HISTORY
Like a bright thread, the dream of flying into space has been intertwined with Russia’s history from the distant past.
One of the greatest founders of cosmonautics was Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who laid the theoretical foundations of modern cosmonautics and rocket technology in the first half of the 20th century, and later actually designed a spacecraft.That time marked the start of the half-century era of Soviet and Russian cosmonautics, and from that moment, our country became the universally recognised global leader in rocket science, and later, in cosmonautics. Also at that time, before and after the war, the First Moscow Watch Factory made watches for pilots, and marine and aviation chronometers.
During the Great Patriotic War, the plant also made some parts for the first Katyusha rocket launchers, and in 1949, it launched the production of the Sturmanskie watch series. Those watches, made under a special state order, were only available to the Air Force, but not to regular customers. Numerous tests of Sturmanskie showed high quality of the products: exceptional accuracy, reliability and durability. The Sturmanskie also passed special military standard acceptance with brilliance.
The most significant event in the history of the Sturmanskie brand was undoubtedly 12 April 1961, the historic day when the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made his first ever space flight wearing the Sturmanskie watch made for him under a special order. His watch continued to function flawlessly even in conditions of weightlessness and overload.
Sturmanskie watch will forever go down in history as the first watch brand that has been in outer space!
BRAND
For over half a century, these watches have repeatedly surfaced in the thick of events that made the headlines. Sturmanskie entered world history as part of the most successful stress test for technology and man. The main confirmation of that was the first manned space flight in April 1961.
Initially, Sturmanskie was designed for army and navy officers, and was not available to the public until 1983. Astronauts from France, Germany, Japan, India, Poland and other countries who participated in joint flights under the International Space Programme took their Sturmanskie watches with them on space missions. Ever since the brand was launched in 1949, Sturmanskie have shown only the best qualities, being accurate, reliable, and durable.
Ever since the brand was launched in 1949, Sturmanskie have shown only the best qualities, being accurate, reliable, and durable.
COLLABORATION
The most important moment in the brand’s history, without a doubt, was Yuri Gagarin going on his first ever space mission wearing a Sturmanskie watch.
12 April 1961 marked the most significant event in the history of mankind: the launch of the first manned spacecraft, Vostok, from the Baikonur space centre. The world's first cosmonaut, Soviet pilot Yuri Gagarin spent 108 minutes in orbit, making a full circle around the Earth. That science and technology breakthrough of the Soviet school of rocketry and cosmonautics became a new milestone in world history, and Sturmanskie Watch became the FIRST WATCHES in the world to have been in outer SPACE. .
From April 1961 and to this day, Sturmanskie watches have been used in manned space missions by Soviet, Russian, and foreign astronauts.
The brand creators and designers constantly consult with specialists from the mission control centre and Roscosmos when developing new models, and also receive interesting suggestions and comments from cosmonauts on ways to improve Sturmanskie watches.
It is a major challenge to bring together faultless reliability, time-tested durability, functionality and maintainability in a single product. Nevertheless, we bring all these principles to life by studying space technology and building on the experience of Soviet watchmakers.
Another unique quality of the Sturmanskie watches is their affordability for buyers who share the brand values and prefer high quality and durability in watches.
The mission of the Sturmanskie brand is to accompany and reliably serve people who conquer outer space, the aerial dimension or any other elements, on Earth or in space.
MANUFACTURE
Since the release of first Sturmanskie prototypes in 1949 and to the present, these watches have been designed and manufactured in a production facility located in the very heart of Russia – in Moscow, 10 minutes away from the Kremlin. The company's team includes the best watchmakers in Russia – engineers, technologists and designers, all from the best dynasties of watchmakers.
Throughout its half-century history, the Sturmanskie brand has confidently held a leading position among wristwatch manufacturers.
Сollections
The «Gagarin» collection is dedicated to the first human flight into space. The central place of the collection is occupied by the models-heirs of the «Sturmanskie» watches, which Yuri Gagarin took with him on a flight on April 12, 1961 and which were used by many other Soviet cosmonauts. The watches of the collection are made in a wide variety of variations, but in each one it is easy to recognize the characteristic features of the Soviet ancestor.
The collection «Open Space» is designed to remind of the first human entry into open space. This merit belongs to Alexey Leonov, and the modern interpretation of his watch "Strela" is the flagship of the collection – a stylish and functional chronograph "Open Space". Other models are also a legacy of the best Soviet watchmaking traditions.
In the «Okean» collection, connoisseurs will discover one of the best achievements of the USSR in watchmaking – the chronograph «Okean» on a reliable Soviet 3133 mechanism. This expressive multifunctional watch, initially available only to officers of the USSR Navy, eventually earned recognition around the world. Other watches in the collection have high water resistance, contrasting design and are great for underwater diving.
The «Sputnik» collection is a tribute to the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957. In honor of this event, Sputnik watches with a unique design were produced in the USSR, but not for long. Today they are again represented by the «Sputnik Heritage» model, and the rest of the watches in the collection are interesting interpretations of Soviet watch classics.
The watches of the «Arktika» collection are the heirs of the Soviet models "North Pole" and "Antarctica". Their characteristic feature is an unusual 24-hour dial, which allows you to navigate the time of day in the polar night. The collection also includes models with the usual 12-hour dial, also with a recognizable strict look of Soviet watches for polar explorers.
The conquest of space has not been completed, and the «Sturmanskie» dedicated several collections of watches to future space achievements. «Luna 25» is a series of noble watches created in honor of the current Russian lunar exploration program. The collections «Mars» and «Mars Lady» consist of spectacular models with a complex futuristic design and reliable hull protection, which are the embodiment of the creators' hope for the speedy flights of people to the Red Planet.
Each collection of «Sturmanskie» watches is a symbol of recognition of the successes of Soviet and Russian conquerors of new spaces and elements.