Internet Horology Club 185
Anyone into the Russian made Molnija's

This topic can be found at:
https://ihc185.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2291010082/m/869107842

December 22, 2010, 12:20
Roland Glenn
Anyone into the Russian made Molnija's
The movement opened up.




R. Glenn
December 22, 2010, 12:21
Roland Glenn
Very late style 15j movement in rough finished brass or alloy.




R. Glenn
December 22, 2010, 12:23
Roland Glenn
Here is another Quartz Molnija hunter cased movement.




R. Glenn
December 22, 2010, 12:24
Roland Glenn
Late 1980's.




R. Glenn
January 03, 2011, 14:10
Roland Glenn
Hi all. Came across this hunter style with a very vibrant dial.




R. Glenn
February 20, 2011, 14:15
Roland Glenn
And another nice hunter dial.




R. Glenn
May 26, 2011, 14:14
Roland Glenn
Latest update to this thread is the another version of these movements has been found. Same pocket watch really, just has Sekonda on the dial and the popular 18j 3602 movement.

Boy did Molnija milk there movements over the years and it seems around the world too!

This one is the popular hunter cased version.




R. Glenn
May 26, 2011, 14:15
Roland Glenn
Here's the 3602 movement, most likely from the 1970's.




R. Glenn
May 26, 2011, 14:17
Roland Glenn
And here is the open face model. The famous pair of red wings under the Sekonda name shows wear, but you can see that this dial layout has been used many times over the years with the other names on it such as Marathon.




R. Glenn
June 05, 2011, 09:51
Roland Glenn
Here is a Marathon that has the look of the Sekonda above. From what I know this version of the Russian Molinja was sold here in Canada in large numbers in both open face and hunter.




R. Glenn
August 05, 2011, 18:24
Julian Latham
Molnija supplied the open face 3602 model to quite a few companies and organisations.

I have examples 'badged' for the following :-

DIFFERENT NAMES ON THE DIAL – OPEN FACE MOLNIJA

ADANAC,
CORSAR, JEAN CARDOT, CORNAVIN, COMPTOIR GEVOIS
DIAMANT,
ELVIA,
FN
HELBROS,
INGERSOLL,
PIERRE JACQUARD,
KAMATZ, KRASNIKOF,
LACKAWANNA,
MARATHON, MOLNIJA,
ORIOSA,
PARAT,
REGUS,
SEKONDA, SERKISOF, SERVICES, SIGMA, SLAVA,
TRELAWN,
ЧАЙКА, 3КСПРЕСС,
STERILE DIAL.

I have seen others, but the asking price exceeded my budget.
August 18, 2011, 13:06
Peter Kaszubski
Hi all looks like I got me a Molnija pw
but please let me know if I'm wrong


August 18, 2011, 13:07
Peter Kaszubski
picture of the back cover.


August 18, 2011, 13:08
Peter Kaszubski
and the movement got only markings for 17 jewels and S/N


August 18, 2011, 16:46
Krister Olsson
Hi Peter.
Yes, you've got yourself a Molnija. If you look at the post just above yours that Julian wrote you'll see the name Lackawanna. Try Google Lackawanna and you will find some additional info. Apparently it is both a city, a county, a steel mill and a railroad but in different states.
Regards, Krister
August 18, 2011, 17:29
Peter Kaszubski
yes I did google Smile just why did molnija did not
mark ther own product? must be the Russian thing.
August 19, 2011, 13:31
Krister Olsson
quote:
must be the Russian thing.

Nah, I wouldn't say that. There are a lot of private labels among American watch brands too. But Molnija also made watches under their own name. I have a few of them myself and if you go back in this thread you'll find a number of others.
Regards, Krister.
August 19, 2011, 13:50
Peter Kaszubski
Thank you Krister for the information.
March 20, 2014, 11:08
Jerry Freedman
A number of years ago I was in Odessa. At that time Soviet Union was seeking hard currency because of the weakness or the ruble. I bought a 3602 in the hard currency store for $11.00. Soviet citizens were not allowed to buy in the store.
March 20, 2014, 17:37
Peter Kaszubski
I remember those stores and buying wranglers not watches hehe back when I was still living in Poland.
March 26, 2014, 11:34
Joe Straub
I have several Molnija Russian pocket watches, both early production and later production.

They are all good reliable time keepers, but the early model movements are finished much better.

They are interesting in the fact they have such bold and varied decorations on the cases and dials.