Raketa USSR Watch — White Date Dial (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 bold numerals on a crisp white background, a framed date, a cursive signature — the Raketa for everyday wear, freshly serviced and ready for the decades ahead.
A civil Raketa, Soviet restraint serviced
This watch is a Raketa, produced in the 1970s by the Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — Russia's oldest factory, founded by Peter the Great in 1721 as the atelier lapidary workshop of the Peterhof Palace, later turned to watchmaking after the war and renamed Raketa — “rocket” — in 1961, the year of Gagarin's flight.
It is the civilian Raketa in its purest expression: a white dial with twelve full, bold Arabic numerals, a fine minute track, the cursive signature, a framed date window at three o'clock, and the words MADE IN USSR — the fully embraced export version, sold as such in the West. Three black baton hands run across it, with a fine seconds hand. No effect, no fashion: legibility as the sole design, and that is what makes it timeless.
The polished cushion case with open lugs carries the full format of the decade — 35mm for 41mm of Lug-to-lug — and its original fluted crown.
The Petrodvorets hand-wound mechanical movement was serviced in 2024 by our partner watchmakers — complete disassembly, cleaning, oiling, and adjustment — and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is fitted with a later black crocodile-pattern leather strap.
Three points to note
01
Serviced in 2024 — complete disassembly, oiling, and adjustment: Soviet mechanics ready for years to come.
02
Soviet restraint — twelve full numerals, a date, a crisp white background: legibility as the sole design.
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 men's and women's vintage watches: its 35mm cushion case suits both equally well, and it is the quintessential vintage mechanical watch for everyday wear — legible at a glance, robust, freshly serviced, and among the most accessible budgets in authentic vintage. Raketa from the Soviet era, produced by a true integrated manufacture, are a collecting field that is rising gently and surely.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: verification of the movement, examination of the dial, hands, and case. Every vintage watch we offer comes with Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year warranty, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.
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Technical specifications
- Brand: Raketa
- Model: Civilian with date, export version
- Estimated year: 1970s
- Origin: USSR (Petrodvorets)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Mechanical hand-wound, serviced in 2024
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
- Case: Cushion shape with open lugs, polished, steel caseback
- Diameter: 35mm (38mm including the crown)
- Lug to lug: 41mm
- Thickness: 11.7mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Fluted, original
- Dial: White, black Arabic numerals, framed date window, original
- Hands: Black baton hands, slim seconds hand, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Black crocodile-style leather, non-original
- Buckle: Pin buckle, non-original
Condition and warranty
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation. The original white dial is crisp, its numerals and signature clear, the date window clean, the hands intact. The polished case shows signs of wear in the form of scratches on the bezel and sides, visible in our photographs. Crystal acrylic with light marks, rated 8/10.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Movement serviced in 2024, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
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 factory 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.
What does the 2024 service include?
A complete service by our partner watchmakers: disassembly of the movement, cleaning of each component, replacement of the oils, rate adjustment, and reassembly. It is the maintenance that restores a fifty-year-old mechanism to its original regularity, and spares it any further intervention for many years. The movement is guaranteed for one year.
What does MADE IN USSR mean?
It means this example was intended for export: the watches sold on the Soviet domestic market bore their markings in Cyrillic, while those bound for the West translated them into English. It is the most legible version for a Western wrist — the cursive signature Raketa remains, the origin is spelled out in full, and the history is worn without translation.
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, and this one has just been serviced.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
With a 35mm diameter, 41mm Lug-to-lug, and 11.7mm thickness, it suits wrists from approximately 15 to 19cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its cushion case with open lugs wears slightly larger than its dimensions suggest, and its dial can be read at a glance. 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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