Today, an unboxing of a very cool Vostok Amphibia SE in Icebreaker Orange. An horological tribute to Russia's nuclear powered fleet of icebreakers... Keeping those shipping routes in the frozen north seas, clear and accessible so we can get our Amphibia watches from Vostok, all throughout the year... Not to mention all the vodka, whitefish, and caviar.
This Russian timepiece came very well wrapped and protected with several cling-film reinforced layers of a most sturdy corrugated cardboard. Removing the first layer of plastic/cardboard/cling-film revealed a cling-film wrapped, black monolith shaped, non-corrugated cardboard box that sported a stamped 'Boctok' logo centered on the lid... Quite svelte. Opening the box would then disclose a printed paper booklet.. Uhh, not sure what that was all about but, sure. Then surprise!... A cling-film wrapped, foam entombed, eye-achingly orange Amphibia SE of a timepiece... working... I was never in doubt.
I must now amend a date in the video - The package actually arrived on March 25th, not on the 15th, as stated in the vid. Production value is not what it once was, evidently.
I had no pretense about this watch. I knew what I was getting and I got what I expected. This is not my first Vostok.. The fitted silicone strap is loud and comfortable and after wearing it for a day I came to realize that the color may bleach out after a while and it will never look as clean and fresh again.. So, on with a brown leather strap I had, and (Russian word for Voila here) the brown strap turned the neo, neon-orange, retina sniping, 'Kalash' of a strap, into an umber toned ensemble that would not look out of place in most casual situations.. Warm and inviting, like an autumn, orange-booze laden, hot chocolate, mocha, pile of leaves..... (Who writes this?) See my Instagram.
Only a few things to discuss.... One - The bezel could be a little tighter, please. As it makes zero clicks.. I only use it, in order to correct it.. I am not so OCD, and I do see the irony, but I would just as well have it stay put. Two - No fixed keeper on the strap. I find that the end of the strap pops out when my arm goes in and out of a pocket (It doesn't matter who's pocket) because both keepers slide out of strap keeping position... and for other reasons, such as pulling rabbits out of hats, and such. No matter though... Brown leather strap, remember? Three - Whilst robust and attractive with a laser etched logo.. The buckle's edges are only beveled on the top while the bottom edges are unfinished and actually quite sharp.. The tang is out of proportion to the buckle and needs to be bigger.. thicker.. and not so sharp as to be able to be weaponized. So, I suppose that could be either a wanted feature or a not wanted feature, depending on how one looks at it.... Or one's intentions for it.
All in all, this is a most cool example of a Vostok watch. All one comes to expect.. And just a little more. With this one coming out of the box at a strong +8 seconds.. Should that even matter.
#Vostok #Amphibia #VostokIcebreaker #AmphibiaSE #ASMR #Unboxing
