Raketa Tactile Watch for the Blind — Crystal Opening (1980s)
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 Crystal that opens like a lid, hours read with the fingertips — the watch the USSR made for its blind, in the factory founded by Peter the Great.
A tactile Raketa, telling the time with the fingertips
This watch is a Raketa, produced in the 1980s 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, later turned to watchmaking after the war and renamed Raketa — “rocket” — in 1961, the year of Gagarin's flight.
It is a tactile watch for the blind, and its entire design follows from this purpose. The Crystal opens on a hinge, like the lid of a pocket watch: one press, and the dial is revealed to the touch. The hours are marked with raised dots — one dot per hour, doubled at twelve o’clock — which the finger finds without the eyes, and the reinforced hands are built to withstand tactile reading without bending. The painted Arabic numerals and the cursive signature Ракета serve the sighted entourage; the words MADE IN USSR mark a production also intended for export.
The polished faceted cushion steel case, measuring 34mm, houses the hinge in its left flank — case work more complex than that of an ordinary watch, serially produced by Petrodvorets for the Soviet Association of the Blind.
The hand-wound mechanical movement by Petrodvorets — caliber Raketa, to be confirmed upon opening — has been checked by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is fitted with a later black crocodile-pattern leather strap.
Three points to note
01
Crystal opening on a hinge — the dial is revealed with a press, for reading by touch.
02
Raised hour dots — tactile reading, reinforced hands built for the finger.
03
Manufacture of Peter the Great — Petrodvorets, founded in 1721, named Raketa for Gagarin.
Why choose a vintage Soviet watch?
This vintage Raketa watch holds a singular place among men’s and women’s vintage watches: it is as much an object of social history as of watchmaking — the response of a state industry to a real need, produced with the constructional care its purpose required. The Soviet tactile watches period pieces are sought after by collectors for their absolute singularity: few have survived the intensive use for which they were intended.
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. Each vintage watch we offer is accompanied by an Atelier Victor invoice serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and lifetime guaranteed authenticity.
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Technical specifications
- Brand: Raketa
- Model: Tactile watch for the blind, opening Crystal
- Estimated year: 1980s
- Origin: USSR (Petrodvorets)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Mechanical hand-wound, caliber Raketa (to be confirmed)
- Functions: Hours, minutes — tactile reading, opening Crystal on a hinge
- Case: Polished steel, faceted cushion shape, side hinge, steel caseback
- Diameter: 34mm (38.1mm with crown)
- Lug to lug: 40.7mm
- Thickness: 10.2mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Steel, fluted, original
- Dial: Black, painted Arabic numerals, raised hour markers, original
- Hands: Steel, reinforced for tactile reading, original
- Crystal: Opening acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Black crocodile-style leather, not original
- Buckle: Pin buckle, not original
Condition and guarantee
- Overall condition: Good state of preservation for a tactile-use watch. The original black dial bears the fine marks of touch from its decades of use, visible in our photographs — they are the very history of the object; numerals, raised markers and signature are crisp, and the hands are intact. The case shows signs of use, the hinge operates firmly, and the Crystal closes with a clean click.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Mechanical movement inspected, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
How does a watch for the blind work?
By touch: the Crystal opens on its hinge with slight pressure, revealing the dial. The finger locates the hands — reinforced to withstand contact — then the raised markers for each hour, with the double marker indicating noon. Reading it takes a few seconds with practice, and the Crystal closes again with a click. This is the principle of tactile watches since the nineteenth century, here produced in Soviet serial production.
Who is Raketa?
The Petrodvorets manufacture, near Saint Petersburg — Russia's oldest factory, 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.
Can this watch be used by a blind person today?
Yes — it is a fully functional tactile watch, and that was its intended purpose. We simply draw attention to its age: it is also a forty-year-old collector's object, whose hinge and hands deserve delicacy. For intensive daily tactile use, a modern tactile watch will be more robust; to own the history of this object, this one is the original.
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 34mm diameter, 40.7mm Lug-to-lug, and 10.2mm thickness, it suits wrists of approximately 15 to 19cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its polished-facet cushion case wears slightly larger than its dimensions suggest. The Lug width measures 18mm, making strap changes easy.
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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