Vostok Amphibia Automatic — Soviet Dive Watch with Horse Head Dial, Caliber 2416Б, Late 1980s

Vostok Amphibia Automatic — Soviet Dive Watch with Horse Head Dial, Caliber 2416Б, Late 1980s

A genuine Soviet-era Vostok Amphibia in the round case, fitted with the automatic 2416Б movement and a striking black dial featuring a horse head motif. This one came across the bench, was fully serviced at the beginning of June 2026, and now keeps accurate time. It is a solid, substantial watch on the wrist — and it has survived the decades remarkably well.

Dial

Glossy black dial with applied luminous baton markers and an outer minute track. The centerpiece is a hand-painted horse head, an unusual design you don't see on standard Amphibias. Below the hands sit the maker's text — Восток, 21 камень (21 jewels), and Сделано в СССР (Made in USSR) — confirming Soviet production. The framed date window sits at 3 o'clock. The seconds hand is bright orange, which gives the otherwise tool-watch dial a real splash of character. The hour and minute hands carry their original lume.

Movement

Inside is the Vostok caliber 2416Б, marked SU (the Soviet export designation). It is Vostok's in-house automatic, and the technical data is straightforward:

• Self-winding (bidirectional rotor) with manual winding also available via the crown
• 21 jewels
• 24 mm movement diameter
• Beat rate 19,800 vph (2.75 Hz)
• Instant-change date
• Power reserve approximately 31 hours
• Safety device protecting the mainspring from overwinding

After service it runs to accurate time — no surprises, just a reliable Soviet automatic doing its job.

Case

The classic round Amphibia case in chrome-plated brass, with a stainless steel screw-in case back — the standard construction for Soviet Amphibias of this era. It carries the friction dive bezel with its red-and-black countdown scale. This is a heavy, masculine piece — it has real presence on the wrist.

• Case material: chrome-plated brass, stainless steel case back
• Case dimensions: 43 mm × 47 mm (lug to lug)
• Thickness with crystal: 13 mm
• Lug width: 18 mm
• Screw-down crown
• Acrylic crystal
• Screw-in case back marked Водонепроницаемые · Автоподзавод (Waterproof · Automatic)

The Amphibia series was rated to 200 m (20 ATM) when new. That said, this is a 30-plus-year-old watch, so I'd treat it as a daily-wear piece and keep it away from water — gaskets of this age should not be trusted for diving.

Bracelet

It comes on its original Soviet stainless steel bracelet, adjustable, with a double folding clasp. The clasp carries the period markings НЕРЖ (stainless steel) and a price stamp — the kind of detail that tells you it's the correct era hardware and not a modern replacement. Fits the 18 mm lugs.

Era & Condition

Late 1980s, Chistopol Watch Factory (Vostok). The watch is very well preserved and presents close to new — the dial, hands, case and bracelet have all aged gracefully. Fully serviced at the start of June 2026: cleaned, lubricated, and regulated to keep accurate time. It looks great on the wrist and wears like the proper tool watch it was built to be.

What You Get

A serviced, running Soviet Vostok Amphibia automatic with its original bracelet — a genuine piece of USSR watchmaking, ready to wear.