Molnija
(Chelyabinsk Watch
Factory)
Brands:
- Molnija
- Ural
- Iskra
-
Crystal |
|
Watch
and
clockmaker
based in
Chelyabinsk,
Chelyabinsk Oblast.
Molnija (Молния)
is the
Russian
word for lightning.
History
The
factory was established on November 17, 1941.
The Molnija
clock
and
watch
factory was opened on November 17, 1947. The company's main
customer was then the
Soviet Union
Department of Defense, providing them with wrist watches, pocket
watches and table clocks. Unique clocks were also produced
specifically for use in Soviet
tanks,
fighter aircraft,
submarines
and, eventually,
spacecraft.
Today
Molnija's main product is mechanical
pocket watches
with military, religious and historical motifs. About 80% of the
work on most of the watches is done by hand. Some Molnija movements
are used in oversized men's wristwatches.
The company ceased production in October 2007. However, new
Molnija pocket watches are still available on the market (presumably
old stock) The future of “Molniya” is a big question, but no one in
Russia produces the same mechanical pocket watches any more.