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A magnificent find for any collector of historic Soviet timepieces!
Up for sale is a rare, beautifully preserved Molnija mechanical wristwatch, manufactured in the 4th quarter of 1955 at the legendary Chelyabinsk Watch Factory (ChChZ). This specific model comes in a very rare, elegant case configuration featuring sophisticated articulating-style wire lugs that look absolutely stunning on the wrist.
The watch has undergone a complete professional restoration. The classic deep black dial with crisp white markings and the traditional "Молния" script has been professionally restored to its original glory. The rare brass case has been premium re-chromed (chrome plated) from scratch, and a brand new clear acrylic crystal has been fitted. Inside, the authentic 15-jewels movement proudly displays the stamped ChChZ logo, serial number 038071, and the historic date stamp 4-55 (Q4 1955). This timepiece is paired with a matching new brown PU leather bund-style strap, has been fully serviced, oiled, and calibrated by a master watchmaker, and keeps great historical time!
DEFECTS: None. Professionally restored to a "like new" aesthetic condition while preserving full mechanical authenticity. Shows minimal micro-signs of storage.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USSR (Soviet Union)
MANUFACTURER: Chelyabinsk Watch Factory (ChChZ / ЧЧЗ)
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: 4th Quarter of 1955 (Stamped 4-55)
OVERALL CONDITION (10-point scale): 9-10
CASE & BACK COVER
Rare vintage case design that has been meticulously stripped and beautifully re-chromed. Features a snap polished case back. Looks absolutely pristine.
Condition (10-point scale): 9-10
GLASS
Brand new, flawless high-grade acrylic crystal profile. Clear view without any scratches.
Material: Acrylic Glass
Condition (10-point scale): 10
DIAL
Professionally restored high-contrast black dial with accurate white Arabic numerals, sub-seconds track at 9 o'clock, and classic hands assembly.
Condition (10-point scale): 10
Inscriptions on the dial: Молния (Molnija)
STRAP
Brand new, robust brown PU leather cuff/bund style strap that perfectly complements the military-vintage aesthetic of the rare case.
Condition (10-point scale): 10 (New) | Material: PU Leather
MOVEMENT
Mechanical: hand-winding
Caliber: Molnija ChK-6
The caliber has some engravings:
- ChChZ logo
- 15 Jewels
- 4-55 (4th quarter of 1955 - the date when the mechanism was produced)
- serial number
Features
stem wind and set
sub second
Data
16''', Dm= 36.0mm, Do= 36.5mm
H= 3.5mm
(winding gear +0.15mm)
F= 0.5mm
T= 1.6mm
15 jewels
f = 18000 A/h
power-reserve 36h
Balance staff U3209
Stem W1893
Hands
1.88 x 0.98 / 0.26mm
Movement similar Swiss ROLEX (CORTEBERT)

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT, FUNCTIONS
Width (Without crown) |
1.47 inch (37.5 mm) |
Width with crown |
1.59 inch (40.5 mm) |
Length (Lug to Lug) |
1.83 inch (46.5 mm) |
Depth (Thickness) |
0.41 inch (10.5 mm) |
Crystal Diameter |
1.20 inch (30.5 mm) |
Total Weight |
1.55 oz (44.0 g) |
Function |
Hours, minutes, sub-seconds at 9 |
Movement Country |
USSR (Soviet Union) |
Dimensions of watches

HISTORY & LORE
The Molnija (Lightning) watch brand is a pillar of Soviet industrial history. Established in 1947 just after World War II, the Chelyabinsk Watch Factory quickly became the primary supplier of robust mechanical movements for the Soviet military, aviation forces, and naval chronometers. Early movements from the 1950s - such as this Q4 1955 mode - were heavily based on high-grade Swiss design standards, utilizing heavy brass plates, precise regulation assemblies, and exquisite construction quality meant to survive extreme conditions. Owning a piece from this specific era is owning a physical segment of mid-century industrial history.
RECOMMENDATIONS
All Antique and vintage watches are mechanical. Repairs require precision, so please handle this historical artifact with care.
- Vintage mechanical watches should not be beaten or dropped - shocks can damage the balance staff.
- Vintage watches are generally NOT waterproof. Protect your timekeeper from direct contact with water, heavy rain, or high humidity.
- If your watch becomes wet it should be dried off quickly. Carefully open all covers and use a hair drier to blow dry the movement, dial, covers, crown. This will reduce the amount of rust.
- If your watch becomes wet with any kind of salt water you should immediately immerse or spray your watch with fresh (no-salt) water to remove all the salt from the works before drying the watch completely. Any salt left in the watch will combine with moisture in the air to rust metal components of the movement, case etc.
- Winding any mechanical watch tight may break the mainspring. Stop winding as soon as you feel the natural resistance tightening up.
- When adjusting the hands of your watch, move them in a clockwise direction only to prevent stress on the gear train.
- If you must adjust counter-clockwise make it for small adjustments only (i.e. for minutes, NOT hours).
- Be careful and gentle when adjusting the movement speed (faster or slower). Don't make sharp movements, and don't touch other components in the movement especially the pendulum mechanism.
- Every 2-3 years it is recommended to service, clean, and oil vintage watches to keep them running accurately for decades to come.
- IF the watch is dirty - allow the watch to run down, don't wind it again until you have it serviced by a qualified watch repair expert. Dust will absorb and remove important lubricants and cause the movement pieces to wear down.
- To clean the case, dial and crystal you should use a cloth that does NOT leave fibers as these may get caught up in the movement. Check with your Watch repair expert to get an appropriate cloth.
- Keep your watch away from strong magnetic fields (large speakers, modern computers, magnets) since magnetic exposure can alter the balance spring performance.
- Most Cases and Covers are fine components and will not handle abuse well. The watch should not be shaken, beaten, or stressed.
- Vintage mechanical watches naturally experience a daily deviation error of up to a few minutes. An accuracy of +/- 3 to 5 minutes a day is considered excellent for a classic timepiece.
- Mechanical watch is not recommended to use for engage in extreme sports, and expose them to excessive vibration loads. Recoil force, which take on the clock, affect their reliability and precision. No matter how perfect was not anti-shock mechanism, there is always the chance of excessive load that details of the mechanism can not survive.
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Watch with calendar. It is not recommended to adjust the date between 20.00 and 06.00, because at this time involved a mechanism for automatic adjustment date. Translation pointers calendars manually in this position arrows may damage the mechanism. Date changes should be made, relegating pre-clockwise to lower sector of the dial (for example, to position 6 (18.00) hours).
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Chronograph watches. In most cases, these watches contain the "start/stop" button and "reset" button. It is strongly recommended not to press the "reset" if the chronograph is running. Before you use the "Reset" button need to stop the chronograph by button "start/stop". Using the "reset" when running chronograph can damage the mechanism of most models of watches.
PAYMENT
- Total amount due includes the final item price plus Shipping.
- Shipping charges are determined based upon the destination address. Please note that buyers are responsible for any applicable local customs procedures.
SHIPPING
We ship worldwide! This item will be securely packed and dispatched to you from Europe (Ukraine) via registered international airmail, complete with a tracking number and insurance coverage. Shipments are processed within 1-3 business days after payment clears.
Typical Delivery Timeframes:
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European Countries: approximately 7-10 days;
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USA, Canada, Japan & others: approximately 10-14 days.
NOTE: Actual delivery speeds depend heavily on your local customs handling and postal services. Rest assured, we pack all items with extreme care to guarantee they reach your doorstep in perfect condition!
RETURNS/REFUNDS
We accept returns in compliance with standard platform terms. Items must be returned in their original vintage condition as received. Return shipping costs are to be covered by the Buyer.
FEEDBACK
We strive for 100% customer satisfaction and look forward to earning your positive feedback! If you experience any issues or have any doubts upon receiving your parcel, please contact us immediately *before* leaving neutral or negative marks. We are always here to help resolve any issues amicably.
Thank you for your interest in our vintage treasures!
Please let us know if you have any questions. Good luck!
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