Yamal icebreaker Archivi

The Raketa Yamal Watch: An Icon of Soviet Craftsmanship

Sovietaly™ Soviet Watches 9 July 20249 July 2024North Pole cruises, orologio sovietico, perestroika, perestrojka, peterhof masters, polar watches, raketa, Raketa Yamal Watch, Soviet craftsmanship, Soviet watch, Soviet watch history, Yamal icebreaker 0 Comment

Introduction

In the late 1980s, during the Perestroika period, the Peterhof Watch Factory saw the emergence of several cooperatives, including the renowned “Peterhof Masters”. One of their most iconic creations is the Raketa watch commemorating the nuclear icebreaker “Yamal”. This article explores the distinctive features of this rare watch, highlighting its design and the historical context in which it was produced.

Description of the Raketa Yamal Watch

The Raketa Yamal watch boasts several distinctive elements:

Case: Made of gold-plated brass with a TiN-finished bezel, measuring approximately 36 mm in diameter.
Dial: The dial features a detailed print of the nuclear icebreaker Yamal. It is signed “P.M.” (Peterhof Masters). Within the image, the initials “A.L.M.” (Atomnyy Ledomkol Yamal) are part of the commemorative illustration. The blue lines at the top of the dial represent a stylized aurora borealis, a typical graphic element of polar watches. This design predates the addition of the famous shark mouth painted on the ship’s hull in the 1990s.
Hands: Black dagger-shaped hands, including the second hand.
Movement: Equipped with a mechanical 2614 movement from a Russian factory, with an unengraved bridge, marked “2614” and the “Angels” logo.
Case Back: Pressure-fitted steel case back without inscriptions.

The video presents a rare watch from the late 1980s called the Atomic Icebreaker Yamal, produced by the Peterhof Masters cooperative. The watch is distinguished by its dial printed with the image of the Yamal atomic icebreaker and the date at 6 o’clock, signed “П.М.” (Peterhof Masters) and “АЛМ” (Atomic Icebreaker Yamal). Classic baton hands for hours and minutes and a red seconds hand complete the design. The chrome-plated brass case with a smooth finish, the plexiglass crystal and the black leather strap give the watch an elegant and robust appearance. The snap-back case back hides a late-model Russian 2614 mechanical movement, with a flat mainspring, shock absorber under the anchor and balance wheel without a regulating screw. A rare and fascinating watch, which captures attention for its unique design and its history linked to the late 1980s and the Peterhof Masters cooperative. A true collector’s item for fans of vintage watches and Russian history.

The Peterhof Watch Factory Cooperatives

During Perestroika, the historic Peterhof Watch Factory, also known as Raketa, gave rise to three unique cooperatives: Renaissance, Prestige, and Peterhof Masters. These cooperatives represent a fascinating chapter in Soviet watch history, characterized by high quality and innovative designs.

Renaissance: Specialized in watches with semi-precious stone dials like jade, jasper, malachite, and nephrite.
Prestige: Known for its mirror dials with religious themes and images of churches.
Peterhof Masters: Focused on producing watches with printed dials on various themes, often decorated with high-quality naval and military images. The commemorative Yamal watch is one of their most iconic models.

The Yamal Icebreaker

The Yamal is one of the nuclear icebreakers of the Arktika class, built to operate in harsh Arctic conditions. Here are some of its main technical characteristics:

Nuclear Reactors: Equipped with two OK-900A nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 171 MW, for a total thermal power of 342 MW.
Power: The maximum propulsion power is 75,000 horsepower (approximately 55.3 MW), distributed over three four-blade propellers, each 5.7 meters in diameter.
Dimensions: Length of 148 meters, width of 30 meters, draft of 11.08 meters, height from keel to masthead of 55 meters.
Displacement: 23,455 tons.
Speed: Maximum speed in open water of 22 knots (about 40 km/h) and the ability to break ice up to 2.3 meters thick at a speed of 3 knots (about 5.5 km/h).
Hull Structure: The outer hull is 48 mm thick in areas in contact with ice and 25 mm elsewhere, with a polymer coating to reduce friction. It uses an air and hot water bubble system to facilitate icebreaking.

The Yamal is known for its ability to navigate through thick Arctic ice, thanks to its powerful nuclear reactors and advanced icebreaking technologies. It has played a significant role in creating annual travel expeditions to the North Pole, being one of the few ships capable of reaching this destination and safely transporting tourists (CruiseMapper) (Wikipedia).

Tourist Cruises

The Yamal offers tourist cruises to the North Pole, a unique experience for adventurers. These cruises typically depart from Murmansk, Russia, and prices for a 14-day cruise can be around $30,000 per person. The cruises include various activities such as helicopter tours, Zodiac excursions, and photography programs (Poseidon Expeditions) (Cruise Critic).

Conclusion

The Raketa Yamal watch by the Peterhof Masters cooperative is a rare and valuable piece for collectors and watch enthusiasts. It represents not only the excellence of Soviet craftsmanship but also an era of change and innovation. For more details and an in-depth look at the watch, you can consult Dmitry Brodnikovskiy’s video available on YouTube, which provides a detailed analysis of this unique model.

Sources

Exclusive: To the North Pole on the Yamal

Sovietaly™ Orologi Russi 31 May 202011 June 2024Arctic adventure, Arctic Circle travel, Arctic expedition, Arctic future, Arctic summer, Arctic tourism, Arctic travel costs, Arctic wildlife, Climate change Arctic, Endless daylight, Exclusive travel diary, Franz Josef Land, Icebreaker journey, Murmansk, North Pole cruise, Nuclear-powered icebreaker, Polar bears, Polar exploration, Travel to the North Pole, vostok, Yamal icebreaker 0 Comment

In the November 2007 issue of “qui TOURING,” Jacopo Pasotti takes readers on an extraordinary journey aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker Yamal, operated by Atomflot, renowned for organizing cruises to the North Pole. This unique voyage offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the remote Arctic in a vessel engineered to navigate the most formidable ice-covered waters on Earth.

Setting Sail from Murmansk

Our journey begins in Murmansk, Russia’s largest Arctic port, a city historically shaped by its strategic importance during and after World War II. Murmansk’s skyline, dotted with utilitarian Soviet-era buildings, reflects its past of hurried reconstruction and industrial significance. Here, we board the Yamal, a formidable icebreaker with a striking visage, complete with painted fangs on its black hull, ready to carve a path through the icy wilderness.

The Endless Day

21st July

Crossing the Arctic Circle ushers us into a realm of perpetual daylight, where the sun never dips below the horizon. This phenomenon disrupts our sense of time, making it challenging to distinguish between day and night. The crew, a mix of seasoned Russian officers and enthusiastic tourists, navigate through these timeless days, with the Yamal advancing steadily through the ice.

22nd July

Aboard the Yamal, life adapts to the rhythm of the Arctic. After a meal prepared by Austrian chefs, I find myself on the bridge, tracing our route on a nautical chart. The crew, unfazed by the ceaseless daylight, maintain their watch, guiding us ever northward.

Encounters with the Arctic

23rd July

At 80 degrees north, we encounter our first iceberg, a colossal, drifting monolith of blue ice. This awe-inspiring sight draws everyone on deck, marking our entry into the high Arctic’s icy expanse.

25th July

We are now just 500 kilometers from the North Pole, surrounded by an endless sea of ice. The Yamal plows through the thick ice, occasionally getting momentarily stuck before breaking free with a thunderous crash. The chief engineer explains the ship’s nuclear power: two reactors and 75,000 horsepower propellers enable the Yamal to tackle ice up to three meters thick.

A highlight of our voyage is the sighting of a polar bear. Unfazed by the imposing icebreaker, the bear curiously observes us before disappearing into the Arctic wilderness. This rare encounter with the Arctic’s top predator underscores the region’s raw and untamed beauty.

Reaching the North Pole

27th July

The culmination of our journey is the arrival at the North Pole. Standing at 90°00’00” N, there is a sense of accomplishment mixed with the humble realization of the pole’s simplicity—just a point in a vast, frozen sea. Here, under the North Star, every direction is south, a humbling reminder of the Earth’s vastness.

The Return Journey

28th July

On our return, we explore the Franz Josef Land archipelago, the last land discovered in the Arctic. These remote islands, cloaked in glaciers and shrouded in mist, offer brief glimpses of sunlight that paint the landscape in hues of twilight. The archipelago’s isolation and harsh conditions highlight the perseverance required to explore these final frontiers.

29th July

Laurie Dexter, our expedition leader, shares tales of his life in the Arctic, including his time living with Inuit communities. His stories of survival and adaptation in this extreme environment are both inspiring and humbling.

Reflections

2nd August

Back in Murmansk, it’s difficult to reconcile the familiar world with the otherworldly experiences of the past two weeks. The journey to the North Pole, once a distant dream, has been realized thanks to the Yamal. The Arctic, with its stark beauty and profound solitude, has left an indelible mark on all who ventured into its icy embrace.

russian watch Raketa Yamal Cruise '93 — Raketa Yamal Cruise ’93

The Future of the Arctic

The Arctic’s future remains uncertain. Climate change predictions have shifted from an ice-free Arctic by 2070 to potentially as soon as 2035. This rapid change threatens the region’s delicate ecosystem, with implications for global climate patterns and geopolitical interests.

Practical Information

Documents: Valid passport with a Russian visa.
Climate: Summer temperatures hover around -2°C, but can feel much colder with wind chill.
Travel: No direct flights to Murmansk from Italy; connections through Helsinki or St. Petersburg are necessary.
Expedition Operator: Quark Expeditions specializes in Arctic and Antarctic tours. For more information, visit Quark Expeditions.

Upcoming Expeditions

Dates for 2008: June 23 – July 8, July 6 – 21, July 19 – August 4.
Cost: Starting from 16,000 Euros, inclusive of travel from Helsinki.

Exploring the Arctic aboard the Yamal offers not only a journey through ice and time but also a profound connection with one of the last pristine wildernesses on Earth.