Hands on A Blend of Russian Art & Craftsmanship: The Raketa Avant-Garde

Raketa keeps the tradition of in-house watchmaking alive, crafting both modern and historic timepieces that celebrate the timeless appeal of classic Russian designs. Raketa’s historic factory is a testament to Russia's proud watchmaking heritage, a legacy that reached its peak during the USSR.

Founded in 1721, the factory started with hardstone carvings and later shifted to watchmaking during World War II, understanding the critical need for accurate timekeeping in the Soviet Union. Today, Raketa's collection acts as a link between the past and present, blending meticulous craftsmanship with a profound reverence for its rich history. Whether through modern models or timepieces inspired by classics like the Big Zero, Raketa remains dedicated to honoring the esteemed tradition of Russian watchmaking.

Today, we are getting a closer look at Raketa’s latest release, the Avant-Garde. It's striking with its beautiful color options and uniquely approached design. Drawing inspiration from its iconic predecessor known for the red triangular hand, the new Avant-Garde elevates this design to a whole new level. It incorporates three primary avant-garde colors—red, white, and black—alongside a sleek, geometric hand layout.

The case comes in stainless steel and features a noticeable domed sapphire crystal on the front and a see-through case back. A ruby stone is set inside the crown with engravings of the brand's logo. The case measures 39.5 mm in diameter, 15.78 mm in thickness, and has a lug-to-lug distance of 46.88 mm, fitting perfectly on the wrist. The dial of the Avant-Garde watch draws inspiration from Lazar Markovich Lissitzky's renowned work, "Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge." A beautiful piece of Art that was executed perfectly on the dial. 

As you can see in the picture above, it features a striking red wedge cutting through a white circle, symbolizing the Red Army's advance against the White Army during the Russian Civil War (1918-1920). Lissitzky used abstract geometric shapes to convey revolutionary ideals. The dynamic composition and bold colors of the poster exemplify early Soviet avant-garde art.

The new dial style has a more modern look, with numerals written in Russian at 0, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, while the previous model had a vintage appeal with the Russian painter ‘Kandinsky’ style numerals. The Avant-Garde concept comes from another Raketa watch called the Copernic, borrowing its unique ring-style minute hand, which inspired the geometric shape seen in the Avant-Garde. 

The watch dial boasts a rich sunburst like finish and a multi-layered design. It showcases an hour hand marked by a striking red triangle, a sleek black circle for the minute hand, and a black arrow for the second hand. All hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, ensuring excellent visibility even in low-light conditions.

The watch runs on the caliber 2615 movement, an automatic movement crafted and assembled at the Raketa Watch Factory in Saint Petersburg. It features a bi-directional winding rotor with red decoration, it operates at 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz), and offers a power reserve of 40 hours. The timepiece is complemented by a black leather strap and is priced at AED 7,750.

Waqt is the official exclusive retailer of Raketa in UAE, visit our website to order.