Molnija ChK-6

Description

The large, 16 ligne caliber Molnija ChK-6 from the Chelyabinsk watch factory was the predecessor of the popular caliber series Molnija 36xx. The specimen shown here was made in 1955.

It impresses especially by its aesthetics with beautiful decorations, just as if money didn’t matter.

Of course, all important bearings contain rubies, but not that of the mainspring barrel, where you can see the wear after centuries.

On the balance aera, the base plate was even decorated with a beautiful perleage, and the cock for the escape wheel is a nice detail and reminds of high class (swiss) pocket watches.

The gear train is the typical one for a pocket watch, where the large mainspring barrel direcly drives the center minute wheel, followed by third wheel, decentral seconds wheel at position 6 o’clock and finally the escape wheel.

The not yet shock protected, golden toned screw balance (where all the screws have the same distance and thus rather act cosmetically the to poise the balance) beats with 18000 A/h and regulates a classical swiss pallet lever movement.

The use of a flat hairspring instead of a Breguet shaped one is almost a bit untypical for a russian movement. Hoewever, its effective length can be regulated with a long regulator arm and a scale on the balance wheel cock.

On the dial side, you see the well made yoke winding system with its strong setting lever spring, which shall guarantee long use without problems.

Technical data

Usage gallery