At the end of 2022, Raketa announced the release of a new watch dedicated to the history of Soviet space travel. This time, the focus was on the first satellite, Sputnik 1, which was launched in 1957. The new watch celebrates the 65th anniversary of this achievement.
During the preorder phase, three different options were offered: one with a leather or textile strap, one with a bracelet, and an exclusive edition that included both a strap and a bracelet, as well as a bonus box containing a model of Sputnik 1.
Although I must admit that the overall design of the watch did not particularly impress me, I decided to preorder the cheapest version – the one with the leather strap. There were two reasons for this. First, within my collection, I have several watches from various Soviet or Russian brands dedicated to Sputnik 1, and this new piece fits nicely among them. However, this particular subcollection is not one of the most important parts of my overall collection, so this reason alone would not have been enough. The second, more important reason is that I already own all the previous "new" Raketa watches connected, in one way or another, to the space program. The first was the "Baikonur", which was "developed for the cosmonauts" (check my opinion about this in my linked review). The second was the "Space Launcher", which included parts made from the Soyuz launch vehicle. The third was the "Mars 3", dedicated to the Soviet space probe that landed on Mars. This last watch was only partially a Raketa model, as it was developed in cooperation with Scottish Watches and The Limited Edition.
All of the mentioned watches are 24-hour watches, using the Raketa 2624 movement, and the Sputnik is no exception. To be precise, the other three watches use the 2624A variant (and they are the only 24-hour watches that use the 2624A), while the Sputnik, like all other Raketa 24-hour watches, uses the standard 2624 movement. I was not able to find out what the difference is between these two sub-versions (a similar A/non-A designation also exists in the standard 12-hour 2615 movement). So, there's not much to add here that hasn't already been said. And more or less, with the movement, the similarities between the Sputnik and the other three watches end.
So, let me now focus on the Sputnik watch itself.
The main difference between the Sputnik and the other three watches lies in the case used. For the Sputnik, Raketa chose a 40.5 mm diameter case, which Raketa followers are already familiar with. For example, I had the Raketa Code watch with the same case, and some other models use it as well. However, the Sputnik is the first 24-hour watch to be housed in this case. By choosing this design, the Sputnik becomes the smallest 24-hour watch in the new collection.
The case is paired with a very unusual domed sapphire crystal. Together, the case and the crystal give the watch a rather impressive height. While it can't be compared to something like the Spinnaker Piccard, it’s still quite tall for what is essentially a dress watch with a classic 40.5 mm diameter — the total height is nearly 17 mm, which is substantial.
Another unusual feature of this case is the cone-shaped backplate, which also contributes to the overall height. It appears that the backplate is a snap-on type—I can’t imagine how it could be screwed in with this design. The backplate includes a mineral glass window that allows a peek into the movement. This time, however, the movement decoration is rather poor compared to some other Raketa watches. Raketa has spoiled us—many of their recent models are known for their elaborate decoration. Although this movement is officially described as decorated (with Neva waves on the rotor), the result falls far short of expectations. I was quite certain that at least a silhouette of the Sputnik would be featured on the rotor, but no. A very small drawing of the Sputnik can only be found on the outer ring of the backplate.
On the other hand, “Made in Russia” or “Сделано в России” is written twice on the movement (on the bridge and the rotor), once on the outer ring of the backplate, and—as you’ll see later—also on the dial.
The outer ring also displays the name of the watch (Sputnik-1), the inscription “One of 500,” the serial number (which has four digits—odd, considering there are only 500 pieces), and the water resistance rating of 5 ATM. To be honest, I’m not fully convinced that this case construction can handle 5 ATM. I wouldn’t take this watch into water.
As you can see, the crown is the standard Raketa crown—fairly large, pull/push only, with no screw-down feature. The top of the crown is red-colored, so there’s really nothing new here.
I also have to mention the very large lug width of 22 mm, which is huge for a 40.5 mm watch. I already pointed this out when reviewing the Code watch, but I feel the need to emphasize it again. The highly disproportionate lug size is one of the main reasons I didn't opt for the bracelet version. I simply had the impression that a 22 mm bracelet would look too wide for a 40 mm case.
Now, let me move on to the most interesting part of the watch — the dial. When I first saw it, my reaction was that this dial is just another copy of the many similar Sputnik-themed watches made by various other companies. So, no real innovation here — a rather boring design with the typical light/dark division of the dial to indicate day and night.
Well, I was very wrong about that. The truth is that the design of the dial was inspired by the Raketa Sputnik watch developed in 1974. This design was even approved by the construction bureau of Sputnik 1. So, all later editions of Sputnik-themed watches that follow this design were, in fact, copying Raketa—not the other way around.
Even though I’ve been collecting USSR watches for a long time, I had never come across this 1974 Raketa Sputnik. To be honest, I don’t know much about this predecessor to the modern Sputnik-1 watch, and that was also the reason for my mistake regarding the origin of the dial design.
I have to point out two very interesting things here. The first is that the “old” Sputnik marked midnight with 24, while the new Sputnik-1 marks midnight with 0. With this, the new Sputnik follows Raketa’s updated principle, as already explained in the Baikonur review.
The second interesting detail is the position of noon and midnight. Just like the old Sputnik, the new one places 12:00 at the top of the dial and midnight at the bottom. This is different from all other Raketa 24-hour watches!
If you’re a regular user of Raketa’s 24-hour watches, this setup might feel a bit confusing at first. But in practice, I’ve found that this change is actually more convenient for everyday use—especially for those accustomed to standard 12-hour watches. During the main part of the day, between 10 AM and 4 PM, the position of the hands is more similar to a 12-hour layout. And during the night—when the difference between a 12-hour and 24-hour dial is most noticeable—nobody really pays attention anyway.
The most interesting feature of the dial is hidden in the small print at the lower part, where it reads Sdelano v Rossii iz AMg6. Translated: "Made in Russia from AMg6"—an aluminum-magnesium alloy. This is the exact special alloy used for the metal shield that covered the sphere of the original Sputnik-1 satellite. So, this watch is not just a tribute to Sputnik—it actually contains a direct material link to the satellite itself.
Investigating the dial further, one has to pause at the hour markers. Every two hours (even numbers) are marked with distinctive bullet markers and corresponding numerals above them. Noon is marked with a red bullet. Long lines mark the odd hours. So far, everything makes sense. But then the confusion begins.
Between two even-numbered hours, there are five-minute intervals marked. Four of those in-between minutes are indicated with semi-long lines. And—take note—there are additional small markers between the minute markers, representing half-minute intervals! The only plausible explanation for this design is that these three markings between two full hour markers are intended to serve as quarter-hour indicators. So: a bullet for the full hour, a semi-long line for the first quarter, a small line for the half-hour, another semi-long line for three-quarters, and then the next bullet for the following full hour. In other words, the dial can be interpreted similarly to a regulator layout. However, the hour hand is far too short for that purpose—there’s simply too much space between the tip of the hand and the scale to allow for accurate reading.
I do appreciate one small detail: the way the number 6 and the bullet at 6 (and 18:00 as well) are split in half, with reversed colors contrasting against the dial background. Even under high magnification, this is executed with impressive precision.
Now, let’s move on to the hands. First and most importantly, the color choice for the hands is the biggest flaw of this watch. The silver-colored base and white lume filling set against the light and dark silver tones of the dial do not provide enough contrast for good legibility. For a 24-hour watch, this is even more critical. The relatively slim and elegant design of the hands only worsens the overall visibility.
As already mentioned, if the designers intended the half-minute markers to serve a practical purpose, then the hour hand should have been longer—along with the minute hand accordingly. Luminova is present, but that’s about it. It’s not very effective.
What about the second hand? Since there is a red disc at the end of it (which, by the way, perfectly covers the hour bullets on the dial), my guess is that this disc represents the Sputnik-1 satellite. If that was indeed the designers’ intention, then I can’t help but wish they had been a bit bolder—perhaps by adding at least two antennae extending from the disc or, even better, creating a true miniature replica of the satellite, like the one shown in the booklet. Maybe they even tried something like that but the result didn’t turn out well—I’m just speculating...
The red disc is clearly visible, so overall, the seconds are the easiest to read on this watch. It’s a pity the color scheme wasn’t reversed.
Despite the domed crystal, the watch wears surprisingly well. There are no issues with the height at all. And although the diameter is 40.5 mm, with a lug-to-lug length of 45 mm, the watch both looks and feels larger. The 22 mm lugs and strap contribute to that impression. The leather strap (with a textile overlay on top) is also very comfortable. No complaints here whatsoever.
Since the last few Raketa watches came in very interesting packaging, I was hoping that Raketa had moved on from the overly colorful boxes in which my first Raketa watches were delivered. But I was disappointed. Even though this is a limited edition watch dedicated to Sputnik, it was once again packed in the standard, unattractive box. So apparently, only the 50 special edition packages come with a special box.
What has been carried over from the newer packaging is the "personal touch"—once again, a photo of one of Raketa’s workers is included. This time it's Ilya, who made the cutting tools needed for the movement’s production. Also included is the nicely designed booklet, which outlines a brief history of the Sputnik satellite and the development of the watch, along with an invitation to visit the factory.
Price? It falls within the expected range for modern Raketa watches. The official price on the Raketa EU website is €1700 for the strap version, €1800 for the bracelet version, and €2300 for the special edition. These prices apply within the European Union. The strap version can be found cheaper at the French webshop Ocarat.com, where the listed price is €1570—and at the moment, you can use a welcome discount of 10%, bringing the final price to around €1400. The only downside is the long wait: you have to wait 3–6 months to receive the watch. Still, I decided to order through Ocarat. Unfortunately, the other versions are not available there at this time.
So, if you’re simply looking for an interesting 24-hour watch from Raketa, there are better and more affordable options available (such as the Polar or Submariner). If you’re after a space-themed 24-hour watch, go for the Baikonur. But if those models are too large for your wrist, the Sputnik is a decent alternative—though it doesn’t offer any truly mind-blowing extras.
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