"Raketa 24h" watch, bought 25 years ago on a flea market in Apatin, SFR Yugoslavia. A genuine sample, manufactured by Petrodvorets plant during hard times just before the collapse of the great Soviet state.
It has survived one year of rough service in the Yugoslav National Army and then some ten years of everyday wear in civilian life before being discarded in a tin can with some silicagel. Inscription inside the case back says it's been serviced way back in September 1993 so now it runs for only 18-20hrs on a full winding. I presume by today its movement must be bone-dry and completely clogged with dirt. Chrome plated brass case shows severe corrosion pitting on the back, both crowns are rounded from wear and corrosion and so is the black plated brass bezel ring. Acrylic crystal has a repaired crack on 4 o'clock (on this watch it's on 8AM, lol) and also some deep scratches. The outer dial ring shows water damage staining, yet watch can still run... Fortunately, a visit to the watchmaker is already scheduled for this old comrade:)

Some info for this timepiece:

Manufacturer: PChZ - Petrodvortsovoy Chasovoy Zavod, Petrodvorets (Leningrad area), USSR.
Brand: Raketa
Model: 4691471
Serial No.: 114735
Year of manufacture: 1990 or earlier
Movement: Raketa 2623 H (24hr, mechanical - manual winding, cal. 26mm, 19 jewels, antishock feature)
Dial inscriptions: Russian Cyrillic ("RAKETA" logo, names of 24 world cities on outer dial ring, state quality mark and "SDELANO V SSSR" inscription - all typical of a domestic retail version)
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Epilogue: movement has been cleaned, oiled and properly adjusted by an old-school watchmaker experienced in USSR-made movements. Mainspring, crystal and winding crown were replaced.
Fairly good acrylic glass has been scavenged from a sister Raketa 24h Submariner watch (gold plated version). New crown is a slightly oversized franken-part; nevertheless the watch still looks cool...
Now complete with a "historically correct" 18mm one-piece plain black faux leather strap, it winds with ease, runs within +15 secs/day on the average and its power reserve is returned to stock. The repair bill almost exceeded the street value of the timepiece itself, but heck - you can't drive a vintage "GAZ" and have the operating costs of a new Toyota!
It's now ready for another 25 years of dedicated service. I wish I could say that for its owner :)

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