Discover the 68 watches in the Wind of change collection

For once, it's not a wristwatch but a mechanical pocket chronograph, which is much more practical for sporting events than a wristwatch, even one with a chronograph complication. It's certainly bulkier, it doesn't tell the time, and it's less precise and reliable than an electronic chronograph, but it brings a certain charm if we think of the era before the Prague Spring, the exploits of the Czech Emil Zátopek (so well rendered by Jean Echenoz in the Minuit editions). And then there's the relentless 2.5Hz ticking o…

I bought this watch by chance twenty years ago after seeing an ad that reminded me of the ski chase scene in the Caucasus from the movie "The World Is Not Enough." I also really liked the orange numerals and the orange and black strap. Of course, the case is heavy (40x48mm) and the dial is confusing, but surprisingly, the time is very easy to read in all circumstances. The chronograph isn't a complication that really appeals to me, but if you put the chronograph aside, it makes for a very legible two-hand watch wit…

This 651147 night model is one of the most successful dress watches from the 1960s and 70s, equipped with the 2609-a Baltika movement with 21 jewels. The faceted gold color code of the numerals and indexes on a black background creates a classy atmosphere while keeping the brutal side of the baton hands and vertical facets. The 651 type chrome-plated brass case adds a bit of simplicity. It must be said that my copy is less flamboyant than it must have been when new, the patina of time has taken place. In addition,…

Boris Grebenshikov, City of Gold soundtrack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WKzDD-SJBU The distinctive feature of this 1990s watch is that it is entirely gold-plated. Not only the dial and hands, but also the bezel and case. Only the caseback is made of steel, a screw-down caseback. It has been worn relatively little, given that it was given as a gift somewhere in Ukraine or Belarus on July 17, 1999, and it is a bit conspicuous to be worn if you didn't choose it yourself. The numerals are interesting because they…

A city of contrasts whose name simultaneously inspires dreams and fear. A window on Europe, canals fronting Italian architecture, a cultural capital and simultaneously a bastion of serfdom and imperialism, or more recently, the breeding ground for criminal organizations that are shaking the planet. This is what the name Saint Petersburg evokes, after having been Petrograd and Leningrad. The Raketa 51 case is a very practical classic. Large (39 mm without the crown and 41 mm from lug to lug), it leaves plenty of ro…

Soundtrack: "The Brutes" by Trust https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=56bL8DJjnpQ This 1960s Raketa watch became legendary thanks to a photograph by Czech Josef Koudelka during the repression of the Prague Spring. The photo depicts an empty square, refuting Soviet propaganda in advance. In the foreground, the wrist of a Prague resident, also noticing the absence of a crowd, is seen wearing this Raketa 593028 with small seconds. The drawback of this model is the poor legibility of the time depending on the lighting,…

Soundtrack: Chilean singer Mon Laferte - with her Zaz-like title "Esta Morra No Se Vende" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI0c6IQpNFk Chile is the world's leading producer and exporter of copper, so it's easy to associate the country with this essential material for contemporary life. Grebe, a small Chilean brand, offers captivating handcrafted copper dials. Some parts are engraved, revealing oxidized pieces, creating an original blend of colors. This model, Matriz, reminds me of a map, the maze of streets of an un…

Soundtrack: Elysium: The Journey of Space https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=CfxUm2Cs968 (French translation: https://desk-russie.eu/2021/05/12/alexei-navalny-journal-de-prison.html ) This 1960s model is sometimes called "the first Copernicus," but this is a far-fetched term. Indeed, the 2017 reissue of the Copernicus merges this 1960s model with the 1980s model—the real Copernicus, with circular hands—hence the anachronistic association of the name. However, the space theme of the watch is justified by its long sp…

The soundtrack to listen to is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_UCS4yc_k8 This watch inevitably brings to mind the Elysium song "The Far Side of the Moon," with its childlike simplicity, the energy it exudes, this thirst for freedom, curiosity about the unknown, and dreams of a better world. The DIY telescope allows us to observe the universe, and it allows us to ask more questions than it answers: but what's happening on the far side of the moon? That, the hidden side, we can't observe, and it stimulates our ima…

This simple dial is a success; the white on black is very legible. The alpha hands are thin and well-marked, as are the numerals, which are quite large, yet very fine and full of movement. As is often the case with Raketa, the watch is available in a day and night version. I find the latter even more captivating than the day version. The caliber is a completely classic and reliable 2605NA (26mm by 3.98mm thick with 19 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve). The soundtrack would be Zaz Eblouie par la nuit https://www.y…