Vostok YouYi – full-Arabic white dial with 友谊 signature (Rarity: 9/10)

Description

Description:

• Manufactured by: Chistopol Watch Factory (Чистопольский часовой завод), Soviet Union
• Brand and model: Vostok “YouYi” (友谊, Friendship)
• Production date: 1954
• Story and significance: this watch was produced specifically for the First Exhibition of Economic and Cultural Achievements of the USSR, held in Beijing in 1954. The dial bears the Chinese inscription 友谊 (YouYi), meaning “Friendship,” commemorating the early Sino-Soviet alliance during the brief period of close cooperation before the Sino-Soviet split. This particular dial variation is extremely rare; over the years, I have encountered only two other known examples, making it one of the scarcer surviving variants associated with this historic exhibition

Key features:

• Dial type: silver-white small-seconds dial with a subtle textured finish. Numerals: applied gilt full Arabic numeral configuration (1–12 full-Arabic layout) with stylized Art Deco-inspired numerals. Minute track: printed railway-style minute track around the outer perimeter. Subdial: recessed small-seconds register at 6 o’clock with a printed scale and blued seconds hand. Signature: printed Chinese 友谊 (YouYi) script beneath 12 o’clock
• Hands: gilt cathedral-style hands with a subsidiary small-seconds hand
• Movement: Soviet mechanical movement manufactured by the Chistopol Watch Factory
• Case diameter: approximately 33 mm
• Winding: manual winding
• Cosmetic condition: 9/10. For rare models, a condition rating above 7/10 is regarded as exceptional by market standards. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
• Movement condition: movement was serviced and is in good working condition
• Watch band: vintage stainless steel expandable bracelet