It’s a relatively simple operation and knowing how to change the date to a Vostok is always convenient. Since there is no rapid exchange system given you have to operate on the normal daily exchange. This is how it is done:
- Remove the winding crown and place it in the position where you normally change the time.
- Bring the time forward until a date click occurs and continue until 1:00 AM
- Bring the time back until approximately 8:00 PM.
- Bring the time forward until it exceeds 12:00 AM, when the date changes.
Repeat the operation until you reach the desired date and you’re done!
Clearly, the delicacy is a must when carrying out the operations described above.
Are there other ways to change the date?
If we exclude stopping the watch until the day of the right month or disassembling the dial and changing the position of the wheel of the date I would say that the answer is clearly no. Although it seems a cumbersome system, for those accustomed even to quartz watches from a few euros to a quick date change, it must be recognized that the system is simple and does not complicate the calibre with additional springs and components.
Change the date, what does the instruction manual say?
Vostok watches that came to Italy in the 1980s were often accompanied by an instruction manual. Blue cover for Komandirskie and red cover for chronographs.
This is what is reported in the instruction manual
CHANGING THE DATE
Pull the crown out to position 2 and change the date by turning the hands in a clockwise direction.
Push the crown back in (Position 1)
QUICK DATE SETTING ( Position 2)
To change the date, follow these steps:
- Turn the crown in a counterclockwise direction until the hands read 12 o’clock
- Turn the hands in a counterclockwise direction back to 8 o’clock. Move the hands to 12 o’clock to advance the date by one day. Tepeat this operation until the desired date has been reached.
WARNING
Before following the steps for quick date settings, be sure that the watch is fully wound.
How do you change the date in the modern Vostok Komandirskie?
The answer is always the same in general since the calibre used is always the same 2414 manual of the Soviet era. Other calibres have also been included in modern production, so the above instructions may not work. Please refer to the instruction manual provided with the watch to make the various adjustments including the date change.
Instructions from eBay
Interesting to know that you happen to receive a leaflet of instructions along with the watches purchased on eBay along with the Vostok watches. It is a simple A5 sheet that shows in English the basic instructions for use and adjustment of the most common Vostok calibres such as 2414.
On the leaflet, under “UPDATING OF A CALENDAR” you will find the following instructions in English:
Set the winding head into position 3. Set the correct date by turning watch head clockwise. After that, set the winding head into position 1.
The instructions on how to change the date are not very precise and above all do not correspond to the instructions given by the manual. It is then suggested to continue to change the time by continuing to turn clockwise in order to take advantage of the normal date change of the watch.
I would be very curious to know if there are other manuals or other methods to change the date in the Vostok Komandirskie. If anyone had any other information, I would ask very kindly to share it.
