Poljot History

Although the history of Poljot begins on 1930, the origins of this company started on 1927 when the Soviet Department of Labor decided the USSR should have an important watch industry to equip the Red Army soldiers.

So the USSR bought two broke watch factories from…. United States! (business are business…) They acquired Ansonia Clock Company, from Brooklyn (New York) and the Dueber-Hampden Watch Company from Canton, Ohio. They even employed some of the American workers to teach the soviet workers the art and science of watchmaking.

Once the USSR had purchased all the machinery and American gear, they built the factory in 1930 in the Krasnata Zvezda (Red Star) building, in Moscow and it was called the First Moscow Watch Factory (FMWF) - (Первый Государственный Часовой Завод - 1ГЧЗ), in charge of the production of watches and movements.

In November 1930, the first watches were introduced in a ceremony celebrated in the “October Revolution Theatre” now known as Bolshoi Theatre. These first pieces were marked with the “Dueber-Hampden, Canton, Ohio, USA” lettering.
So, we reach the year 1935. In this year, the company is renamed to PFRE-Kirova (1ГЧЗ им. КИРОВА), tributed to the Soviet Leader Sergéi Kírov, murdered in the same year.
Then, we arrive to the Second World War. In view of the situation with the German army, the Soviet Union moved the factories to Zlatoust (Златоу́ст) in the Urals, and to Chistopol (Чи́стополь) to supply with aircraft watches, marine chronometers, and regular watches to the war pilots and to the members of the Red Army.

In this picture taken in 1912 (although it has been rendered nowadays), you can see how Zlatoust looked like, a really charming city.

Published under license Creative Commons – Zlatoust, 1912. Author: Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorski

When the German troops retire from the USSR, the Zlatoust factory returns to Moscow, and hence adopts the name “First Moscow Watch Factory – 1MWF”, although the one in Chistopol, later on known as Vostok, still produces watchs for the Red Army.

It then comes the end of the Second World War, and one year later, in 1946, the soviets demanded as war repair watches, movements and the factory of Glashütte, in Germany. In this same year, the Pobeda (Vicotory) watches, which design and characteristics were personally approved by Stalin, are produced, as well as the Kirova, a chronograph used by the Red Army based on the German chronograph Tutiva.

Three years later, 1949, is a remarkable year, since the Shturnmanskie (Штурманские, "navigator") watches, are produced for the exclusive use of the pilots of the Soviet Air Force. (BBC).

The movement and case of this same watch, modified in the sphere and finish, were the ones used by Yuri Gagarin for the first human flight to the outer space, the 21st April 1961. A mechanic watch for the first spaceman in human history!!

Below there is a photo of the Shturnmanskie, with its huge trap, on Gagarin’s arm over the spacesuit.

And this is how the company changed its name to Poljot (ПОЛЕТ), honoring Gagarin and his mission.

Since then, Poljot history is very related to outer space. In 1965, the spaceman Alexei Leonov, first cosmonaut in making an Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) was wearing a Poljot Strela (СТРЕЛА – “Arrow”), a russian chronograph first built in 1959 for the exclusive use of the soviet air force.

Here you have some images of this legendary Poljot.

In 1966, the company Poljot is awarded with the highest distinction granted in the USSR by Decree of the Supreme Soviet, the Lenin Order, and grows until in mid-70s, acquires the Swiss company Valjoux and its chronograph mechanism 7734, based on which the Poljot mechanism 3133 is built, a mechanism granted with the USSR Award in 1976, used by the soviet cosmonaut V.V. Polyako when he obtained the world record for the longest space flight.

Since then, this movement has been used in the Poljot chronographs in models such as the Okeah (used in the space mission of the Soyuz in 1976) or in the Sturmanskie watches.

And we get now to the end of the 80s, where Poljot designs and produces the Buran model, named as the soviet space shuttle (Буран, “snow storm” or “blizzard”).

All the Poljot models share a common romantic allure of aviation and space flights…..in summary, a different watch with a particular style and very robust movement.

The fall of the USSR also means the one of Poljot. In that moment, several companies emerge trying to gain its market position, such as Volmax, that begins to produce its watches with the brand Buran, Aviator or Strumanskie, Vostok and Poljot-International, a company that continues the tradition of Poljot producing watches of the same style but with the use of new techniques and better materials.

It was then in 1992 when the company Poljot-V GmbH was funded in Frankfurt, for the elaboration of Poljot watches under the direction of Mr. Alexander Shorokoff:

Poljot International Factory in Alzenau, Germany.

 

Here you have a photograph taken in year 2000 of Mr. Shorokoff showing to Mikhail Gorbachev! the chronograph Gorbatchev.

 

 

 

 

Regarding Poljot International, although it was funded in 1992, the first watch was only produced in 1994, the chronograph Basilika, designed by Iwan Krylow, that was the beginning of a whole line of chronographs based on the same style and sharing the same name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, it is not a coincidence that it resembles so much the CCCP watch 1990 (CCCP is also a brand of Poljot – International, about we will also give you some insights further on)…

 

 

The Basilika chronographs experienced a great success in the market, what explains that only a year after its launch, in 1995, the brand Poljot – International was already recognized in several countries.

In 1997, Poljot – International presents the chronograph Nikolai II, honoring Tsar Nicholas II, with a golden plated movement, the Tsar Crown symbol and the sphere in roman numbers.

 

In 1998, Poljot – International was awarded in the Vienna exposition under the “Elegant ladies watch” for its model in honor of the 850 years of the city of Moscow, designed by A. Sidorov. Only 100 watched per movement were produced…with 211 diamons and 7 sapphires per watch! The result of it is, at least, a really singular one…!

In 2000, Poljot - International produces its first chronograph with a squared form and movement 3177, the Square and Round, designed by Iwan Krylow (the same designer of the Basilika chronographs!).

 

At that time, Poljot – International was already present in more than 28 countries, with a consolidated brand that produced watches inspired by the soviet design but using the best materials and the newest techniques.

From year 2000, Poljot – International began to commercialize the most distinguished models in its catalogue, of the series Marvel, Inspiration and Courage, among which can be found the superb Baikal, Moscow Nights, Nights of St. Petersburg, or the Red October and Jak-7.

From year 2000, Poljot – International creates an additional brand, named CCCP, offering watches with an updated design of the most representative watches of Soviet history.

Each series of watches, named with the year which they refer to, is the updated design of a remarkable soviet watch. It is really interesting to see how the design change as the soviet history evolves.

The most classic watches are those of series 1924, 1936 and 1937, with very sober spheres and all the allure of the purest soviet history:

The 1937 series includes the triangle at 12, characteristic of aviation, since this watch is produced in honor to Michail Vodopyanov, a soviet air pilot that in 1937 was the first man that managed to land in the North Pole!

In this same style, watches of the 1939 series are also inspired by the history of soviet aviation, and consequently, they all share a common aviator style. More specifically, the 1939 series honor the first flight between Moscow and New York, made that year by Vladimir Kokkinaki.

Then, there are the 1952 series, diver watched with a huge case of 52 mm and 15 mm height!! It can’t be more spectacular!!.

It is really amazing!

The 1963 series are more related to soviet space history…..the 1963 watches are much smaller than the 1952, with a 39 mm case, that thanks to its domed crystal looks spherical, creating a very rare effect and special feeling!

The 1966, 1968 and 1969 series are flat, with a very pure design and more simple spheres:

The 1968, with a sporty sphere quite singular:

And the 1969, with a more classic presence, but absolutely superb!:

We arrive to the 1972 and 1973 series, both of them inspired at the time in which the first televisions were assembled in the USSR. That is what explains the square form of their case. The 1972 have a 36 mm case while the 1973 grow up to 41,5mm!

And the 1973:

The 1990 series change their style dramatically, inspired also in the deep changes that were taking place at that time in the USSR. It was the time of the perestroika, changes that supposed the end of the Soviet Union. Modern times were invading the USSR, and that modernity is also shown in the design of the watches. The series 1990 and the chronographs 1990+ reflect that modernity.

And the chronograph 1990+, with a very similar style of the Basilika chronograph of Poljot-International.

And this is the end…..for now! We hope we will be able to tell you any news of Poljot – International and CCCP, brands that have finally managed their own position thanks to its own merits in the universe of watch manufacturers.

We hope you enjoyed this story…and of course, your comments are more than welcome!!

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