As in Russia make the watch

• How to

make the watch in Russia

I was with a group of companions were able to visit one of the oldest watch factories in Russia - Petrodvorets watch factory "Rocket". Looking ahead to say that the company is unique and has a very long history that makes the plant not only interesting, but also a historical site. I offer to walk with me and see how it makes a mechanical watch.

Back in 1721 Peter 1 founded the Peterhof Imperial factory and it is from that time begins the history length of nearly three centuries. First performed at the factory processing of precious stones, but later the factory started to work with stone, which was necessary for the construction of palaces, fountains and museums. In different years the factory produced a variety of products from the knobs for umbrellas and walking sticks, mosaics for the throne Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt, the tombs of Peter and Paul Cathedral and to the ruby ​​stars of the Kremlin.

In the beginning of the Great Patriotic War the plant was evacuated to the Urals, but 33 people in a completely destroyed the factory building is located between the two front lines of besieged Petersburg continued to work and to produce simple products. In 1949, the plant was rebuilt and it is from that time begins to produce watches and in 1954 received its present name - Petrodvorets Watch Factory.

The former factory area is huge and it is not surprising, because since 1961, the factory produces watches for the civilian population, as well as for the polar (I want to own such a watch !!! and it old school), astronauts, submariners and for the army and navy. By 1980, the plant produces about 4.5 million hours per year, and on its territory, employs about 8000 employees. Directly at the plant it has been built not only private hospital, but also schools, shops, stadium and even the House of Culture. Alas, but after the events in the early 90's the plant slowly "dying" until 2009. Now more than 90% of the buildings occupied by various Ltd, SP, cafe-bars, car washes and garages.

Until 1961, the factory produces watches under the name of victory, but in 1961 it was decided to rename the "Rocket". Can you guess why?

Now the plant produces about 13 collections - Academic, Atom, Ballerina, Peterhof Classic, Pilot, Polar, Homeland, Sailor, Sonata, Sport, Vodianova Star, Winter, Yalta and on the way two more - Victory and amphibians. There are quite unique - for example watches for special forces "Vympel".

Each produced watches have serial number and more expensive come in beautiful boxes. The price, incidentally, is quite humane. As I understand it, the most expensive serial clock on sale have a price tag of about 40 thousand rubles, which is collected by hand is not too expensive for a mechanical watch. I secretly told that plans to release hours of precious metals and stones with different =)

In 2012, the refinery received the Jean Claude Ken - former director of the production of balance-spiral (the most difficult parts in the clockworks) company Rolex.

All Soviet - strictly and concisely. Hours 1966-1970.

1961-1965 year.

And here is the quartz watch, only I do not remember the year.

The plant produces not only a wrist watch, but alarm clocks. Surely some childhood was so =)

Alena Zavarzina (bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in Sochi) is not just displayed next to this watch: it is not only the face of the company, but also part of the board of directors (the truth I do not understand how and why), and her husband Vic Wilde (two-time champion of the same games in Sochi) became Director of strategy.

From 2012 collection.

Victory - Crimea - 2014 ... symbolic and with double meaning. Of course, watches are issued on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Crimea from fascists, but a hint of the events in 2014 still observed. Watches have been issued in a limited edition and cost 5500 rubles per shtutku (anecdotal evidence), but I think the price is after all not numerous batch sold out, has risen significantly.

On the left - some curious clock - a model made for the Olympic Games in Sochi. The plant turned into Olympic Committee to allow the release of hours for the Games in Sochi, but the Olympic Committee businessmen asked for 5 euros mulenov entrance, so to speak. The factory with a staff of about 200 people, of course, could not master the same amount, and partner games become Omega. Designers did not lose heart and come up with a design that's no official symbols, but the Olympic Committee decided that it was not by their rules and addressed where necessary, the model ordered withdrawn from the market. It was issued only 500 pieces of this watch at a price of about 7000 rubles, and after such a PR entire party was swept away from the shelves. Rumor has it that now, these watches are worth about 70 thousand !!! If the clock overgrown history or legend and even released a limited edition, their value increases significantly.

Right - polar clock in 2014 with a new design of 1969.

And this is a watch with automatic winding. The new mechanism handpicked looks very cool, this is not China, which may take at any moment.

There are even watches made of precious wood, I do not know how it is practical, but it looks very unusual.

The process of creating hours is not easy because the hours of several hundred pieces.

To be honest, I was expecting to see some space tools, and almost automatic process, but was pleasantly surprised. This "old school" and even the tiny Circuits are made by hand.

On hand at the Anastasia - platinum, detail on which are mounted all the other mechanisms.

Before becoming platinum, this small detail goes almost all the machines in the factory, and then subjected to automatic adjustment.

The missile is one of five plants that made the balance-spiral - the same one very important detail. "Balance-helix - the most difficult part of the mechanism, without it will not work the clock, the accuracy of the depends on it. Spiral itself thinner than a human hair, and is made of a special alloy, each company has his own. Generally, as the temperature rises material of any shape change. When the alloy for the helix is ​​chosen correctly, then eventually spiral is extended, resulting in the failure of accuracy. Therefore, an alloy which is made of a spiral, keeps very secret. The second point - the complexity of the production process, the most exact calculations. Accuracy should be a maximum of 0, 5 microns. "

"After the 1975 crisis, when the world market is flooded with cheap quartz watches from Asia, many Swiss companies have reduced their production of mechanical watches. As a result, in 1975 the production of balance-spiral became involved only Swatch group, a group of 15 brands, including Rado, Tissot, Swatch, Breguet and others. Later, other companies began to produce its spiral. Now its spiral-balance produce Swatch group, Rolex, Bovet (Dimier SA), SANDOZ, Festina. All other companies mainly buy from Swatch group, even the most expensive watch brands. The same situation is with the mechanisms, most companies in Switzerland buy machinery from the company ETA (Swatch group). Someone modifies these mechanisms, one simply inserts into the body. Production "from beginning to end" does not deal with anybody, except Swatch group, Rolex and another couple of companies. "

And this is a modern equipment, which is beginning to appear on the plant.

All depends on the "Swatch group", but the "Swatch" announced the termination of the supply arrangements with third parties in 2013. Create a zero-balance processing chain spiral is very, very difficult, and "Rocket" can meet the needs of many companies. The plant currently supplies balance-spiral to other companies, but their names are kept secret and refused to disclose to us =)

As I said, everything is done by hand.

For it is there, in the middle of very tiny detail is no longer a millimeter in length:

Machines mainly imported Swiss, but there are also ours, made during the Soviet era.

The plant soars particular, the Russian spirit, and it is everywhere, so the watches are so warm and family!

In the assembly shop reigns almost complete silence, and even the appearance of our group no one broke away from the working process.

Each watch is checked for leaks using this device here, which is changing pressure checks whether or not the hours are suitable.

Model "Amphibian" - watch for ice divers, which will soon appear on the shelves. This is one of the simpler version of the updated model, top model will be black, brushed metal. The clock will withstand about 40 atmospheres, which will submerge to a depth of about 400 meters. In my opinion, it is very simple design, but the factory honors tradition and this model - update old model 70s.

Assembly as well as the manufacture of - hand.

Well, where do without sports in the plant? Well, you understand, who is the first =)

The entire tour took us about two hours, I do not remember taking a bunch of curious facts, and the better you do go and look at how domestic produce clock. Many thanks to the staff of the plant for the hospitality and such a fascinating tour.