Russian Watch of the Day showcases Russian watches that have caught our attention because of their style, value, function or uniqueness.
Sturmanskie is a watch brand well-known for being the manufacturer of the first watch in space, as it was a basic mechanical Sturmanskie watch that Yuri Gagarin, the first man to make it into outer space and orbit the earth, was wearing around his wrist on April 16, 1961 aboard his Vostok spacecraft. To commemorate Gagarin’s Vostok 1 mission into outer space, Sturmanskie created the Gagarin series of watches, a line that carries various watches inspired by the first watch to make it into outer space.
If there is one watch in this collection that is really worth featuring, it’s the Sturmanskie 2609/1701700, a commemorative piece released by Sturmanskie on the 50th anniversary of Gagarin’s space flight. While there are three watches in the collection that closely resemble Gagarin’s watch, it’s the 2609/1701700 that was designed to look exactly like Gagarin’s mechanical Sturmanskie. Packaged in a space capsule that was designed to look like the Vostok 1 capsule, the 2609/1701700 is something that every watch collector or any watch enthusiast should have in their collection.
The Sturmanskie Gagarin 2609/1701700 is a pretty basic mechanical watch and while there are other watches in the series that feature much more elaborate designs and functions, this watch is the highlight of the series because it looks and functions exactly like the original Sturmanskie that Gagarin wore. It uses a mechanical 2609 manual winding movement with 16 ruby jewels and features a mineral glass crystal. The watch features a white dial with green and black markings and carries the classic Sturmanskie logo.
The case is made of stainless steel and measures 38 mm in diameter. While considerably smaller than most Russian watches today, 38 mm is still a decent size for men’s watches. It features a genuine leather strap with matching black top-stitching. The back cover features a stainless steel case etched with an image of space and the years “1961-2011″.
The Sturmanskie Gagarin 2609/1701700 retails for $379 to $549, which might be a bit pricey for a basic mechanical watch but you have to keep in mind that this is a commemorative, limited-edition piece. If you’re looking for the watch that defined Sturmanskie as a brand worldwide, the 2609/1701700 is the timepiece for you. It may be simple in both design and function but its historical significance means more than any high-functioning timepiece out there.
Features:
Mechanical 2609 Russian Movement
Manual winding
Ruby Jewels: 16 pieces
Shock-resistant balance
Crystal: Mineral glass
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds
Case: Stainless steel
Case diameter: 38 mm
Water resistance: 30 meters
Leather strap
More Information: See Sturmanskie brand information.