Victor Fibber the artist formerly known as a Vostok Amphibia. This is the weirdest AliExpress acquisition yet! From a visual due standpoint, I like the Vostok collection of watches that have Russian text/fonts and unique graphics indigenous to the Russian watchmaking days.
I had a budget of about $150 and was on their online shop specifically looking for something in the 42-44mm dial size but absolutely no smaller than 22mm lug width. I tried to use their web filters to no avail. I kept getting random results. UGH. 😤
As a web guy and when websites don’t work especially when you are trying to make a compulsive purchase, I have a low tolerance for failure. Hence, it is all too easy to call up my steady g/f, Ali, you know AliExpress and see what they have to offer. The keyword of Vostok comes up plenty but nothing that shows a directly homage or clomage from the Vostok website. But…..
This particular model I picked up hit some high marks for me. I do like a sterile dial and the cushion case hits my funny bone just right. The red square seconds hand is a nice subtle design cue. But, the next question EVERY WATCHER wants to know is….WTF is the movement bro? 🤣😲🤘
On every Ali store selling this watch for about the same price of $68USD, they talk about a Japanese movement and call it mechanical but nothing more. I removed the solid caseback and did some macro photography and it turns out this is a Miyota 21 jewels 8N24 for what that is worth. A simple automatic date complication. Ok, now I can sleep at night! 🤣
41mm diameter. 22mm lug width. 46mm lug-to-lug, 12.75mm height.
I am not into buying “knock-offs” for sure but that is what makes this watch so weird. They call it a Vostok, but there is no logo branding and no other reference on the watch. The movement is not a Vostok or Russian movement thus my new nickname for this watch is Victor Fibber! It comes with a REALLY, REALLY great bracelet, which prohibits me from putting a custom strap on the watch! I like the bracelet just way too much!
Crystal lens with lum on printed markers and the hour and minute hands.
Miyota 21 Jewels 8N24
$68USD
