**** Interpreting Soviet/Russian movement and case codes ****

[is that my watch]

well this one sometime confuse me and still does so I have manage to combine some of the info I have read saw and thought helpful into this simple well hope simple explanation of the coding system.


If I have missed some thing or made a mistake let me know and can ammend it.

So where to begin well I will try and break it up in to parts and with a pic's or chart might help to as I said some of the information is gleamed from all over the net so thank you the anonymous op's





Coding System is a Remnant of the Old USSR:


The movement codes used by Russian watch manufacturers were originally developed as a standardized system of codes set up in the USSR in the 1960s.


New codes are added as needed, but not all new, modern codes conform to the original standard.


Deciphering the Code


The movement code describes the size and functions of the movement.


The first two digits of the code are the diameter of the movement in millimeters. The last two digits are a code that describes the features of the movement. (Sometimes the second part of the code has more than two digits.)


To completely decipher the code you will need a chart to match the two-digit code to a description of its functions. For that we refer you to the following chart at Russian Times. Russian Times also has good historical and technical information that is useful for collectors of vintage Russian watches.


Example: Let's look at the Raketa 2459. The "24" indicates that the movement is 24 millimeters in diameter. The "59" means that it is a quartz movement with a sweep second hand and a center moon phase function (this information comes from the chart).


The code is not unique to any particular manufacturer and watches from different brands may have the same code. This would indicate that the two movements are the same size and have the same functions. It does not mean that they are identical.






Interpreting Soviet/Russian movement and case codes


Russian movement/case codes come in a ABCDE/FGHIJKH format.


AB = movement diametre in mm


CD, CDE = Soviet movement specification
see table at bottom of page


FGH = case variation


I = case material
Examples below from Vostok


0: stainless steel and other metals without plating
1: chrome plated
2: gold plated
3: gilded (at least 5 microns)
4: colour coated
5: synthetic, polymer, rubber
9: glass, crystal, ceramics, marble


JKH = Hand set


As a consequence of this system there's a 2416 Slava, 2416 Vostok & a 2416 Poljot movement that bear no similarity to each other, except that they match the 2416 specification (automatic, central second hand, shock protected & date plus all are 24mm in diametre).


On top of which there's 2 different Poljot 2616 movements that bare no relation to each other, except that they match the Soviet 2616 specification ( automatic, central second hand, shock protected & date plus both are 26mm in diametre). One's the 30 jewel job that's not uncommonly seen in Sekondas from 30 odd years ago, while the other's the the 23 jewel movement that one found in Buran Automats up until very recently.






As you can see above, from the orientation of the balance cock to the crown (on the left in both images above), these movements have nothing in common except their size & outward functionality.




Soviet, Russian and Belorussian Movement Codes Table







- New Russian movements with new designations are still being created since the end of the USSR, and have been included in this table on the assumption that a central standard still exists.


- Not all post-Soviet movement codes conform to the standard e.g. Vostok 2433 is not a chronograph.


well now has that all become clear or is it worse then when we began yes me to some I understood I think I do and the rest will be fun finding out


As always Ismy