Russian Souvenirs International Inc. - Vostok watches

Timepieces you can rely upon.

Vostok company story starts back in 1942 when one of the Moscow watch-making plants was
evacuated from Moscow to a little town located on The Kama River. Defense equipment was the only
company output during war years, but as soon as the war was over Vostok started making mechanical
wrist watches - our main production item ever since.
Yet, Vostok never backed away completely from our military past - the company was appointed
an official supplier of watches for the Defense Department of the Soviet Union in 1965. This year
marks the creation of the world-famous "Komandirskie" ("Commander") watch.
Military watch grew very popular even with people who were unaware which end of the gun bullet
comes off, mainly due to high precision, excessive reliability and durability. The appearance of the watch
also contributes to its appeal - functional and clear-cut design invoked the feeling of belonging to
the tough world of combat professional.
The experience Vostok gained through development of the army watch was the foundation of Vostok's
next special watch - "Amphibian". This impressive timepiece in stainless-steel case endured the depth
of 2000 meters - kind of a wrist submarine. Success of the professional watches determined the
company's present philosophy - to create mechanical watches maintaining precise timekeeping at any
temperature, in any environment, surviving heavy pressure and blows.
The viability of the chosen strategy is now time-proven. A vast multitude of people both in Russia
and abroad boasting "Vostok" watches and various international prizes awarded for high quality and
commercial success testify to this. Still, Vostok is far from being self-content with their achievements.
They are always trying to look ahead, pursuing new ways to broaden their market presence.
Thus, in 1996 Vostok started a partnership with US "Capital Trading" company aiming to create a new
generation timepiece.
The synergy of traditional "Vostok" austere design and the world's latest watch-marking trends is
a cornerstone of this new project launched into the oncoming century. Time goes by, bringing changes
into everything - Vostok introduce innovative technologies, new styles of watches, one generation of
watchmakers follows another.
Yet, one thing remains unchanged with us - as fifty years ago Vostok makes for you timepieces you
can rely upon.

Chronology of events.

1942.
July 1, in Chistopol Glavpribor watch factory NK MV 835, created on the basis of the Second Moscow watch factory and DOS factory, has earned in full force, manufacturing producs for needs of front.

1943.
Release of a K-43 man's watch and instrument production are begun. The machine-tool construction for watch manufacture is organized.

1949.
Serial release of a K-26 "Pobeda" man's watch, wall-mounted ship clocks with a luminous dial, clocks for a/m "ZiM", "Volga", "Pobeda", wall-mounted and street industrial clocks are begun. On July, 1950 the factory has started construction of own industrial buildings.

1952.
The factory began release of "Kama" shock-proof watches in water-proof case, clock devices for various branches of a national economy.

1957.
Release of precision watches: K-28 "East", "Mir", "Volna", "Saturn", "Cosmos" with lateral and central second hands, a lens and shock-proof movement is mastered. Export of Chisopol watches has increased in 7 times.

1962.
Precision watch "Vostok" are awarded with the big gold medal of the Leipzig international fair. "Komandirskie" watches are developed and started in manufacture and Chistopol watch factory became the official supplier of these watches to the Ministry of Defence of the USSR.

1968.
Release of "Amphibian" watches is mastered. Since 1969 all watch of a factory are manufactired under "Vostok" trade mark, and the factory began to refer "Chistopol watch factory "Vostok".

1972.
Release of a new 24 calibres man's watch with a numerical calendar, a double calendar, with automatic movement are begun. Watches are exported to 54 countries of the world.
1976.
Cosmonaut G.Grechko during visit on a factory thanks watch-makers for release of qualitative products and gives to chistopol watch makers the "Vostok" watch which has visited the space.

1980.
This year the factory issues the plenty of a watch - 4,5 million pieces. All production only the first and supreme categories of quality.

1986.
Release of water-meters, tahografov accustoms, release of manometers are begun. The factory passes in the Ministry of the radioindustry. Chistopol faculty “Vostok” of Kazan Aircraft University is opened.

1989.
The factory passes to self-financing, in 1990 - on rent. The assortment of watches is annually updated on 70%, release of watches with custom-made symbolics is mastered. Export of wathces increases.

1992.
The factory passes under jurisdiction of Republic Tatarstan and becomes Open Joint Stock company. Small enterprises on manufacture of completing for watches are created. The big parties of watches are exported to Italy, USA, Switzerland. In USA the greatest popularity was received with "Desert storm" watch.

2000.
Vostok Watch Makers Inc. is the leader of the domestic watch and clock industry on volumes of release and sales of a man's watch. Release of the female watches, expensive, prestigious man's watch, a quartz alarm clock are begun.

2001.
The factory became the owner of "The Russian National Olympus” the prestigious premium in a nomination "To Technology. A science" and the winner of "The Russian organization of high social efficiency" competition in a branch nomination.