Slava watches
Encyclopedia
Slava watches were relatively inexpensive, classic "civil" Russian watches commonly referred to as "Slava Lava!". The Slava factory (known originally as the Second Moscow Watch Factory) was the second non-military watch maker established in the Soviet Union
, in 1924. The watches of this brand have always been meant for civilian consumption, without military or aerospace pretensions.
Slava's own mechanical movements feature two mainspring barrels coupled together with an idler gear. There are many versions of the movement including manual wind 2414 and 2428(double date)and self-winding 2416 and 2427 (double date). The movements are unfortunately quite sensitive to shocks due to thin balance staff. Other frequent problems include premature wear of rotor bearing and the clutch driving the hands (not a typical cannon pinion). Also the date indicator malfunctions are common. The movements are thus considered unreliable, especially compared to other russian calibres. Earlier the 2nd Moscow Factory produced movements derived from an old pre-war French movement, the Lip "T-15" (also some Poljot
movements were derived from this French brand), and produced under license (brands Pobeda and Start). In addition to that, for relative brief periods, Slava also produced its own electronic movements using tuning fork and quartz systems. Some Slava watches were produced under Sekonda brand names.
While Slava watches utilize its own Russian-made movements today, and for some models, bought-in movements from Miyota are used.
In the 1990s, a Chinese or Hong Kong company approached Slava and to use the Slava name. The watches were to be separate from the Russian-built ones by using a new name "Slava Sozvezdie" (Слава Созвездие), and without the original Slava company logo. Since 2006, these Slava Sozvezdie watches appear in vast quantities, they contain no Russian content but often marked "Russia" on the dial, and are built as cheaply as possible. These watches have nothing to do with the Slava company.
As of January, 2006, the Slava factory and its property are to be sold for retail development. As of 2010 the building of the factory have been brought down to make space for new real estate projects. The brand has been taken over by municipality of Moscow in a dept swap. Unfortunately Slava watches are no longer produced in Russia.
Ex-official Slava website (in Russian only and not updated since 2008)
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, in 1924. The watches of this brand have always been meant for civilian consumption, without military or aerospace pretensions.
Slava's own mechanical movements feature two mainspring barrels coupled together with an idler gear. There are many versions of the movement including manual wind 2414 and 2428(double date)and self-winding 2416 and 2427 (double date). The movements are unfortunately quite sensitive to shocks due to thin balance staff. Other frequent problems include premature wear of rotor bearing and the clutch driving the hands (not a typical cannon pinion). Also the date indicator malfunctions are common. The movements are thus considered unreliable, especially compared to other russian calibres. Earlier the 2nd Moscow Factory produced movements derived from an old pre-war French movement, the Lip "T-15" (also some Poljot
Poljot
Poljot , is a brand of Soviet/Russian wristwatches, produced since 1964 by the First Moscow Watch Factory . The flagship brand of the USSR's watch industry, Poljot produced numerous historical watches used in many important space missions, including the world's first space watch worn by Yuri Gagarin...
movements were derived from this French brand), and produced under license (brands Pobeda and Start). In addition to that, for relative brief periods, Slava also produced its own electronic movements using tuning fork and quartz systems. Some Slava watches were produced under Sekonda brand names.
While Slava watches utilize its own Russian-made movements today, and for some models, bought-in movements from Miyota are used.
In the 1990s, a Chinese or Hong Kong company approached Slava and to use the Slava name. The watches were to be separate from the Russian-built ones by using a new name "Slava Sozvezdie" (Слава Созвездие), and without the original Slava company logo. Since 2006, these Slava Sozvezdie watches appear in vast quantities, they contain no Russian content but often marked "Russia" on the dial, and are built as cheaply as possible. These watches have nothing to do with the Slava company.
As of January, 2006, the Slava factory and its property are to be sold for retail development. As of 2010 the building of the factory have been brought down to make space for new real estate projects. The brand has been taken over by municipality of Moscow in a dept swap. Unfortunately Slava watches are no longer produced in Russia.
Ex-official Slava website (in Russian only and not updated since 2008)