With pseudonyms like The Broker, The Astronaut and The Vampire, this global cabal of watch collectors specializes in Soviet timepieces dating back to the days of Stalin
With pseudonyms like the The Bastard, The Broker, The Astronaut and The Vampire, they've banded together deep inside the world of Soviet-era watch collecting.
Membership of this secretive collectors group comes by invitation, said Ulices Rosa, who founded the bureau a few years ago by connecting people asking questions about Russian watches on Facebook. If you've been snooping around about Soviet watches, he may just find you. "I went on a hunt as soon as my son spotted it," he said."I found it within two weeks for about $36."The story illustrates just what make Soviet watch collectors tick. It's a hobby that gives them a relatively cheap way to connect with a bygone world. A working, presentable and likely authentic Soviet-era watch can be easily found on the internet for under $100 and in some cases as low as $40 or $50, Rosa said.
"To coordinate anything in a modern world you need reliable time pieces, and the Soviets didn't have anything of that sort," Oatman-Stanford said. With the equipment to kick-start their watch industry, the Soviets also brought in technology from places like France and Switzerland to improve their watchmaking. Victory over Nazi Germany in World War II also gave the Soviet watch industry a boost, said Rosa.The Soviets copied some of the best timepieces worn by German soldiers, he added."Those happen to be the most expensive of the Russian watches -- the ones that are exactly copied from the German military," Rosa said.
"The Soviets built their watches so smartly and so well," he said. And they standardized components, making repairs and service easy. In Russia, Oatman-Stanford said, they have another term."The translation for this is 'cutlet,' like ground beef," he said,"a kind of mishmash of parts that they've smushed together to form a patty."To novice and experienced collectors alike, the Frankens can be hard to spot. Bureau members look for clues, like the words on the dial, the shape of the crown and machining marks on the inner workings.
Lee said he has contacts in places like Spain, Italy, Russia and Romania who will search flea markets for him, looking for specific watches he wants to add to his collection.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
White House working to broker deescalation of Israeli-Palestinian tensionsPresident Joe Biden's administration is working to broker a deal to stop the latest eruption of violence between Israelis and Palestinian militants in the Middle East.
Weiterlesen »
Broker Robinhood upbraids Buffett over casino comparisonRobinhood Financial on Monday struck back against comments by Warren Buffett that likened the retail brokerage to a casino that encourages millions of inexperienced day traders to place short-term stock market bets.
Weiterlesen »
11 Watch Brands That Will Turn You Into a Serious CollectorAudemars Piguet has been making watches since 1875, and they've only gotten better over time. The brand is known for making some of the thinnest styles, and it's the only luxury watch brand still owned by the founding families. If you want to invest in history, choose Ademars Piguet.
Weiterlesen »
11 Watch Brands That Will Turn You Into a Serious CollectorAudemars Piguet has been making watches since 1875, and they've only gotten better over time. The brand is known for making some of the thinnest styles, and it's the only luxury watch brand still owned by the founding families. If you want to invest in history, choose Ademars Piguet.
Weiterlesen »