Vostok Watches Review: Are They Russia’s Best?

Vostok Komandirskie Mechanical Watch

We’re kicking things off with an affordable Komandirskie watch. For such a low price you get a mechanical watch with a bidirectional bezel and lume in the hands and dots. Also, the actual watch dial is quite small, with a thick bezel around it that features Arabic numerals for minute markings.

It’s a busy dial for sure, but I don’t think it looks cluttered or cramped. The date window at three o’clock fits in perfectly and with the minimal branding and Soviet markings, the watch manages to look quite sophisticated.

Also, it’s water resistant up to 30 meters, the bracelet is made from leather, the 39mm case is made from stainless steel and it has an acrylic cover. Not too shabby for the price point!

Keep in mind that this is a mechanical watch, so you will have to wind it manually. A fully wound watch should run for about 31 hours, so winding it every other day should do the trick.

Vostok Neptune Amphibian

Vostok Neptune Amphibian is an automatic GMT watch with a simple design. It features a 40mm stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet, for simple durability. It is water resistant up to 200 meters, which makes it perfectly suitable for diving.

What makes this watch interesting is that it lacks a proper GMT hand. Instead, the regular hour hand is used to tell time in both time zones, while the outer bezel allows you tell time in a second time zone.

Also, it’s important to note that the Neptune watch is available in two different designs. One features a standard GMT bezel and a smaller dial, while the other option featured a proper unidirectional diving bezel. But that one doesn’t have the smaller dial between the nine and twelve o’clock positions.

Both watches feature a date window on the dial, but its position and shape are not identical. Additionally, the Neptune has excellent scratch and shock resistance, guaranteeing it will be able to endure everything you put it through.

Vostok Retro Kirovskie

The Retro Kirovskie watch is an interesting option. It’s one of Vostok’s simpler designs, and it’s a rare option from the brand we can actually call a dress watch. But there’s a story behind the design – this is an exact replica of the Soviet Commander Watches for Red Army, which the Vostok factory produced during WWII. The design is historic for sure, whatever you may think about who it was designed for.

This is an automatic watch with a 33-hour power reserve and mineral crystal glass. It features a simple stainless steel case and a leather bracelet, which look very elegant on your wrist. The dial also boasts a rather simple design with Arabic numerals that indicate hours and two classic Breguet hands.

Did you notice that the Retro Kirovskie lacks a second hand? That’s because the mini dial at the ten o’clock position tells you exactly how many seconds have elapsed.

The outer bezel of this watch is fixed, which makes sense for a simple dress watch. Also, the case back features a glass cover that exposes the mechanism, so you can admire it in action.

On top of all that, this Vostok watch is water resistant up to 30 meters, which is pretty surprising. And not in a bad way – dress watches rarely feature any water resistance, and 30 meters is quite good for such a simple, elegant watch.

Vostok Komandirskie Russian Space Forces Mechanical Watch

The Komandirskie mechanical watch is one of the brand’s most affordable options. It retails for only some $50, which is great if you want to try out Vostok watches but aren’t too sure what to expect. The low price point does come with several compromises, the first of them being acrylic on the case.

That’s the cheapest case protection for wrist watches. It has pretty good impact resistance but it’s really prone to scratches and it gets cloudy over time.

This Vostok wrist watch features a 40mm stainless steel case with a nylon strap. It has a bidirectional bezel that’s pretty versatile, as well as a standard stainless steel crown. Also, it’s water resistant up to 30 meters, which is pretty good for a $50 watch.

The watch features mechanical hand-winding movement. A fully wound watch should be able to run for at least 31 hours, so you have to remember to wind it every other day. It’s certainly not as convenient as automatic watches, but it’s not too bad either.

Additionally, this watch features Arabic numerals and tiny white dots at the hour markings, as well as a date window at three o’clock. The dots and the hands are all luminous, meaning you’ll be able to tell time in the dark easily.

Vostok Amphibian Automatic Self-Winding Russian Military Wristwatch

This Vostok Amphibian watch is a good option if you want something different. It has an interesting red and white dial that is anything but dull, with black time markings that easily stand out. Below each of the markings is small white dot filled with lume, making this watch easily legible even in pitch black.

It’s a diving watch, so it’s no surprise that it is water resistant up to 200 meters. What is a bit surprising though is the bidirectional rotating bezel. Unidirectional is the standard for diving watches since you can’t accidentally bump them underwater and add time. With the bidirectional, you can do just that, so if you’re looking specifically for a reliable diving watch, I don’t think this is truly the best option.

The 43mm case is made from stainless steel, as is the bracelet. The cover of the dial is acrylic though, which is the only thing I don’t like about this watch. It’s not as durable as mineral or sapphire crystal glass, and it gets cloudy over time.

Also, there’s no date window on this watch, but I don’t think that’s a major issue. And keep in mind that this is an automatic, self-winding wristwatch, so there’s no need for manual hand-winding. Just wear it regularly and it will keep ticking!

Also worth checking out is the special edition Vostok Amphibian Zissou

Vostok America Komandirskie K-39

If you appreciate Vostok watches but aren’t a fan of all those Soviet markings and logos, I think you will like this one. It’s an American Komandirskie K-39 automatic watch, without the red stars and homages to the Soviet era. This is a sleek and simple watch that will look great on anyone, and that does the job of telling time really well.

It’s also quite versatile thanks to the external and internal bezels. Bear in mind that this particular model is available in a few different variants, some of which sport fixed bezels, while others have a GMT or a classic diving bezel. The model in the photo here sports a classing diving bezel which, coupled with the 200-meter water resistance, makes the watch a great option for underwater adventures.

There’s a date window between the four and five o’clock positions, as well as lume in the time markings and hands. The watch is easily legible in the dark but also in direct sunlight, thanks to the high contrast between the dial and hands/markings.

The automatic self-winding mechanism is housed in a 46mm stainless steel case and protected with mineral crystal glass. There’s also the classic leather bracelet that looks sleek and elegant, but which might not be the best option for a diving watch. But even it is an American-style watch, it’s still Russian-made so it’s safe to assume durability won’t disappoint.

Vostok Komandirskie KGB Mechanical Watch

If you’re really into the Soviet markings, you’ll love this watch. It’s a KGB watch with the corresponding logo and inscription! And all those red Soviet inscriptions are contrasted against the black dial, which just makes them stand out even more.

That’s also true for the white time markings and the tiny luminous dots below those dashes. The hands are also white and luminous, ensuring that the mechanical KGB watch will be easily legible even in the dark.

The 40mm stainless steel case is coupled with an acrylic cover to protect the dial. And when it comes to the strap, you can choose between classic black leather or neon orange nylon. Although I prefer the leather strap, I can’t deny that the nylon one might be the better option for people who need something super rugged.

This watch is water resistant up to 30 meters and it has so a screw down crown, so it’s actually appropriate for some casual diving. There’s also the rotating bezel with dots and dashes, but it lacks proper numeral markings to be perfectly functional for longer dives.

Vostok Amphibian Automatic Mens Wristwatch

If you just want a classic diving watch, this is one of the best options for you. It features a simple but functional design, with water resistance that can put some Omegas to shame. This Vostok diving watch sports a 41mm stainless steel case with an acrylic cover and standard diver’s bezel.

When it comes to the bracelet, you can go for classic stainless steel, or you could pick up the lighter nylon strap in a variety of different colors.

This is an automatic self-winding watch with a 31-hour power reserve, which is really good considering it’s under $90! And it features luminous hands and dots, for easily legibility in the dark. Also, there’s a date window at the three o’clock position, as well as a cute picture of a diver near the logo.

This is one of a few Vostok watch that has a neutral design, so if you aren’t into the Soviet logos you should definitely consider it. The only red thing about this watch is the second hand, which is a common occurrence even with thoroughly American watch brands!

Vostok Komandirskie Automatic 24 Hour Watch

This Vostok Komandirskie automatic watch features a 24-hour dial that makes it stand out. It has a 42mm stainless steel case with acrylic protection, as well as a rotating bezel. And it’s available in a few different color and material combinations, so you can pick out the model that suits you best.

You can choose between nylon and stainless steel bracelets, which is pretty cool. Go with the stainless steel option if you want something a bit more classic, but definitely pick up the nylon band if you’re looking for a more rugged watch.

The watch is water resistant up to 200 meters, so it’s not a bad option for diving. It even has a rotating diver’s bezel, allowing you to keep track of how long you’ve been underwater. On top of that, there’s also lume in the hands and dots, making this Vostok watch easily legible in the dark.

Even though the dial features a 24-hour format, it doesn’t look too cluttered. The branding is minimal to allow for the larger Arabic numerals, and the date window at six o’clock fits right in. Also, it’s a self-winding automatic watch and manual hand winding is possible but not necessary.