Sputnik-1 0290

65 years ago the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite into space. This small metal sphere was given a friendly codename “Sputnik”, which means “fellow traveller” in Russian. The launch of Sputnik-1 was the beginning of the space conquest, and its loud and repeated “Beep! Beep!” signals announced it to the whole world!

4 years later, in 1961, this led to sending the first man into space (the Russian cosmonaut Gagarin) which in turn led to the creation of the watch brand “Raketa” in honour of Gagarin’s space flight (“Raketa” means “space-rocket” in Russian). Raketa therefore felt compelled to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Sputnik-1 by manufacturing a watch in testimony of this incredible human achievement.

The Raketa “Sputnik-1” dial is made of exactly the same special alloy as the metal heat shield that covered the sphere of Sputnik-1: AMg6, an aluminium–magnesium alloy.

The design of this 24-hour dial is directly inspired by the Soviet watch design “Sputnik” created by the Raketa Watch Factory in 1974. This Soviet-era watch design was shown and approved by the construction bureau that had developed the real Sputnik-1.

The back of the watch reveals the beautifully decorated 24-hour automatic movement which is entirely produced by the Raketa Watch Factory in Saint-Petersburg.

Manufacture
Manufacture: Raketa Watch Factory (Saint-Petersburg)
Limited edition: 500

Movement
Сalibre: 2624
Functions: Automatic with 24 hours
Number of jewels: 24
Testing positions: 4
Average rate (s/d): -10+20
Average running time (h): 40
Frequency/hour: 18.000 / 2.5Hz
Bi-directional automatic winding: yes
Stopper of self-winding unit activated during manual winding: Yes
Decoration: Laser engraving + Neva waves + Print

Case
Material: Stainless steel
Size: 40.5 mm
Front glass: Сапфировое
Back glass: Mineral
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Hands: Red enamel Superluminova
Dial: AMg6 (aluminium–magnesium alloy) + Deep engraving + Red enamel
Case thickness: 16.55 mm
Length (lug to lug): 45 mm

Strap
Material: Нержавеющая сталь
Width: 22 mm