Mad Watch Collector Reviews The Vostok Komanderskie

Where did you get the shark hat???

I have watched several Vostok reviews and I just can't pull the trigger, yet.

I love my Vostok. I have the 431783 Komandirskie. It fits in well with my collections of my DressKX, Seamaster 007, Tag Heuer, Tissot 1000, and Mido Ocean Star GMT. It gets a lot of wrist time, and I like how it's rugged.

PS, the under side of the watch says "Waterproof - Russia"

it has plenty of water resistance - i take mine swimming regularly and it's perfectly fine, at least 100m regardless of what they say

This watch is really built like a Russian tank or an AK 47. The watch may not look good, it has a bad strap and so on. BUT the watch shouldn't look good, it should work. I think my Vostok will even survive mankind without a single service. This is what I call real quality Sh*t. And that was the idea behind it, to build a watch as simply as possible. I think Vostok has been very successful with this

They have already made this Komandirskie in titanium cover

The 20m WR is surely a understatement. The screw down crown and the back ensures it has to be atleast 50m

In Vostoks defence this is a $20 watch on the factory online store we are talking about.

никогда не нравился этот дизайн у моего деда была модель самых первых 1965 года с позолотой au20 они круглые лет 40 ходили с одним обслуживанием и заменой стекла они не продавались гражданским куплены были в военторге так как дед был полицейским

This is the best review I have ever seen!

if you want more water resistance just buy an amphibia...

the 20m might be a translation error, the vostoks i know have 20 atm, that is equal to 200m

Vostok Virgin Mistakes:
1/ avoid early Amphibias and most Kommanderskis ... chrome on brass, starts to chip afer 5 years or so. Price is usually the sign, chrome ones are about £50. Stainless, up to £150
2/ having bought dozens over the years.. the BEST case shape IMHO for practicality, confort and durability is the 44mm cushion with 22mm lugs. Unlike the Turtles from Seiko these lugs have a minimal curve and the high watch back caused by the propriatory water resistance system, means that it sits about 1mm off the wrist ather than hugging the wrist like a Willard. Having said that the ergonomics of the Vostok Cushion are a different league to the round case 'amphibia' default which suffers from top heavy design.
4/ if you buy 'Vintage' then avoid any built between about 1989 and 2010. The company was in all sorts of trouble especially in the 1990s. Things started to improve with new owners and modernised movements/stainless steel by 2007. Having said that, everything is relative and in the 90s these went for £15 in the UK. I wore one as my daily beater for about 8 years. It never broke, was never serviced, kept reasonable time and deapite the chrome flaking off it never ever leaked on me. Ive still got it somewhere. Watches made under the USSR especially early ones are collectable and great quality as are early Amphibias, but they all have chromes brass cases due to Seel shortages (ain't communism great,kids?)
5/ bracelets... just dont bother... if you want a bracelet then buy a strapcode with straight end links and live with rhe vintage gap look
6/ if you havent owned one before and before you buy one, make sure you read the history of Vostok, especially the development of the Amphibia, which is an amazing story and which explains some of the 'quirks' which are actually serious design features: jumping second hand= shock absorber
Wobbly crown with clutch system is deliberate to stop sausage fingered peasants from damaging the keyless works when winding or setting
Acrylic is all part of the vibe and waterprooving. The USSR needed dive watches but had no cash for decadent western patent licenses so the Vostok team literally invented a dive watch from scratch without using ANY of the tech developed in Switzerland and Japan. The waterproofing is ingenious, reliable, simple and arguably a better and more elegant design than the traditional.
7/ mod away with enthusiasm. My current favourite is a Cushion Cased Amphibia Scuba Dude with the teal dial and the 3rd party (in this case the Spanish Vostok Forum) 'Lake Baikal' bezel which just sets this watch off and gives it such a unique period look. There's a UK seller on ebay who sells these with the Baikal fitted for about 100 quid. I wear mine on a blue isofrane which costs considerbly more than the watch. It is my snorkelling/sailing beater, and if I ended up losing it, its only £240 with the isofrane and I can replace the watch for the cost of a date with the missus in a half reasonable bistro.

All in all, an iconic 20th C design and a piece of history.

🤣🤣 subscribed not only because you're a crazy MF and made me laugh... but your watch reviews are pretty good too

I own two of these bad boy's and I love 'em. I share your dislike of the strap, they are rubbish.

You choose not the best Vostok!))

I have a Komandirskie with a tank. I actually like the strap. I also have a gold tone Komandirskie the bezel does not move.

interestingly I've seen these tested on forums and the water resistance is almost comically understated, not a dive watch but fine for any swimming or snorkeling you'll do

I live in Japan, but the Casio ae1200 is not officially sold in Japan. So I import it overseas and wear it😂😭

I feel like this would look much better if you stripped the chrome from the brass case and gave the brass a nice brushing...

i love staring at mine.

Nice review and fun to watch,thought the comb over Wig was real hair at first.
Brilliant, in all fairness ,awesome watchs for the cost ,wear mine more than the more expensive ones.
Just wish they come with better straps ,maybe they do on purpose.

Love these..I came across mine in a car boot sale which I bought from some frankenstein looking russians who had a picnic table full of them...I love this watch and as long as I wind it every morning it gives great time for needs..I am sorry I did not buy five of them...I got mine for a bartered down to 17euro from 25...wish I could get a new one but with the conflict at present I would say unlikely..Will be on the look out for them on the second hand market...It shames some more expensive makes..

Top work Russ - how refreshing to see watches reviewed in a fun and informative way - there are far too many ‘stuffed shirts’ in this industry.

Oh dear, poor cow 🐮 ha ha, mmm nope, that’d be going back to Amazon

Love Vostok's wear one everyday...and is often commented on...

25 $ price in Russia

Great watches for the money. Some of the new Komanderskies are in an amphibia case basically and have 200m of water resistance

20m water resistance, what in the world😂 it does rain in the field though I feel like all field watches should have AT LEAST 50m. Preferably 100 though.

Most people will never dive to 20 meters. If they do ears will hurt, not to mention most can not hold their breath to get to that depth. It is perfect for a field watch. Take it swimming ,no problem. You want to dive, get a Amphibia for $80. For the money, is hard to beat.

There are some Vostok Komandirski in stainless steel.

The writing on the bottom does mean “Made in Russia “.

First time I watched the Mad Watch Collector, won't be my last. What a crack up!

Now that was a funny review!
I'll keep my Casio's

Still better than a squale

Kurt Santana is the best comedy character in the whole watch community - and maybe beyond! Awesome work TMWC! 😂

These watches with all of their quirks are addicting....once you get one, you'll keep buying more. Great review Russ 👏

This was very good coverage in terms of the effort you went to in understanding the watch, so many fail to bother and so don't know anything re the crown design, date hack etc. Good job!

The only thing I would say is that some komandirskies have 200 meter water resistance. Also not all are chrome plated, you can in fact get many steel variants, though the price is around 70-80 odd quid for those.

Fun video :)

Great review as ever is it just me but is kirt santa face from the A team 😂on a bad day Please keep doing these great watch reviews Regards steve 🙂 👍

They are good for slackers who don’t care about being on time for work

Your puny western pretty boy watch strap could not survive russian winter combat. This strap is useful a fuel for fire in survival situation, its also design for patching tires of military vehicle. In russia watch strap wears you!

The time tardis. Looks like Jimmy Saville.

Love what the wife said !

So a question. Do you think this is the best mechanical value watch or the Pagani PD1639 sub alike? The Pagani has the stainless steel, 100m and a ratchitty bezel(albeit a bit wobbly😬). Great video 👍

I wonder how this would look if you sand off the chrome plating

This episode made me cry with laughter. Well done!

A much better deal at the $27 delivered price I got last year. The Komandirskie versions in self wind and Amphibia water proof offer a much better watch.

Thank you for making watches fun again! I've only been in the hobby for just over three years ago. TGV's interview with you was my introduction to you and I've been a subscriber and watching ever since. I told my wife "if I would ever do a watch channel that is what mine would be like. Lots of craziness and fun and all around watches." I love your Bezel Federation and love when you share your wife's first reaction to a watch. Thank you for keeping me entertained and informed about more watches. I just purchased two Vostok watches. One for myself and one for my son who just got back from Japan (my son is the one who turned me on to watches). They have not arrived yet but am excited to get them. Will be my first Vostok. TGV has got me loving Seiko and Casio and my collection grows on a regular basis. Thank you again Russell for ALL you do for the watch community.