Molnija 3602

 
Molnija 3602 | 17jewels.info - The Movement Archive

Molnija 3602

Description

The Molnija 3602, which was produced for almost half a decade, between 1960 and 2008, is the most popular russian pocket watch movement.

It goes back to the Cortebert 616, which was produced in Switzerland in the 1930 and 1940ies, whose machines probably were sold to Russia afterwards.

During its production time, this movement was modified quite often, especially the height was increased one millimeter and the decoration were reduced, until at the end, there weren’t hardly any decorations applied any more.

Molnija 3602: gear train

gear train

The gear train remained the same all the years, it is a classical Lepine construction with center minute wheel and subseconds at 6 o’clock. All bearings, even those for the minute wheel, are ruby beared, for the escapement wheel, on both sides, cap jewels are used.

Molnija 3602: side view of the gear train

side view of the gear train

Unlike the caliber 3603, the caliber 3602 has got a non shock protected screw balance, whose screws are lacking slots and so have got only aestetically functions. It beats with 18000 A/h and regulates a conventional pallet lever movement. The hairspring is in all versions, even in the last, made as a Breguet hairspring - a detail, which is normally only found in expensive movements.

Molnija 3602: Molnija 3602 dial side

Molnija 3602 dial side

The dial side of this late specimen seems raw and is not decoreated. Apart from the two cap jewels for the balance bearing and the escapement wheel bearing, you see the yoke windign system. There’s no setting lever screw any more, since Molnija used in their late movements only a spring loaded pin, the spring can be seen very well at the far end of the winding stem at the movement.

In the lab

A large movement, a heavy screw balance but no shock protection - the specimen shown here had a broken balance wheel, which is not a surprise. Because of that, no service was made and of course there was also no test on the timegrapher.

Technical data

Manufacturer:Molnija
Caliber:3602
Size:16''' (measured: 36,0mm)
Height:4,60mm
A/h:18000
lift angle:42°
Number of jewels:18
Escapement:Pallet lever
Balance types: screw balance
Shock protection(s): none
Balance bearing / direction hairspring:Clockwise
Moveable stud:no
Adjust mechanism:Short regulator arm
Construction:
  • lever
  • escape wheel
  • seconds wheel, third wheel, center minute wheel
  • mainspring barrel
Construction type:solid construction
Winding mechanism:yoke winding system
Setting lever spring:5 hole(s)
Features:
  • s (decentral seconds)
Production period:1960 - 2008
References: Flume: K3 -
Inventory number:16005

Usage gallery

Molnija 3602: Corsar pocket watch

Corsar pocket watch

This movement and the pocket watch is a kind donation of Erwin! Thank you very much!