Vostok Komandirskie K39 2426/390781

The Vostok Komandirskie K39 is a pretty big watch, one of the biggest of all the in the Komandirskie range of watches. There are about half a dozen watches in the K39 range and this watch, the dual time 390781, is the one that I have always had my sights on. I understand that this particular Komandirskie K39 is a second generation model with improved crystal (K1 glass) and “32 jewels” correctly featured at the bottom of the dial. Earlier versions had 31 jewels incorrectly written on the dial. The Komandirskie 390781 is one of the slightly higher spec watches in Vostok’s range and it comes in a good quality Vostok Komandirskie box with papers and a spare black rubber divers strap.

As I mentioned this a pretty big watch (for a Vostok) and measures in at 45 mm across excluding crown. It is 51 mm lug to lug with a depth of 17 mm with a lug width is 24 mm. The all stainless steel case is a fairly classic design with elegant crown guards protruding gently and protecting the fairly large (9 mm across) “B” signed, stainless steel crown. The case is brushed on the top surface but polished around the sides, which matches the bezel that is similarly brushed on top and has polished sides.

From reading various comments, which I Google translated, on Meranom’s website, I believe the case is made in Lithuania, presumably by Vostok Europe, rather than at Vostok’s Chistopolcity factory (if anyone can confirm that, please do). The case back looks like a fairly standard, screw in case back (I haven’t tried to take off) with six large dimples that will work with most adjustable case back tools. It has an exhibition back, with a 20 mm glass viewing window, through which you can see the Vostok 2426 movement. The bezel is a pleasingly clean, stainless steel, 24 hour bezel which features simple black markings, numerals for the even hours 2 through to 24 and simple black lines for the odd hours. The bezel is bi-directional with a slightly dimpled edge which is not the grippiest but more than adequate. The bezel rotates with a satisfying clicking movement.

The Vostok 2426 movement is a 32 jewel, automatic, dual time movement. This basically means that there is a fourth hand anchored to the hour hand that completes full rotation every 24 hours. In combination with a 24 hour bezel this can be used to monitor a second time zone. This is basically the earliest form of GMT watch and was how early GMT watches like the Rolex GMT Master and Breitling Navitimer functioned. Today it seems that most people call this old-fashioned style “dual time” whilst GMT watches are considered to be those with an independently rotatable 24 hour hand. This movement also features in the Komandirskie K-34. Looking through the exhibition case, the movement is a little more adorned than a standard movement with blued screws, gold-coloured wheels and a decorated, patterned rotor.

The Vostok Komandirskie K39 390781 dial has a black, red and white colour scheme. The main dial colour is matt black and there is a faint “sniper” cross in white in the background.  Around the outside edge is a faux chapter ring with 24 hour (white numerals for the even hours, dots for the markings. The top half of this “chapter ring” is a very dark blue colour (I thought it was black to begin with) whilst the bottom half is red. What I can’t fathom is why the red bottom half does not quite go up to the half way point, but finishes a little below the 3 and 9 o’clock markers. I wonder why? Inside the outer ring are 60 simple white minutes markers.

The hour marker are applied, rectangular markers with a black outer and a lumed centre. There are simple rectangles at all hour marks apart from a double marker at 12 o’clock and none at 3 o’clock where the date window is located. The date wheel is black with white numerals. Inside the hour markers are the last set of numbers, 12 hour numerals. Also appearing on the dial, all in Cyrilic, from top to bottom are, Vostok in white, Komandirskie in red, K39 in red, Automatic in white and 200m also in white. Around the bottom of the dial in white is the now corrected 32 jewels and “Made in Russia”. There is quite a lot of information and markings on the dial. Perhaps it is a little busy and the indices could have been lumed.

There are four hands. The hour and minute hands are simple pointed “pencil” type hands. They are black for a small portion at the very centre whilst the rest of the hands are lumed. There is a simple red pointed needle for the seconds hand and then there is there fourth hand, the 24 hour hand, which is black with a red triangular pointer filled with lume. The lume is more than adequate (see lume shot). The hands are clean and easy to read. The black centre, rest of the hand lumed design reminds me of the various other watches likes the Sinn EZM for example.

As mentioned at the beginning, this K39 model comes with two straps. It is fitted with a pretty good quality black leather strap with white stitching. This is quite generously padded, and at 24 mm wide, it a substantial strap. The buckle is a rather large brushed stainless steel design, 32 mm across at its widest point. It is what most people describe as a Panerai style buckle. The buckle features the Komandirksie star and double chevron logo. I wonder how hard wearing the leather strap will be.

The second strap is a smart black silicon rubber strap. This also has a, slightly smaller, less angular, brushed stainless steel buckle with the Komandirskie logo. I think I will wear it on the rubber strap for the time being as, due to Covid-19, I seem be washing my hands countless times a day at work and the rubber won’t mind getting wet. The rubber strap is very comfortable.

Vostok Komandirskie K39 on Rubber Strap

I have a 7 and a half inch wrist and the Vostok Komandirskie K39 390781 watch is relatively imposing and looking rather large on the wrist. I quite like the larger Vostoks, like the Amphibia 090, but even so this is perhaps on the upper size limit of what I would normally wear and with a depth of 17mm it does appear to sit somewhat high. The dial, at first seems a bit fussy but, having worn it a few times, actually it is fairly easy on the eye and simple to read.

This Vostok Komandirskie K39 2426/390781 was purchased from Komandirskie.com in May 2020 for £142.00, approximately $180.00, which I consider excellent good value for money. I would highly recommend this Komandirskie s long as one doesn’t mind wearing a larger style watch!