Raketa Star Wars Watch USSR – Vintage Soviet Mechanical Day Date 1980s Men’s Collectible Timepiece
Be the first to reviewSKU: SWR007
1 / 10
Vintage Soviet Raketa "Star Wars" Mechanical Watch – Export Version – Day-Date – Serviced June 2026
This is a rare and collectible Soviet mechanical wristwatch Raketa, often nicknamed "Star Wars" by collectors because of its bold octagonal case with exposed bezel screws and futuristic styling. Produced at the Petrodvorets Watch Factory (Leningrad, USSR) during the 1980s, this model remains one of the most distinctive Soviet watch designs ever created.
This particular example is a desirable export-market version, featuring English-language dial markings and an English day-of-the-week display, intended for international markets outside the Soviet Union.
Movement
- Caliber: Raketa 2628.H (manual winding, day-date complication)
- Jewels: 19
- Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date and day of the week at 3 o'clock
- Power reserve: Approximately 40 hours when fully wound
- Operation: Manual winding via crown
- Professionally serviced in early June 2026 – fully disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, and tested for reliable operation
- Running accurately and ready to wear or collect
Case & Dimensions
- Case material: Brass with chrome plating
- Design: Distinctive octagonal case with exposed bezel screws
- Size: Approximately 38 mm (lug-to-lug) × 34.5 mm (including crown)
- Thickness: Approximately 11 mm
- Lug width: 18 mm
- Crystal: Flat octagonal acrylic crystal
- Caseback: Stainless steel snap-on back
Dial & Hands
- Textured light silver dial with applied silver-tone hour markers
- Black hour and minute hands with central sweep seconds hand
- Day and date aperture at 3 o'clock
- Export dial with English-language markings
- Signed "RAKETA" and "MADE IN USSR"
- English day wheel (MON, TUE, WED, etc.)
Strap
- The watch is sold without a strap
- Standard 18 mm lug width allows installation of a wide variety of leather straps, NATO straps, or bracelets
Condition
- Well-preserved vintage condition with light signs of age and use
- Freshly serviced in June 2026
- Movement running well and keeping accurate time
- Chrome plating remains attractive with only minor age-related wear
- The acrylic crystal has small internal edge chips along the perimeter, which do not affect legibility or functionality
Collectibility
- Known among collectors as the "Star Wars" Raketa due to its unique science-fiction-inspired design
- Highly recognizable octagonal case unlike any conventional Soviet watch
- Export-market version with English dial text and English day display
- Powered by the original Raketa 2628.H day-date movement
- An excellent addition to any collection of Soviet watches, vintage mechanical timepieces, or Cold War-era design objects
Overview
- Period
- 1980s
- Factory
- Petrodvorets Watch Factory
- Gender
- Men's
Movement
- Movement
- Mechanical (hand-wound)
Case size
- Weight
- 100 g
Case
- Case material
- Chrome-plated
- Case finish
- Chrome-plated
Dial, hands & crystal
- Dial color
- Silver
Condition & service
Condition: Fully serviced
Carefully packed and sent with tracking — typically 7–21 business days depending on destination.
Every watch is a genuine Soviet-era original, inspected and (where noted) serviced before it ships.
If it isn't right, return it within 14 days for a refund — just get in touch and we'll sort it out.
A Soviet mechanical watch has no battery — it runs on a tiny wound spring, just as it did decades ago. Treat it kindly and it will keep good time for many years. Here is how to wind, set and care for yours.
Winding a hand-wound watch
- Wind it off your wrist. Hold the watch in one hand so you do not put sideways stress on the winding stem.
- Turn the crown clockwise (away from you) with your thumb and forefinger, in smooth, steady turns.
- Stop as soon as you feel firm resistance. Do not force that last turn — a fully wound spring stops abruptly, and pushing past it can damage the mainspring.
- A full wind lasts roughly 24–40 hours. Winding once a day, at about the same time, keeps the watch running and accurate.
Automatic (self-winding) models
Some Soviet watches — certain Vostok and Slava models — wind themselves from the motion of your wrist. If one has stopped, give the crown 20–30 gentle turns to get it started, then simply wear it. You cannot over-wind a healthy automatic.
Setting the time & date
- Gently pull the crown out to the setting position and turn it to move the hands. Setting the time forwards (clockwise) is kindest to the movement.
- If your watch has a date, avoid changing it between roughly 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. The date mechanism is engaged during those hours and forcing it can break it — move the hands to mid-morning first, then set the date.
- Push the crown fully back in when you are finished.
Everyday care
- Keep it dry. Vintage watches are not water resistant, even if marked so decades ago. Take it off before washing your hands, swimming or showering.
- Avoid magnets — speakers, phones, laptops and magnetic clasps can magnetise the movement and make it run fast.
- Avoid knocks. Take the watch off for sport or heavy work.
- A vintage movement that keeps time to within about a minute or two a day is running well. Small variation is normal and part of their charm.
Storage & service
When you are not wearing it, store the watch flat in its box, away from heat and moisture. There is no need to keep it fully wound at all times. To keep it healthy, have it professionally serviced every 3–5 years — a clean and fresh lubrication is what lets these watches run, quite literally, for generations.
Look after it and your Soviet Time piece will outlast its battery-powered cousins many times over. If anything ever feels wrong, write to support@soviet-time.com. You can also review our Returns & guarantee. — Igor, your watchmaker
Customer reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to review Raketa Star Wars Watch USSR – Vintage Soviet Mechanical Day Date 1980s Men’s Collectible Timepiece.
