 Molnija
watch factory is famous worldwide for its pocket watches. This
Russian watchmaker manufactures movements also.
Pocket Watch History
The first pocket watch was created in
Germany by Peter Henlein in 1524. Others appears in 1548 and
more were produced in Switzerland and England after 1575.
At this time the main problem was the driving mechanism. Typically,
weights were used, which made portable watches impractical,
but it was a period of great advancement and innovation. The
first movements were made of steel, then later brass. They
had no balance springs and were notoriously inaccurate. The
watches had only an hour hand and had to be wound twice daily.
Soon the spiral leaf mainspring appeared, the greatest innovation
at the time as it allowed long-term power without weights.
Because of a difference in timing between the long arcs and
the short arcs, accuracy could only be improved by using a
limited portion of the mainspring. Germany produced a watch
with a cam at the end of a barrel arbor to compensate for
variations in spring tension, but it was the English and French
solution to use the fusee. This stopped the watch during winding
to prevent over oscillation of the balance wheel. Additional
stops were included as regulators.
Form watches became popular in the 1600s, with
cases shaped like animals and objects. Religious themes were
especially popular. Although there were few technical improvements,
watches became more like pieces of jewelry. It wasn't until
1704 that the first rubies were used in watch movements to
create more accurate time pieces. By 1750, enamel was used
on watch dials making them more visible in low light. The
first self-winding movement was invented in 1780, by Abraham
Perrelet, and in 1820 Thomas Prest registered a patent for
a self-winding watch. In America, in 1809, the first watch
manufacturer was Luther Goddard of Shrewsbuy, Massachussetts.
In 1848, Louis Brandt opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds
which was to later become the Omega Watch company. It was
the Americans, around 1850, who were first to go into mass
production, with mixed results, the main companies being Waltham,
Elgin and Hamilton.
In 1884, Greenwich, England was named the zero
meridian, a worldwide acceptance of a starting point for global
time zones. After 1900, advances in metallurgy improved the
mechanisms, primarily because the balance spring was sensitive
to temperature and position. Self-compensating balances were
made with bi-metallic properties to compensate for high and
low tempartures, and eventually a balance was created that
could compensate for middle temperature errors. 1914 saw the
first wristwatch with an alarm.
«Molnija» Watch and Clock Factory
Clock & Watch Factory "Molnija"
is one of the biggest and eldest factories in Russia. It is
situated in the center of the South Urals in the city of Chelyabinsk.
Chelyabinsk is surrounded by numerous lakes and wild forests.
For its beautiful nature people call this region "Russian
Switzerland". Watch production is another feature that
South Urals and Switzerland have in common. Chelyabinsk region
is one of the largest regions in the middle of Russia known
for its talented masters. If you return back to the history
of Russia you'll see that Russian Tzars always invited masters
from Urals when they wanted to get unique and beautiful things
for their palaces or presents to other countries. This region
is also called "Gate between Europe and Asia".
The factory was established on November 17,
1947. At first main products were wristwatches, pocket watches,
mechanical table clocks and unique technical clocks for tanks
and submarines ordered and paid by Soviet Union Department
of Defense. From the end of 50-s and up to the present time
the main product of the factory is mechanical 18 jewels pocket
watches "Molnija". The factory produces mechanical
pocket watches "Molnija" and movements caliber 3602/3603.
The cases for watches are made of "German silver",
polished, plated with chrome, etc., decorated with enamels
or hand-made enamel paintings. "Molnija" movement
has 18 jewels, steel lever pallet escapement, off-centre small
second, free-screw balance, shock resistant balance staff.
Eighty percent of work is done by hand. All parts for pocket
watches, except jewels and accessories (chains and packaging)
are produced by the factory itself. “Molnija” watches are
more than watches: they do not just show Time, they tell you
exciting stories about people, events, feelings. The factory’s
main collections are the following: "Nature", "Classics",
"Victory", "Sport", "History",
"Who is who", "Religions", etc. Molnija
pocket watch can be a nice Russian souvenir and inexpensive
watch gift idea for many occasions.
The “Molnija” watch factory exports its products
to France, Germany, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland,
USA. Among the constant clients there are Administration of
the President of Russia, Russia Trade Chamber of Commerce,
Military Forces of Russia, etc.
Today “Molnija” produces such types of pocket
watches: pocket watches with enamel, classic pocket watches
and skeleton pocket watches.
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