I've found a Serkisof 18j that belonged to my grandfather (long deceased) who used to work on the railroad in the midwest. I can't find any good info on the company or watch and unfortunately can't ask him. Any idea where I can find some useful history of this watch? Thanks in advance. It says "Made in USSR". Is that even european?

Hi Steve

It is a little bit difficult to write something on a watch without pictures but I think I know a little bit about it.

At the end of the 19th century a russian watchmaker named Serkisof emmigrated to Konstantinople (Istanbul; Turkey). He traded watches made by 'Billodes'(later Zenith).
At the first half of the 20th century the turkish railway had railroad watches made by Cortebert with a train and the half moon on the back.
In the 60's or 70's they had a remake of this early railroad watches by the USSR manufacturer Molnija. This watches were made like the 'corteberts' labeled Serkisof and Demiryolu (turkish railroad). These watches were also made or remade for the western collectors of 'train' watches and exported. They are like the numerous Molnija 'theme' watches ('Lenin', the USSR flag; Sojus;....).
Watches like this were still made until the end of the USSR and sold the last ones with a 'made in Russia' dial.

Regards
Gerald

Here is a picture of the face. It shows "made in USSR". I'm still trying to get some info on my end (family history) but nothing new yet.

and one of the back and dust cover. Does this help date this watch at all? Thanks.

Hi Steve
I take the liberty to bump this thread. Is it possible to see pictures of the movement? The dial and back shows very strong similarities with Molnijas from the seventies. What I haven´t seen before though is the dust cover. There usually aren´t any. Nice looking watch you have.
Regards
Krister

hi Steve USSR = Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Hi Steve, I agree with Krister on this one. It's a 3602 movement with 18J made at factory number 2 by Molnija. This company made tons of pocket watches that commerate lots of events or persons.

The dial is plastic and since it has USSR on the dial and not CCCP it was made for export to North America and the UK.

Check out my thread on this section on Molnija's.

Nice pocket watch that you will find run very nicley and keep very close to RR time.

Roland.

Steve,

A Molnija with Serkisof on the dial and a case back with the Turkish crescent, locomotive and either Serkisof or Demirolyu is unusual.

In the several years I have been collecting Molnijas I have only ever seen a couple - and they were outside my budget.

Hope you retain it for its sentimental value.

Regards