Iconic watch art prints. Made in Switzerland, lifetime guarantee

The must-have Macro Loupe for all watch lovers

This 591084 model with a small seconds hand, a 1970s design, a sunburst dial, and square Arabic numerals, is an export version (English inscriptions) housing a 2603 caliber movement with 16 jewels. It certainly marks the end of an era; this caliber dates back to the 1950s, and even the shock-resistant version, developed through technology transfer from the French LIP factories, is even older. This new dial design modernizes a watch that is fundamentally very old and well-known. The case is also nothing new; it's chrome-plated brass with a snap-on steel case back, a familiar design. But that's often the case: just change the face, and it's always the same story inside. The soundtrack to listen to: Diana Loginova performing the famous song from "The Swan Lake Cooperative" in front of Kazan Cathedral in the center of Saint Petersburg, a performance that went viral on social media, a phenomenon for which the performers are now languishing in detention. It is certainly the most striking song of our time, with its whiff of a bloody end of an era. The stories we are told are nothing but cleverly crafted lies for the present moment, but behind the scenes, it's always the same team we know all too well, or pretend not to know.

The Swan Lake Cooperative

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 of this type of mechanism, which you don't find in a quartz watch; of course, the precision remains second-rate. This chronograph is a production of the Zlatoust watch factory in the Urals, apparently before they developed the Agat brand, so in the 1960s. The 49.5 mm (60.5 with the crown) and 16 mm thick case is made of chrome-plated brass. The mechanism has 11 jewels.
The soundtrack to listen to for this chronograph would be the soundtrack of the film "Lola Court" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBj8W7h4WAs&list=PLTFQbGm88i2iJKNme4GYx-p7Banicvmm1 ). There is probably nothing harder than racing against time, and at the same time fascinating and sometimes a matter of life or death, as in this film.

The locomotive against the clock

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 with a small quartz seconds hand at 6 o'clock that adds a bit of animation to the dial without having to endure the jolts of a large second hand. The date is at 4:30 p.m. and is relatively discreet. The strap and pin buckle are really cool, but over the past twenty years, the leather has definitely aged. The domed mineral glass has also taken a few knocks.
The soundtrack for this watch would, of course, be the soundtrack to the film "The World Is Not Enough," featuring Garbage. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=nr2S0YgXWjA&list=OLAK5uy_mUa477o9q_jxwon8nEtTpWBAIfKLsWTxs

Adjectives: sporty, massive, energetic, lively

An energetic quartz chronograph

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, the second hand does not seem to be original, the original hand is simpler like those of the minutes and hours. The case has a contained diameter of 34mm without the crown for a little less than 10mm thick. The watch is called "export" because Raketa and the number of jewels is written in English as well as the made in USSR at the bottom of the dial under the graduation. But that doesn't mean it was exported, as a lot of exported products were sold in the country through the domestic export circuit.
The soundtrack associated with this watch could be quite diverse depending on the associations one may have, but it reminds me of Jamala's song 1944. Because the numbers 12-3-6-9 stand out with a faceted metallic appearance against a dark dial. Certainly, this is the most common combination of numbers in watchmaking; dividing the half-day in four, the hour in four, is the most logical thing to do, but here the graphic code really makes me think that these numbers say "1944." The year 1944 was the bloody deportation of many peoples by Moscow, but the deportation of the Crimean Tatars was the longest of Soviet nights, it only ended with the end of the USSR itself. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=FrcWpMzo0es

The depth of the night

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 seem to escape from the center in the direction of the centrifugal force, as on the bezel, except for the 6, of course, because that would be confusing, since an inverted 6 is a 9.
The movement is marked with a double pennant, which is the logo of the Vympel brand from the Belarusian city of Vitebsk. The watch evokes an unattainable and desirable ideal that hovered over the late 1990s. Hence the famous song, almost a prayer, by Boris Borisovitch, set to this melody, falsely said to be from the Middle Ages, about an ideal and fabulous world of the transparent city of gold. It is not a simple watch; it is a prayer, a call for peace, beauty, and love.
Adjective: ideal, metaphysical, dreamlike, historical

A prayer, an ideal

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 room for a dial that can be personalized in abundance. Legibility is very poor due to the small black hands on a colored background, but on this model, it's more the personalization that should stand out than the time, here the Petersburg coat of arms. Time is secondary; if readability is your primary concern, you should consider the Big Zero, which is equipped with the same movement and case but has a white background and large hands. The Roman numerals are in keeping with this trend; since readability is already mediocre, it's best to go all grandiloquent. The case is made of chrome-plated brass with a clip-on steel back and houses a very classic 2609-NA movement, notably found in the Big Zero.
We understand this is a watch worn to daydream about the northern capital or for any other reason, such as an excuse to be late (sorry, I misread the time, and anyone can make a mistake on such an illegible dial).
The soundtrack to listen to is Radar's debut album, released in 2017 and purely instrumental, dedicated to the city of Saint Petersburg.
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lvd-3IyMeiSDrmWKuz38s6g9nVznSpLXE

My kind of town, Piter is

The Russian watch brand Raketa, founded in 1961, has its roots in the Imperial Manufacture of Peterhof, established in 1721 by Tsar Peter the Great. This factory, located in Saint Petersburg, is the oldest in Russia still in operation. Initially specializing in cutting precious and semi-precious stones, it contributed to iconic works such as the 1924 Lenin Mausoleum and the Kremlin ruby ​​stars.
<h2 dir="ltr">The Beginnings of Watchmaking</h2>
After the Second World War, the Petrodvorets factory diversified its activities by launching into watchmaking. In 1945, it began assembling watches under the brands Zvezda ("Star") and Pobeda ("Victory"), the latter celebrating the victory over Nazi Germany.
<h2 dir="ltr">Birth of the Raketa Brand</h2>
In 1961, in homage to the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin, the "Raketa" brand (which means "rocket" in Russian) was created. This initiative reflects the spirit of innovation and space conquest of the Soviet era.
<h2 dir="ltr">Expansion et Production</h2>
At the peak of its production, in the 1970s, the factory employed around 8,000 people and produced up to 5 million mechanical watches per year. These watches were intended for civilians as well as soldiers, cosmonauts, polar explorers and Olympic athletes.
<h2 dir="ltr">Post-Soviet Challenges and Renaissance</h2>
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Raketa went through a difficult period, but was able to revive itself by modernizing its facilities and collaborating with international experts. Today, the manufacture produces its own movements in-house, including hairsprings and escapements, which is rare in the global watch industry.
<h2 dir="ltr">Iconic Models</h2>
Among Raketa's emblematic models, we find the "Polar", designed for polar explorers with a 24-hour dial, and the "Ba&iuml;konur", dedicated to cosmonauts. Raketa is one of the few global watch brands to entirely produce its own mechanical movements. Its range includes models such as the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/raketa/baikonur"> Raketa Baikonur</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/raketa/avant-garde"> Raketa Avant-Garde</a> or even the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/raketa/polar"> Raketa Polar</a>.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Raketa watch cost?</h2>
The price of Raketa watches evolve and differ depending on the model. Most cost between 1,600 &euro; and 2,200 &euro; depending on the models and finishes. An Avant-Garde Raketa costs &euro;1,950, while a &ldquo;Sonar&rdquo; Raketa is priced at &euro;2,000. The second-hand and vintage markets are also an opportunity to find cheaper Soviet-era watches.
<h2 dir="ltr">Conclusion</h2>
Raketa is owned by the Pobeda brand and produces around 7,000 watches per year, all models combined. To choose a Raketa that suits you best, Dialicious owners&rsquo; reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real customer experience.
(Updated November 2024)

Pretty vintage that attracted me by its patinated dial that goes towards purple and by the sunburst of the case. The shape of the case also changes with its slightly barrel shape. The dial seems very deep bringing a lot of relief to the whole. The CCCP also brings its bit of history on this manufacture coming from the east.

Made in CCCP

Do you know the 3S? Simplicity, subtlety, Soviet: three words to explain the purchase of my first mechanical watch. My interest in Russian watches is no accident: the Slavic soul, culture, and exoticism of this country are all reflected in this Raketa Baltika. This model was produced between 1967 and 1971 at the Petrodvorets watch factory in Saint Petersburg. The period catalog explained: "For those who appreciate a simple presentation and precision!"

A 36 mm by 8.85 mm case, covered in Plexiglas, protects a cream dial where the hour markers are milled. The milling adds a little volume to this simple watch. The alpha hands and gold indexes offer a discreet charm. As for the exoticism, "Raketa" and "Made in the USSR" written in the Cyrilic alphabet are enough to convince me.

The caliber is a hand-wound 2609A

In Soviet times

Atelier Jalaper est une marque horlog&egrave;re franco-belge fond&eacute;e en 2019 par Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper. Elle se distingue par une approche unique qui fusionne l'horlogerie traditionnelle avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile en int&eacute;grant des &eacute;l&eacute;ments authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires dans ses montres.
<h3>Origines et Fondation</h3>
Louis Jalaber et Simon Szleper se sont rencontr&eacute;s lors de leurs &eacute;tudes &agrave; l'ESCP Europe, partageant une passion commune pour l'horlogerie et l'automobile. Leur ambition &eacute;tait de cr&eacute;er une montre qui ne se contenterait pas de s'inspirer du design automobile, mais qui int&eacute;grerait v&eacute;ritablement une partie de l'histoire automobile. Cette vision les a conduits &agrave; fonder Atelier Jalaper en 2019.
<h3>Concept et Philosophie</h3>
La philosophie d'Atelier Jalaper repose sur l'id&eacute;e de donner une nouvelle vie &agrave; des voitures embl&eacute;matiques en les int&eacute;grant dans des montres de haute qualit&eacute;. Chaque garde-temps est con&ccedil;u avec des cadrans fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de voitures l&eacute;gendaires, offrant ainsi aux passionn&eacute;s une connexion tangible avec l'histoire automobile.
<h3>Collections et Mod&egrave;les</h3>
Collection DB5
La premi&egrave;re collection d'Atelier Jalaper rend hommage &agrave; l'Aston Martin DB5, une ic&ocirc;ne des ann&eacute;es 1960. Les cadrans de ces montres sont d&eacute;coup&eacute;s dans le capot en aluminium d'une v&eacute;ritable DB5, conf&eacute;rant &agrave; chaque pi&egrave;ce une patine unique. La collection comprend quatre mod&egrave;les :
<ul>
<li>AJ001-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ001-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
<li>AJ002-S : Mod&egrave;le avec affichage du jour et de la date, bo&icirc;tier en acier inoxydable</li>
<li>AJ002-B : Version avec bo&icirc;tier en PVD noir</li>
</ul>
Ces montres sont &eacute;quip&eacute;es de mouvements automatiques Miyota, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche de 42 heures.
Collection Miura
La deuxi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Lamborghini Miura, souvent consid&eacute;r&eacute;e comme la premi&egrave;re supercar au monde. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques de la Miura, et la collection propose plusieurs variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-P400-V : Version avec r&eacute;haut vert</li>
<li>AJ-P400-N : Version avec r&eacute;haut noir</li>
<li>AJ-P400-O : Version avec r&eacute;haut orange</li>
<li>AJ-P400-B : Version avec r&eacute;haut bleu</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage manuel Sellita SW270-1 M, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 45 heures.
Collection Jaguar Type E
La troisi&egrave;me collection s'inspire de la Jaguar Type E, l'une des autos les plus reconnaissables entre toutes. Les cadrans sont fabriqu&eacute;s &agrave; partir de pi&egrave;ces authentiques d'une Jaguar Type E semi-lightweight de 1962, et la collection propose deux variantes :
<ul>
<li>AJ-003-B : Version au cadran stri&eacute;</li>
<li>AJ-003-W : Version au cadran noir anodis&eacute;</li>
</ul>
Ces mod&egrave;les sont anim&eacute;s par des mouvements &agrave; remontage automatique Sellita SW300-1, offrant une r&eacute;serve de marche d'environ 42 heures.
<h3>Processus de Fabrication et Savoir-Faire</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collabore avec des artisans et des experts horlogers bas&eacute;s &agrave; La Chaux-de-Fonds, en Suisse, pour assurer une qualit&eacute; exceptionnelle. Le processus de fabrication implique une d&eacute;coupe pr&eacute;cise des pi&egrave;ces automobiles pour cr&eacute;er des cadrans uniques, suivie d'un assemblage minutieux pour garantir la fiabilit&eacute; et l'esth&eacute;tique de chaque montre.
<h3>Engagement envers l'Authenticit&eacute; et l'Innovation</h3>
La marque s'engage &agrave; pr&eacute;server l'authenticit&eacute; des mat&eacute;riaux utilis&eacute;s tout en innovant dans le design et la fonctionnalit&eacute;. Chaque montre est num&eacute;rot&eacute;e et porte en elle l'&acirc;me de la voiture dont elle est issue, offrant aux collectionneurs et aux passionn&eacute;s une pi&egrave;ce de l'histoire automobile &agrave; leur poignet.
<h3>R&eacute;ception et Perspectives d'Avenir</h3>
Depuis son lancement, Atelier Jalaper a re&ccedil;u des retours positifs pour son concept novateur et la qualit&eacute; de ses montres. La marque continue d'explorer de nouvelles collaborations avec des voitures l&eacute;gendaires, &eacute;largissant ainsi sa collection et renfor&ccedil;ant sa position unique &agrave; l'intersection de l'horlogerie et de l'automobile.
En conclusion, Atelier Jalaper se distingue par sa capacit&eacute; &agrave; fusionner l'art horloger avec l'h&eacute;ritage automobile, cr&eacute;ant des montres qui racontent une histoire unique et offrent une exp&eacute;rience &eacute;motionnelle aux passionn&eacute;s des deux univers.
Inspirez-vous des avis clients Dialicious pour choisir la montre Atelier Jalaper qui vous convient le mieux. D&eacute;couvrez &eacute;galement le <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_de_sports_mecaniques">classement des marques de montres inspir&eacute;es du sport automobile</a>.
(Mise &agrave; jour Mars 2025)

Atelier Jalaper is a Franco-Belgian watch brand founded in 2019 by Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper. It is distinguished by a unique approach that merges traditional watchmaking with automotive heritage by integrating authentic elements of legendary cars into its watches.
<h3 dir="ltr">Origins and Foundation</h3>
Louis Jalaber and Simon Szleper met during their studies at ESCP Europe, sharing a common passion for watchmaking and automobiles. Their ambition was to create a watch that would not only be inspired by automotive design, but would truly incorporate a part of automotive history. This vision led them to found Atelier Jalaper in 2019.
<h3 dir="ltr">Concept and Philosophy</h3>
Atelier Jalaper's philosophy is based on the idea of ​​giving new life to iconic cars by integrating them into high-quality watches. Each timepiece is designed with dials made from authentic parts from legendary cars, providing enthusiasts with a tangible connection to automotive history.
<h3 dir="ltr">Collections and Models</h3>
Collection DB5
Atelier Jalaper's first collection pays homage to the Aston Martin DB5, an icon of the 1960s. The dials of these watches are cut from the aluminum cover of a real DB5, giving each piece a unique patina. The collection includes four models:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-S: Model with date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ001-B:&nbsp;Version with black PVD case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-S: Model with day and date display, stainless steel case
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ002-B: Version with black PVD case
</li>
</ul>
These watches are equipped with Miyota automatic movements, offering a power reserve of 42 hours.
Collection Miura
The second collection is inspired by the Lamborghini Miura, often considered the world's first supercar. The dials are made from authentic Miura parts, and the collection offers several variations:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-V: Version with green flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-N: Version with black flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-O: Version with orange flange
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-P400-B: Version with blue flange
</li>
</ul>
These models are powered by Sellita SW270-1 M hand-wound movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 45 hours.
Jaguar E-Type Collection
The third collection is inspired by the Jaguar E-Type, one of the most recognizable cars of all. The dials are made from genuine parts from a 1962&nbsp;Jaguar E-Type semi-lightweight, and the collection offers two variants:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-B: Version with vertically brushed dial
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
AJ-003-W: Version with black anodized dial
</li>
</ul>
These models are driven by Sellita SW300-1 self-winding movements, offering a power reserve of approximately 42 hours.
<h3 dir="ltr">Manufacturing Process and Know-How</h3>
Atelier Jalaper collaborates with artisans and watchmaking experts based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to ensure exceptional quality. The manufacturing process involves precise cutting of automotive parts to create unique dials, followed by careful assembly to ensure the reliability and aesthetics of each watch.
<h3 dir="ltr">Commitment to Authenticity and Innovation</h3>
The brand is committed to preserving the authenticity of the materials used while innovating in design and functionality. Each watch is numbered and carries within it the soul of the car from which it comes, offering collectors and enthusiasts a piece of automotive history on their wrist.
<h3 dir="ltr">Reception and Future Prospects</h3>
Since its launch, Atelier Jalaper has received positive feedback for its innovative concept and the quality of its watches. The brand continues to explore new collaborations with legendary cars, expanding its collection and strengthening its unique position at the intersection of watchmaking and automobiles.&nbsp;In conclusion, Atelier Jalaper stands out for its ability to merge the art of watchmaking with automotive heritage, creating watches that tell a unique story and offer an emotional experience to enthusiasts of both worlds.
Take inspiration from Dialicious customer reviews to choose the Atelier Jalaper watch that suits you best. Also discover the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_brands_of_motor_sports_watches">ranking of watch brands inspired by motorsport</a>.
(Updated March 2025)

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The Swan Lake Cooperative

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