Poljot watches now being sold on QVC
Discussion
Just been told QVC UK are now selling Polhot watches, even though they are under the brand "Poljot International" they are selling remakes of classic designs including the soviet star and CCCP motif and logo's.
Big big shame companies do this, I know its for a profit and its what they are all about but it makes my genuine Russian made Poljots worthless imo, a bit like Vostok and Vostock Europe grrrrrrr.
Big big shame companies do this, I know its for a profit and its what they are all about but it makes my genuine Russian made Poljots worthless imo, a bit like Vostok and Vostock Europe grrrrrrr.
Probably because some of us have spent a fortune on Poljot watches, especially genuine soviet ones and you can buy a replica made by Poljot International, it makes a mockery of the brand.
Imagine if the toy watch companie were allowed to make those replica rolexes out of metal, how would folk who dished out feel? IMO its the same grrrrrrrrr
Imagine if the toy watch companie were allowed to make those replica rolexes out of metal, how would folk who dished out feel? IMO its the same grrrrrrrrr
It's not as simple as it might at first appear.
From: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Poljot
Founded in 1930 under orders from Stalin, the First Moscow Watch Factory was the first Soviet watch and mechanical movement manufacturer. The Soviet government bought the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio, and moved twenty-eight freight cars full of machinery and parts from Ohio to Moscow in order to establish the factory. Twenty-one former Dueber-Hampden watchmakers, engravers and various other technicians helped to train the Russian workers in the art of watchmaking as part of the Soviet's first Five-Year Plan. Interestingly, the movements of very-early FMWF products were still stamped "Dueber-Hampden, Canton, Ohio, USA" (examples of these watches are very collectible today).
Post-1934 products of the FMWF were branded "Kirova" (Кировa) in honor of the murdered Soviet official Sergei Kirov. The "ПОЛЕТ" name was awarded after Yuri Gagarin wore a First Moscow Watch Factory Kirova Shturmanskie (a transliteration of Штурманские which actually means "Navigator") wristwatch during his historic first flight into space.
During the Soviet era, Poljot watches were marketed in the United Kingdom under the brand "Sekonda." Today's Sekonda company, a British distributor of ubiquitous fashion watches, has no connection to any Poljot products.
In 1994, a German company began selling upscale Poljot models under the name "Poljot International". These watches feature higher-quality materials and are assembled in Germany. Poljot International uses Russian or Swiss-made movements in their watches.
At the turn of the 21st century, the First Moscow Watch Factory began reproducing many of their most famous models as limited edition commemorative pieces. Replicas were made of the famous 1960s Shturmanskie model worn by Yuri Gagarin, the 1940s Kirova fliegerchronograph, and the 1970s Ocean (OKEAH) chronograph. All of the replicas found praise from watch aficionados, and became sought-after collectibles.
In late 2003, rumors predicting the demise of the Poljot brand circulated on the Internet. According to the rumors, the First Moscow Watch Factory was to cease producing their own models and become a source of inexpensive movements for other European watch brands. These rumors came to fruition in late 2004. The First Moscow Watch Factory dissolved, with its property and machinery sold to Company Volmax, a Moscow-based firm founded by former FMWF executives. Further, certain Poljot models are now being manufactured in Ukraine by Kiev Watch Factory and in Hong Kong by Winsky International, Inc.
Under Volmax, the Poljot brand is now limited to the Russian market. Outside Russia, Company Volmax markets "Poljot" watches under the brand-names Aviator, Buran, and Shturmanskie. In fact, an Aviator-branded watch is the "official" promotional watch of The Aviator movie from Miramax.
From: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Poljot
Founded in 1930 under orders from Stalin, the First Moscow Watch Factory was the first Soviet watch and mechanical movement manufacturer. The Soviet government bought the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company of Canton, Ohio, and moved twenty-eight freight cars full of machinery and parts from Ohio to Moscow in order to establish the factory. Twenty-one former Dueber-Hampden watchmakers, engravers and various other technicians helped to train the Russian workers in the art of watchmaking as part of the Soviet's first Five-Year Plan. Interestingly, the movements of very-early FMWF products were still stamped "Dueber-Hampden, Canton, Ohio, USA" (examples of these watches are very collectible today).
Post-1934 products of the FMWF were branded "Kirova" (Кировa) in honor of the murdered Soviet official Sergei Kirov. The "ПОЛЕТ" name was awarded after Yuri Gagarin wore a First Moscow Watch Factory Kirova Shturmanskie (a transliteration of Штурманские which actually means "Navigator") wristwatch during his historic first flight into space.
During the Soviet era, Poljot watches were marketed in the United Kingdom under the brand "Sekonda." Today's Sekonda company, a British distributor of ubiquitous fashion watches, has no connection to any Poljot products.
In 1994, a German company began selling upscale Poljot models under the name "Poljot International". These watches feature higher-quality materials and are assembled in Germany. Poljot International uses Russian or Swiss-made movements in their watches.
At the turn of the 21st century, the First Moscow Watch Factory began reproducing many of their most famous models as limited edition commemorative pieces. Replicas were made of the famous 1960s Shturmanskie model worn by Yuri Gagarin, the 1940s Kirova fliegerchronograph, and the 1970s Ocean (OKEAH) chronograph. All of the replicas found praise from watch aficionados, and became sought-after collectibles.
In late 2003, rumors predicting the demise of the Poljot brand circulated on the Internet. According to the rumors, the First Moscow Watch Factory was to cease producing their own models and become a source of inexpensive movements for other European watch brands. These rumors came to fruition in late 2004. The First Moscow Watch Factory dissolved, with its property and machinery sold to Company Volmax, a Moscow-based firm founded by former FMWF executives. Further, certain Poljot models are now being manufactured in Ukraine by Kiev Watch Factory and in Hong Kong by Winsky International, Inc.
Under Volmax, the Poljot brand is now limited to the Russian market. Outside Russia, Company Volmax markets "Poljot" watches under the brand-names Aviator, Buran, and Shturmanskie. In fact, an Aviator-branded watch is the "official" promotional watch of The Aviator movie from Miramax.
Damn this is confusing. I have 4 poljots.
the poljot international watches I have seen usualy have 'normal' writing on them. I like the poljots with cherilic? letters on.
I love my russian watches wearing one now.
these are the QVC ones. none of these float my boat expensive as well
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/par...
the poljot international watches I have seen usualy have 'normal' writing on them. I like the poljots with cherilic? letters on.
I love my russian watches wearing one now.
these are the QVC ones. none of these float my boat expensive as well
http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/par...
Edited by Pesty on Wednesday 18th February 11:15
I have a few Poljot's too. Thankfully I always made it policy to not buy a Poljot watch unless it was a proper Russian made (Russian text) version and decided long ago to not touch the westernised versions.
From the text above I guess I have a couple of the last "Proper" Poljot's made. The re-release Gagarin and Ocean. Both stunning watches
From the text above I guess I have a couple of the last "Proper" Poljot's made. The re-release Gagarin and Ocean. Both stunning watches
Pesty said:
I have the gagarin,
Also have a strella,journey and ruslan.
all have russian on them no idea who made them. don't care that much because I like them and seem good quality for the money they cost me.
I've often fancied the Gagarin (I have an original Gagarin autograph on the wall in my library as I'm a bit into space stuff).Also have a strella,journey and ruslan.
all have russian on them no idea who made them. don't care that much because I like them and seem good quality for the money they cost me.
Is the watch any good?
Civpilot said:
+1. Very nicely made (I have it on the optional braclet) and keeps good time. Mind you, all of my Poljot's are the same in both respects.
speaking of bracelets and things I have one on a bracelet and its very nice. My only critism would be the straps are a bit cheapish looking on the ones I have. easily and cheaply rectified though.
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