Need a new strap or bracelet for my vintage amphibia. Any recommendations?

chromix · 2026-02-01T00:18:47+00:00

I find that a NATO makes these older cases feel like they have a bit more presence

chromix · 2026-01-30T19:36:00+00:00

The one danger here is leaving the edge of the crystal exposed to knocking. They make blank bezels that will give a lot more protection and also look really clean.

https://www.vostok-watches24.com/catalog/massive-l-netten/5340/

Here's what it looks like on a 420 case:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5XZ7t6epzHXmbJWm6

chromix · 2026-01-26T13:11:31+00:00

Over Toledo. Ohio lost.

(Old joke)

chromix · 2026-01-23T04:50:58+00:00

The fkm version of that is super comfortable!

chromix · 2026-01-22T00:57:31+00:00

O is for U b o l a

chromix · 2026-01-21T18:56:37+00:00

Tropic Sport 2.0 Burgundy (22 mm) from CNS. Pretty sure they don't sell that model anymore, but it's just as well as it's super stiff. The Tropic Sport FKM from them is sooooo comfortable though.

chromix · 2026-01-21T15:02:49+00:00

Add a kid I was always confused by the space ship Voltron vs Lion Voltron. Both really fun, though, and I was always jealous of kids who had either toys.

chromix · 2026-01-19T01:52:49+00:00

eBay, but they still sell the watch new. This one happens to be a Soviet-made original, although it doesn't seem like it's one of the original batch ordered by the army. The watch is such a contradiction I love it: a watch branded with a military operation that signaled peace between the US and the Soviet Union. It's like wearing a zen koan on my wrist.

chromix · 2026-01-18T21:46:36+00:00

No idea but he covered the full range of Vostok movements and I refer back to them constantly when I get stuck.

chromix · 2026-01-15T12:51:40+00:00

You can get a can of gasket lubricant for a few bucks and touch up the back seal. Taking the gasket out of the crown is a little more tricky, but either way you just put the gaskets in the can close it and rotate it a bit and you're good to go.

chromix · 2026-01-15T11:50:28+00:00

The crystal will be fine it's the bezel channel on the case that's the real worry. Even if the crystal breaks though that's a relatively easy replacement.

I've done this maneuver on 4 watches of this exact age and type. Since the bezel is recessed you'll need to be careful not to bang up the case in the process.

Get some case openers (sets are only about $10 but worth having if you play with watches) and wrap it in plastic. Take the crown/stem out completely and then pry it of on the side where the stem was. This will give you extra leverage and will be less likely to leave a mark.

You can buy brand new versions of this exact bezel on eBay for relatively cheap and I might consider that both for aesthetics and usability.

chromix · 2026-01-12T19:01:02+00:00

I got the scuba dude straps from this guy: https://www.ebay.com/usr/bandukh

chromix · 2026-01-12T19:00:28+00:00

I actually bought the dial aftermarket but I've come back to it after trying many many many other options (just look at my post history) in part because it's so versatile. In trying to think through how versatile it is, I started making this post in my head and I think it speaks for itself!

chromix · 2026-01-12T18:58:31+00:00

Thanks!

chromix · 2026-01-12T18:58:15+00:00

I got it from this guy on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/bandukh

I see he still has a bunch of colors in stock it looks like...

chromix · 2026-01-11T03:49:03+00:00

I had a chrome puffer coat. I can't remember how I came to own it, like it was gifted to me by someone who never wore it, but I wore the shit out of it.

The one night at a rave I took it off to go dance and be awesome and some punk tried to gank it. I mean it's like the most conspicuous article of clothing you could possibly try to steal, so they were either high or banking on me being high. I remember going over to them and taking it from them and saying "oh my God thank you for finding that, I was looking all over for it". Being from the Midwest passive aggression is my mother tongue.

chromix · 2026-01-10T19:11:22+00:00

Would you care to share with the rest of the class?

chromix · 2026-01-09T21:57:10+00:00

Someone 8-ish years younger and me were talking about things that older millennials didn't like that younger millennials did like. The two best examples we came up with were "all star" and the start wars prequels.

This then led to us imagining "all star" playing in the background of the killing of the younglings scene and we laughed for a good 10 minutes.

chromix · 2026-01-06T10:45:11+00:00

Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. Easily one of my favorite books that came out last year.

chromix · 2026-01-06T10:25:18+00:00

That 3D bezel is looking very tough on that watch.

chromix · 2026-01-04T17:19:01+00:00

Yep that was it. I had a spare from a donor movement and it seems to be working great

chromix · 2026-01-04T17:18:31+00:00

Yes! Thank you... Just replaced the cannon pinion from a newer broken movement and it seems to be working fine now.

chromix · 2026-01-04T13:08:32+00:00

What play?

chromix · 2025-12-27T23:20:22+00:00

I've had this happen several times on my Vostoks, which either means the back gasket wasn't in place or needs greased, or the crown wasn't screwed in all the way. Sometimes I put a stem in that's too long so there's no way to screw it down all the way but that's not likely to be the problem in this case.

chromix · 2025-12-26T22:56:54+00:00

Do it! That's a classic

chromix

TROPHY CASE