Sekonda USSR Watch Gold-Plated — Roman Numerals, Mechanical (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 Roman numerals on a railway minute track, the watchmakers’ IIII at four o’clock, and beneath the British signature a Soviet mechanism: Sekonda, the brand created in 1966 to cross the Iron Curtain.
A vintage Sekonda watch, Soviet watchmaking under a British signature
This vintage Sekonda watch bears the brand created in 1966 to export watches from Soviet factories to the United Kingdom. The principle was simple: a name easy to pronounce, a signature in Latin script, and beneath the dial the movements from the factories of Moscow and Petrodvorets, those of Poljot, Raketa or Slava, relabelled for export. The venture succeeded beyond the Iron Curtain. By the end of the 1980s, Sekonda was the leading watch brand in the United Kingdom by sales volume, with a slogan that remains famous, Beware of expensive imitations. This one, made in the USSR in the 1970s, belongs to the brand’s first period, that of Soviet mechanical movements.
Its cream dial gives it its character. Twelve Roman numerals sit on a railway minute track that marks out the minutes, with at four o’clock the dial makers’ IIII rather than IV, an old watchmaking usage that balances the VIII. The Sekonda signature beneath the XII, the 19 jewels marking above the VI, two slender black hands and a central seconds hand, nothing more: the classic design of the de ville watch, legible at a glance.
The round gold-plated 34mm case, 39mm from Lug-to-lug to Lug-to-lug and 10.6mm thick under a domed acrylic Crystal, gives the cream dial its warm frame. The plating is in good condition, the case back is steel, and the fluted crown was replaced during the watch’s lifetime. The 19-jewel hand-wound mechanical movement has been checked by our partner watchmakers and is guaranteed for one year. The watch is fitted with a smooth black leather strap and a gold-tone steel Buckle, both later additions.
Three points to note
01
Sekonda, 1966 — the brand created to sell Soviet watchmaking in Great Britain, the country’s number one in sales by the end of the 1980s.
02
Roman numerals on a railway minute track — the cream dial and its dial makers’ IIII, the classic design of the de ville watch.
03
34mm gold-plating in good condition — the de ville watch format of the 1970s, for him as for her, powered by a 19-jewel mechanical movement.
Why choose a vintage Soviet watch?
This vintage Sekonda watch holds a precise place among vintage watches for men and women: its 34mm case can be worn by either, and it combines Soviet mechanics with a de ville watch design that spans the decades, Roman numerals, railway minute track, and gold-plated finish. A vintage mechanical watch with history, at an entry-level price for authentic vintage.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and checked by our partner watchmakers: movement inspection, 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 warranty, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.
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Technical specifications
- Brand: Sekonda
- Model: Roman numerals, gold-plated
- Estimated year: 1970s
- Origin: USSR
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, 19 jewels, checked
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
- Case: Gold-plated, round, steel caseback
- Diameter: 34mm (36.3mm including the crown)
- Lug to lug: 39mm
- Thickness: 10.6mm
- Lug width: 18mm
- Crown: Fluted, not original
- Dial: Cream, black Roman numerals, railway minute track
- Hands: Slim black hands, central seconds hand
- Crystal: Domed acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Smooth black leather, not original
- Buckle: Gold-tone steel, not original
Condition and warranty
- Overall condition: Good condition for its age. The case's gold plating is in good condition, the cream dial is crisp, with clear Roman numerals and hands. Crystal acrylic is in good condition (8/10). Our photographs are presented without retouching.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanics: Movement serviced in 2024, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Atelier Victor invoice, protective case
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
Who is Sekonda?
A brand created in 1966 to export Soviet watches to the United Kingdom: a Latin name, easy to pronounce, placed on the mechanical movements of the factories in Moscow and Petrodvorets, those of Poljot, Raketa and Slava. By the late 1980s, Sekonda was the number one watch seller in Great Britain. After the end of the USSR, the brand left the Russian industry.
Was this Sekonda indeed made in the USSR?
Yes. From 1966 until the end of the USSR, Sekonda mechanical watches came out of Soviet factories, signed Sekonda for export; after 1991, the brand left the Russian industry for quartz watches produced in Asia. This one, a 19-jewel mechanical watch, belongs to the Soviet period.
Why does the dial show IIII rather than IV at four o’clock?
It is the old practice of dial makers, found on clocks and watches for centuries: IIII, wider than IV, balances the VIII on the other side of the dial and gives the Roman numerals a regular appearance. A watchmaking convention, found on dials of all origins.
Has the movement been checked?
Yes. Our partner watchmakers have checked the 19-jewel movement, the dial, the hands and the case; it is guaranteed for one year. A hand-wound watch is wound every day, and a vintage watch is not guaranteed water-resistant.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
With a 34mm diameter, 39mm Lug-to-lug and 10.6mm thickness, it suits wrists of approximately 15 to 18cm — a guide, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its de ville watch format slips under a shirt cuff. The Lug width measures 18mm, which makes 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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