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CCCP Sputnik 1 – A Watch That Celebrates the Space Age

Sovietaly™ Analisi e Opinioni, Orologi Russi 3 September 20243 September 2024Automatic Watch, CCCP Sputnik, CCCP watch, Citychamp, collectible watch, horology, Russian watchmaking, Slava 2427, Soviet watch, space history, Sputnik 1, ussr, Vintage Watch 0 Comment

Introduction

The CCCP Sputnik 1 is more than just a watch: it is a tribute to the first artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. This timepiece captures the spirit of an era filled with discoveries and technological advancements, symbolizing the history of space exploration.

Design Inspired by the First Satellite

The design of the CCCP Sputnik 1 directly reflects the iconic Sputnik 1 satellite. The watch features a dial that prominently displays the historic date of October 4, 1957, celebrating a pivotal moment in history. The dial is meticulously crafted, with elements that evoke the four antennas of the Sputnik 1, giving it a distinctive and captivating appearance.

Technical Specifications of the CCCP Sputnik 1

Beneath its vintage exterior, the CCCP Sputnik 1 houses a robust mechanical movement. It is powered by the Slava 2427 caliber, an automatic movement produced during the Soviet era. This movement has a 24 mm diameter and contains 26 or 27 jewels, providing a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. It also features two barrels for enhanced durability and precision, as well as shock protection.

The movement supports three central hands for hours, minutes, and seconds, and includes a day/date function positioned at 3:00. A quick date adjustment is made possible via a dedicated pusher at 2:00, making this watch both functional and visually appealing.

The CCCP and Slava Brands

The CCCP brand draws inspiration from the Soviet era of Russian history, a period marked by significant technological and scientific progress. The name CCCP is derived from the Cyrillic acronym for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Союз Советских Социалистических Республик, transliterated as Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik.

Slava, one of Russia’s most historic watch brands, has a storied past that dates back to the Second Moscow Watch Factory. Today, however, the brand is owned by Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Ltd., a Chinese holding company that acquired Slava as part of its global expansion strategy. Citychamp also owns prestigious brands such as Corum and Eterna, blending European and Soviet watchmaking traditions with modern Chinese manufacturing capabilities.

Citychamp is renowned for preserving the historical identity of the brands it acquires, continuing to produce watches that are not only functional but also collectible. For more information on CCCP and Slava watches, visit their official website www.cccptime.com.

Why Choose the CCCP Sputnik 1?

Owning a CCCP Sputnik 1 means having a timepiece that not only commemorates a significant moment in human history but also represents a fine example of Russian watchmaking craftsmanship. It is ideal for watch enthusiasts who value both historical significance and technical excellence.

Conclusion

The CCCP Sputnik 1 is more than just a watch: it is a tribute to an extraordinary historical event. With its design inspired by the first artificial satellite and the Slava 2427 automatic movement, this watch is poised to become a collectible piece for all horology and space history enthusiasts.

History of Slava: The Second Moscow Watch Factory

Sovietaly™ Analisi e Opinioni, Orologi Russi, Orologi Sovietici 18 July 202418 July 20241950s watches, 1960s watches, anni '60, civilian watches., historic models, Moscow Watches, orologeria russa, Russian watchmaking, Second Factory, Slava awards, Slava collaborations, Slava history, Slava innovations, Slava movements, Slava privatization, Slava revival, Slava Transistor 0 Comment

The history of Slava, one of the most iconic brands in Russian watchmaking, begins with the foundation of the Second Moscow Watch Factory. This article explores the origins, development, challenges, and evolutions of this historic factory up to its current state.

Origins of the Second Moscow Watch Factory

Founded in 1924, the Second Moscow Watch Factory was one of the first non-military watch manufacturers in the Soviet Union. In 1929, the Soviet Union acquired two American watch factories, the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company and the Ansonia Clock Company, to start its own watchmaking industry (Wixsite) (Wixsite). Official watch production began in 1931, using the equipment purchased from the Ansonia Clock Company.

During World War II, the factory was evacuated to Chistopol and focused on producing military equipment. After the war, the factory returned to Moscow and resumed civilian watch production (Two Broke Watch Snobs) (Wikipedia).

The Birth of the Slava Brand

In the 1950s, the factory began producing watches under the brand name “Slava,” which means “glory” in Russian. This brand was distinguished for producing watches exclusively for civilian consumption, without military or aerospace pretensions (Wixsite) (Wikipedia).

Innovations and Awards

The Slava factory was innovative from its early years. In the 1960s, it introduced the “Slava Transistor,” a watch with an electronic movement that won a gold medal at the Leipzig Fair in 1964 (DuMarko) (Слава – Русские часы). Other significant awards include the gold medal at the Brno International Fair in 1974 and another gold medal at the Leipzig Fair in 1975 for models with a 24mm caliber (Слава – Русские часы).

Expansion and Collaborations

From 1955 to 1979, Slava exported up to 50% of its production to over 72 countries. It collaborated with other Soviet manufacturers like Raketa and Vostok to develop advanced movements (DuMarko) (Слава – Русские часы).

Challenges of Privatization

After the fall of the USSR, the Slava factory faced numerous difficulties. During the privatization of the 1990s, many movements were exported to China and Hong Kong to produce cheap counterfeits, damaging the brand’s reputation (Wikipedia) (Слава – Русские часы).

Revival and Current Situation

In 2005, the factory and the Slava brand were acquired by Globex Bank and later transferred to the city of Moscow. The production facilities near Belorusskaya metro station were demolished in 2008 to make way for a shopping center, while wristwatch production was maintained and integrated into the Slava Technopark (Wikipedia) (Слава – Русские часы).

Since 2016, Slava has been using movements produced by the Chistopol Watch Factory “Vostok” for its new models (Слава – Русские часы). Today, production continues with new models inspired by historic designs, such as “Slava Televisor,” “Era,” “Mir,” “Sadko,” “Ais,” and “Doctor,” using the original Slava 2427 movements (Слава – Русские часы).

Anecdotes and Trivia

An interesting fact is about the “Slava Transistor” model, which won a gold medal at the Leipzig Fair in 1964. This watch used an electronic movement that was innovative for its time, showcasing the factory’s technological advancement (DuMarko).

Another anecdote involves Slava’s appearance in the 2016 Bulgarian film “Glory” (original title “Slava”), where the protagonist’s Slava watch plays a key role in the plot (Wikipedia).

Conclusion

The history of Slava is a journey through the evolution of Russian watchmaking, from its roots in the Second Moscow Watch Factory to its current production of innovative models. Despite the challenges of privatization and counterfeiting, Slava continues to represent excellence in watchmaking.

For more information and updates on new Slava models, visit the official Slava website.

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