I’m a recent Vostok Noob, I’ve been reading up on them and decided to go looking for a cheap used one to play with rather than buying (another) seiko…
I finally managed to score a used Amphibia (automatic) in what I think is an ‘090’ case from fleabay over the weekend.
It’s got a slightly gopping ‘KGB’ dial with a sort of worn looking champaign sunburst finish, and I don’t much like the bezel (from the photos) but then that was the point, to get a stainless case and an Automatic movement for ~£27 that I can mod…
I’ve been eyeing up various possible mods; Bezels, dials possibly some new hands and I’ve happened upon “Dr. Seikostein” (ebay shop) and I could easily spend a bit on Bezels and hands for the Vostok with him…
I think once I’m done with this automatic I’ll go looking for a hand wound one in a different case shape to play with possibly a “komandirskie” to see what can be done with a brass case.
But they’re basically an ideal (beginner) modder/tinkerer’s watch; cheap, lot’s about, various case shapes available but with almost universally interchangable parts that can produce very different looking pieces, and they can go to 200m (amphibia)…
And even if you don’t want to fiddle with them, as an N+1 they’re interesting with a bit of a coldwar backstory and a 50 year old utilitarian design…