Kama USSR Watch — Black Golden Dial, Sub-seconds (1960s)
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
An icy black written entirely in gold, a sub-seconds in its circle — Kama, a discontinued brand in 1964, born in the factory that would become Vostok.
A Kama, the ancestor of Vostok with a black and golden dial
This watch is a Kama — Кама — one of the brands produced by the Tchistopol watch factory in Tatarstan, in the years preceding the birth of the Vostok name. Named after the Kama River on whose banks the factory had settled during the war, the brand was launched in 1952 and discontinued in 1964, when Tchistopol consolidated all its signatures under a single name: Vostok. To wear a Kama is to wear the previous generation — the same factory, before the legend.
Its icy black dial is in the style collectors call gilt: everything is printed in gold on black — the twelve Arabic numerals, the double inner circle, the minute track, the cursive Кама signature, and the sub-seconds circle at six o'clock. Two slender golden hands complete the gold-on-black harmony, given a warm-toned patina by the decades.
The sub-seconds — the seconds hand beating on its own axis at the bottom of the dial — marks the classic architecture of these Tchistopol productions, renowned from the outset for their shock-resistant construction and dustproof case.
The round steel 33.4mm case, with a slim 8.4mm profile, retains its period format. The 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 NATO strap.
Three points to note
01
The pre-Vostok brand — Kama, discontinued in 1964 when Tchistopol took on its legendary name.
02
Black and golden dial — the gilt style: numerals, circles and signature printed in gold on icy black.
03
Framed sub-seconds — the classic Tchistopol architecture, a slim 8.4mm on the wrist.
Why choose a vintage Soviet watch?
This vintage Kama watch holds a distinctive place among vintage men's and women's watches: its 33.4mm case can be worn by either, and it is a discontinued brand — discontinued in 1964, it would not return, and its surviving examples are the only witnesses to Tchistopol before Vostok. For a collector of Soviet watches, this is the original piece; for everyone else, a black and gold watch of an elegance its entry-level budget does not suggest.
Like all our vintage mechanical watches, this one has been opened and inspected by our partner watchmakers: movement verification, examination of the dial, hands and case. Each vintage watch we offer comes with an invoice Atelier Victor serving as a certificate, a one-year guarantee, and guaranteed lifetime authenticity.
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Technical characteristics
- Brand: Kama (Tchistopol factory, later Vostok)
- Model: Sub-seconds, golden black dial
- Estimated year: 1960s
- Origin: USSR (Tchistopol)
- Gender: Men's and women's watch (Unisex)
- Movement: Mechanical hand-wound
- Functions: Hours, minutes, sub-seconds
- Case: Steel, round, steel caseback
- Diameter: 33.4mm (36mm with crown)
- Lug to lug: 42mm
- Thickness: 8.4mm
- Lug width: 17mm
- Crown: Steel, fluted
- Dial: Glossy black with golden printing, encircled sub-seconds, original
- Hands: Tapered golden hands, original
- Crystal: Acrylic (condition 8/10)
- Strap: Black Nato, not original
- Buckle: Not original
Condition and guarantee
- General condition: Good state of preservation. The original black dial is crisp, its golden printing aged to a warm and even tone, the sub-seconds distinct; fine traces of age are visible from certain angles, shown in our photographs. The case shows wear scratches on the bezel and lugs. Crystal acrylic with slight marks, rated 8/10.
- Water resistance: Not guaranteed (vintage watch)
- Authenticity: Lifetime guarantee
- Mechanical: Mechanical movement inspected, guaranteed for 1 year
- Included: Invoice Atelier Victor
- Not included: Original box and papers
Frequently asked questions
What is the Kama brand?
One of the brands produced by the Chistopol watch factory, in Tatarstan, named after the river on whose banks the factory had settled during the war. Launched in 1952 and renowned for its shock-resistant construction and dustproof case, the brand was discontinued in 1964, when Chistopol consolidated all its signatures under a single name: Vostok. A Kama is therefore the direct ancestor of Vostok — same factory, previous generation — and a definitively extinct brand.
What is a gilt dial?
The name collectors give to black dials whose entire printing — numerals, minute track, circles, signature — is golden, printed in gold on glossy black. The style, widespread in the 1950s and 1960s, later disappeared; its warm patina is now one of the most sought-after in vintage, across all origins.
What is a sub-seconds display?
A seconds hand that beats on its own small dial, here ringed in gold at six o'clock, instead of a central seconds hand. It is the historical architecture of classic watches, inherited from pocket watches: the large hands for the time, the life of the movement in a discreet circle below.
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 — Chistopol mechanics have been renowned for their robustness from the very beginning.
Is this piece suitable for a slim or larger wrist?
With a diameter of 33.4mm, 42mm of Lug-to-lug, and only 8.4mm thick, it suits wrists of approximately 14.5 to 18.5cm — a guideline, never a rule: everyone wears what they like. Its slimness lets it slip under a shirt cuff, and its long lugs give it presence. The Lug width measures 17mm; the NATO can be changed in a matter of seconds.
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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