated these markings into English; the domestic versions, like this one, are regarded by collectors as the most authentic — produced without compromise, for those who made these watches.
Who is Raketa?
The Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — Russia’s oldest factory, founded in 1721 by Peter the Great as the atelier lapidary works 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?
Turn the crown gently 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 36.5mm, 44.7mm Lug-to-lug and 12mm thick, it suits wrists from approximately 16 to 19.5cm — a guide, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its long lugs give it the true presence of a men’s watch from the seventies. 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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