I obtained this watch with great enthusiasm. I still really like it, but I have since learned that the dial is not original to the 1950's. If you wish, you can call it a 'fake.'
So how do I know this. I should have been clued in. Firstly, the watch isn't as rare as you might expect; it's available on the internet, and not an uncommon find. The dials on these are also usually super clean, like this one, unusual in so old a watch. These features on their own do not necessarily indicate fakery, but some Russian watch experts conclude that by observing the meridian lines on the Earth, you can see on my version the lines do not go to the edges of the Earth. If you have a look at the below image, an example of the original, you'll see the proper meridian lines. There are other dial markings which are said to give it away as well. Notice the spider-style lugs, the steel hands, and the fine elegant seconds hand, only painted red at the Sputnik orb.There is probably nothing original about my watch! Never mind, I still really like it...
*Is it really 'fake' or just 'not original' and where did dial come from. I have read that the Poljot company was going to re-issue this watch in the 1990s. I am not sure if they actually ever did, but in any case the feeling is, they made a batch of dials which had some imperfections, and before they could be destroyed, someone made off with them, and they gradually diffused to the aftermarket fakery shops. This would be a good explanation.
I guess I like it better knowing it's a proper watch dial made from a proper watch house. Even if not original, it wasn't made by some expert fakirs in Vietnam. That is of course unless it really was.
