Raketa Gold Plated 2609.1

Raketa From 1979 — First impression - Cal. 2609.1

This Raketa Script Dial from 1979 is a beautifully restrained Soviet dress timepiece that focuses on elegance and simplicity. The silver sunburst dial is sparsely marked with elongated Arabic numerals at the even hours and fine gilt batons in between, leaving a large open field that plays with light. The cursive Raketa signature gently arcs beneath twelve o’clock, adding a touch of mid-century charm. A very thin polished bezel and long straight lugs emphasise the dial and create a sense of lightness on the wrist. Combined with a compact 34.0 mm case diameter and manual wind movement, the watch offers exactly what collectors expect from a classic mechanical dress watch: discreet proportions, clean design and a direct connection to traditional precision timekeeping.

Raketa sunburst minimalist dial

The dial is a soft silver sunburst with a subtle radial brushing that catches the light as the watch moves. Slender Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are rendered in an elegant, slightly calligraphic style, giving the watch a distinctive personality without overwhelming the composition. In between, thin gilt markers point towards the centre, reinforcing the sense of symmetry and refinement. Around the outer edge runs a delicate minute track with small black hashes, offering precise reading of the time while keeping the design light and airy. The absence of lume and date preserves the purity of the dial, positioning this mechanical watch firmly within the dress category.

Hands

The hand set is appropriately understated. Slim gold baton hour and minute hands echo the applied markers and glide smoothly over the silver background. Their lengths are carefully chosen, with the minute hand reaching neatly to the minute track and the hour hand stopping at the inner tips of the markers. A central seconds hand, also in a warm gold tone, adds an extra layer of visual interest as it sweeps around the dial. Together, the three hands maintain the refined balance of the watch and help emphasise the quiet precision of the underlying movement.

Crown

At three o’clock sits a small, neatly proportioned crown finished in the same gold tone as the case. Fine coin-edge knurling provides enough grip for comfortable daily winding, while the compact size keeps the silhouette of the watch slim and elegant when viewed from the side. The crown is unsigned, as is typical for many Raketa pieces of this period, but its machining is crisp and it operates with a reassuringly smooth feel. The daily ritual of winding the crown reinforces the connection between wearer and movement, something collectors value in a manual wind dress watch.

Leather Strap

This example is paired with a black leather strap that complements the minimalist dial and gold-plated case. The strap has a light natural grain and tone-on-tone stitching, allowing the watch itself to remain the visual focus. Its width of 18.0 mm suits the slim case perfectly and helps the watch sit low and securely on the wrist. A gold-tone pin buckle echoes the case finish for a coherent look. Thanks to the standard lug design, alternative straps can be fitted easily, but the current combination already provides a classic, versatile presentation suitable for both formal and everyday wear.

Gold plated case and on-the-wrist profile

The case of this Raketa is all about slender proportions and clean lines. At 34.0 mm in diameter and 41.0 mm from lug to lug, it delivers the elegant sizing expected of a late-1970s dress watch while remaining very wearable by modern standards. The gold-plated surfaces are highly polished, catching reflections and framing the silver dial without feeling flashy. Straight, relatively long lugs give the watch a graceful stance and help it hug the wrist, while the thin fixed bezel maximises the visible dial area. A gently domed acrylic crystal adds warmth and a pleasing distortion at the very edge, underscoring the vintage character. On the wrist the watch wears light and unobtrusive, sliding easily under a cuff yet revealing its distinctive script numerals and classic Soviet styling whenever you glance at it.

Raketa Manual wind Calibre 2609.1 movement

Powering this dress watch is the Raketa calibre 2609.1, a classic hand-wound mechanical movement used widely across the brand’s elegant models. Featuring a straightforward architecture with centre seconds and a jewel count suited to daily wear, the calibre runs at approximately 18,000 vibrations per hour (around 2.5 Hz), delivering a smooth, relaxed sweep of the seconds hand and a power reserve of roughly 40 hours. Designed to be both durable and easy to service, the 2609.1 has earned a reputation among enthusiasts as one of the more robust Soviet movements of its era. In this example it has been fully serviced by a professional watchmaker, ensuring fresh lubrication, solid amplitude and dependable precision timekeeping so the watch can be worn confidently as a regular companion rather than kept solely as a display piece.

Heritage of the Raketa in late-1970s Soviet dress watch design

Raketa, produced at the Petrodvorets Watch Factory near Saint Petersburg, is one of the longest-running names in Russian horology. During the 1970s the brand developed a range of slim dress watches that combined simple mechanical movements with refined dial designs aimed at both domestic and export markets. This Script Dial variant reflects that design language: modest in size, free of complications and focused on elegant typography and balance. For modern collectors, such pieces illustrate how Soviet watchmaking could step away from purely utilitarian aesthetics and engage with international trends in dress watch design, while still retaining a distinct identity. Owning an example like this allows you to enjoy a slice of that history, representing a different philosophy from contemporary Swiss or Japanese luxury but no less interesting in terms of heritage and character.

Condition, originality, warranty & worldwide shipping

This Raketa Script Dial is offered in attractive used condition with strong attention to originality. The silver dial shows even ageing with clean printing and intact script numerals, while the gold-tone hands and central seconds appear correctly matched for the reference. The gold-plated case retains its sharp lugs and polished surfaces, with only minor wear consistent with a careful vintage watch. The manually wound movement is fully serviced, fully operational and retains all original components, backed by a 12-month mechanical warranty for peace of mind. The black leather strap is a tasteful modern replacement that complements the design and makes the watch immediately wearable. discover additional dress vintage watches with slim gold-plated cases and sunburst dials across our store.