Vostok Amphibia: Case Type Classification Project Document version 1.2 September 2010 The classic Amphibia series has been a very successful family of watches by Vostok Watchmakers Inc. This is an attempt to identifty the many watch cases used over the years. The Vostok product code is generally a six-digit number, the first two refer to case design, while the third digit refers to case material or finish. In the case of the Amphibia, the third number “0” refers to stainless steel. The pictures used for illustrations are from the sites ran by my fellow WUS members, I would like to express my gratitude, along with the immense help from many members. Being an on-going project, I would welcome further additions and corrections. Thank you. Samuel Tang [email protected]
Transcript
Vostok Amphibia:Case Type Classification Project
Document version 1.2September 2010
The classic Amphibia series has been a very successful family of watches by Vostok WatchmakersInc. This is an attempt to identifty the many watch cases used over the years. The Vostok productcode is generally a six-digit number, the first two refer to case design, while the third digit refersto case material or finish. In the case of the Amphibia, the third number “0” refers to stainlesssteel.
The pictures used for illustrations are from the sites ran by my fellow WUS members, I wouldlike to express my gratitude, along with the immense help from many members.
Being an on-going project, I would welcome further additions and corrections. Thank you.
Note: Although the Maiers' page shows one with flat-ended Amphibia crown, it has date (presumably2214 movement) and regular Amphibia hands. Those shown by Phil have dome-tipped crowns and earlierforms of hands, including one with paddle hands. Mark Gordon's 0662 also shows dome-tipped crown,but with unusual combination of hands and a Komandirskie-signed dial with date, powered by a 2214movement. An example was used by Yuri Viktorovitch Romanenko in the Soyuz 38 space mission,September 1980. Additional variants are documented with wire loops instead of the pressed metal lugs,and with rivets replaced by pieces of wire.
Amphibia Type 350 (continued)In addition to the standard version with 200m water resistance rating, a number of examples with 300m(marked as 30atm on the case back) water resistance are known. The known examples sport the samestyle of dial as found in the Type 1190/630 Tonneau 300m and are with gilt paddle hands. Some exampleshave the newer “oval B” Vostok logo at the back too. It is not known if a separate type number wasassigned to this.
Amphibia Type 470
Characteristics: Octagonal case, often with dial signed AlbatrossMovement: 2409, 2409AReference pages:Phil:http://www.netgrafik.ch/infantry-watches9.htmhttp://www.netgrafik.ch/vostok-albatros.htmhttp://www.netgrafik.ch/vostok-radio-room.htmhttp://www.netgrafik.ch/sport-watches14.htmMark Gordon Nos. 0115, 0740, 0787, 1195, 1245Michele Cuoccio:http://russianwatches.altervista.org/Dsc02107.jpghttp://russianwatches.altervista.org/Dsc02108.jpghttp://russianwatches.altervista.org/Dsc02113.jpghttp://russianwatches.altervista.org/Dsc02124.jpghttp://russianwatches.altervista.org/Dsc02119.jpgNHT:http://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20Antimagnetic%20-%20CAEAAHO%20B%20CCCP.jpghttp://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20Azul%20Branco.jpghttp://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20Antimagnetic.jpghttp://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok_Amphibia_Albatros.jpg
Note: Mark Gordon's 1195 is fitted with a Komandirskie MOD dial with date and powered by a 2234movement. Robert Prochowicz's 3037 appears to have a 2414 movement and Komandirskie hands, whichmay or may not be original. Most, if not all of them are equipped with a soft metal antimagnetic shieldcovering the back of the movement. Examples have been documented with polished or brushed finish onthe case.
A small number of examples are also found marked as with 300m water resistance. While the styling isthe same, they are more substantial in construction, with thicker case body and crystal, and with the samekind of dial as in the 300m Tonneau. It is not known if a separate type number was assigned to this.
Characteristics: The lugs are formed in one piece with the case back.Movement: 2409Reference page:http://forums.watchuseek.com/f10/interesting-amphibian-400569-post2993975.html#post2993975
Note: This is a most unusual design found by WUS member katolik.
Characteristics: 300m tonneauMovement: 2209Reference pages:Phil:http://www.netgrafik.ch/divers4.htmMark Gordon No. 0075NHT:http://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20300m.jpg
Note: One example owned by NHT has case type number 1190, built in 1981; a similar example ownedby Phil was built in 1986 and has case type number 630. Its lug width is 22mm.
Characteristics: “Neptune” case, single lug in middleMovement: 2409, 2414b 21-jewel and 31-jewelReference pages:Ed Brandwein:http://edscorner1.blogspot.com/2009/12/another-interesting-old-vostok-amphibia.htmlhttp://edscorner1.blogspot.com/2007/10/vostok-neptune-review.htmlPhil:http://www.netgrafik.ch/divers3.htmMark Gordon Nos. 0208, 0547NHT:http://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20Blue%20Diver%20-%20Neptnue%20Case.jpghttp://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Neptune%20Blue.jpghttp://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Neptune%20Brown.jpg
Note: Originally a variant of the Amphibia case with a slightly oval shape, it is not yet known if the typenumber 930 was assigned at the time. First made with brushed finish and a variety of dials. Most are with21-jewel automatic movements with date, Mark Gordon's 0280 is powered by a 2409, however. Later on,this case, with confirmed appellation of Type 930, was used in the Neptune series with a distinctive dialdesign, polished finish, and equipped with 31-jewel version of the automatic movement.
Robert Prochowicz:http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=731http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=2455http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=2929http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=2969http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=2979http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=2983http://www.ussrwatches.info/main.php?g2_itemId=3029
Note: The Type 420 case can be considered as a development of the Type 020 case, the only difference isthat it is slightly thicker, at 3mm instead of 2mm, to accommodate the 2416b automatic movement, asseen in this picture by NHT. Its case back has a more pronounced dome.
Characteristics: Current model “Ministry” caseMovement: 2416bReference pages:NHT:http://nht.no.sapo.pt/Relogios/actual/Vostok%20Amphibia%20Ministry%20Blask%20Diver%20-%20CAEAAHO%20B%20POCCNN.jpg
Note: The two generations of the Ministry case can be seen here, picture by NHT:
