Vostok Amphibia Watch Review

Today we are looking at my Vostok Amphibia 100845 which I ordered from Russia.

I love this watch, but it is not the watch I ordered. I actually wanted a different Amphibia, the 710919, which is a different shape and had the scuba dude dial.

I don’t know what happened, but I opened the box to find the 100845. It was clearly a packing mistake. I was really annoyed for a few minutes, as I was going to have email them and then post it back and then wait another couple of months to get my scuba dude.

However, I looked at the watch that I had and I quickly changed my mind and decided I didn’t care. I was just going to keep this one.

Was that a bad move? I don’t know, but I love the watch and I can’t take it off, so we have to assume it’s all good. I do kind of wish I contacted them to see what the response would be, but I also think this is a very rare occurrence, so don’t let it put you off ordering from Vostok. All my other orders have been correct.

Model – Vostok Amphibia 100845

The model is the 100845, as with all Vostoks the first 3 number is the case shape and the last 3 are the dial. So as you can see, this is really not even close to the watch I wanted.

However, it is still an Amphibia, so at least that was right. This makes the watch a part of the dive watch collection and it therefore has 200m.

The Amphibia is probably Vostoks most famous and popular line of watches. The “scuba dude” is the most iconic dial for these watches, which is why I was trying to get one, but I think the dial and case shape I have ended up with are equally as cool.    

Brand

If you haven’t heard of Vostok before, don’t worry about them sending me the wrong watch. Normally they are great to order form, but more importantly their watches are awesome. They are a Russian company that sell very unique and pretty quirky watches that are very popular with watch collectors due to their ruggedness and affordability.

(You can read more about – Are Vostok Watches Worth The Money?)

Movement

Inside the watch is the automatic 2416 in house movement from Vostok. It has 31 jewels and has the usual accuracy of between -20 and +60 seconds a day.

It should also last around 31 hours when fully wound and needs serviced every 10 years.

(You can read more information about – How To Improve The Accuracy Of A Vostok Watch)

Dial

The dial on this watch is very interesting. At first glance I thought it was stupid, but that was because it didn’t have the scuba dude on it. However, when I actually studied it, I thought it was so cool.

The dial its self is black, with almost everything else being this kind of very pale yellowy green colour (the colour of lume in daylight). Everything on the dial is printed.

The main thing you will notice is the fact that the numbers are around the dial are actually for the minutes, starting with 60 where the 12 would normally be and working around in 10 minute intervals with a lume dot being  in between each increment of 10. 

These numbers and and lume dots are along the outer edge of the dial and there is an inner ring, which is in white and has  line shaped minute markers, at every 5^th marker the line is slightly longer and thicker and is the light/yellow green lume colour that is the same as the numbers.

The hands are the classic amphibian arrow hour hand and normal Vostok minute hand. The seconds hand is a crisp white lollypop that I just love.

There is a date wheel at the 3 o’clock position and then above the central pinion is the words “Amphibia” in Russian and below the pinion is “31 jewels” in Russian.

Either side of the lume dot at the 7o’clock is the Made In Russia, in Russian.

The dial can seem a little busy, since it has so many little line markers near the centre and the larger, double figured numbers (the 60, 10 20 etc) but I still like it. It isn’t actually to bad and I just love the colours.

The white and then that off white (more light yellow/green) just works so well with the black background.

I honestly would not have choice this watch. I would not have looked twice at this dial, but I am so glad I was forced to, as now I love it so much.

Bezel

The bezel is actually quite important to this watch. It is actually a 12 hour bezel, which can actually be useful, since the dial its self does not have these markings. It does also mean you can use it a rudimentary GMT, although as it does not differentiate between AM and PM, so it’s not perfect, but for a country that isn’t too far away from your own timezone, it can be useful.

As it is a Vostok, the bezel does not click, its friction based. My one is quite stiff, so I have not knocked it out of place, but this can happen. However you can take the bezel off and tighten it if you need to.

I am 50/50 on this bezel I like the 12h function and I don’t mind the chrome colour, but I do wonder if a different coloured 12h bezel might look better. I’ve not found one yet that I think will work better, so for now I’m keeping it as it is.

(Find out – How To Change The Bezel On A Vostok)

Crystal

The crystal is the usual domed acyclic that you find on all Vostoks. It is awesome looking, but of course is a scratch magnet.

Luckily you can easily buff any issues away with some polywatch and everything will go back to new.  

Case

The case is the 100 model, which I hadn’t actually looked at before this arrived and I have to say I love it. I think the size and shape is perfect and I actually prefer it to the 710 I was expecting. It’s kind of thick and chunky, but in a good way, it’s not overbearing and wears really well.

I don’t think you can get the scuba dude dial with this case, so I might have to buy the two separately and combine them to get the ultimate watch.

The case is made from stainless steel and has a large crown compared to my Komandirske, which probably helps give it the 200m of water resistance.

Its 41mm wide, 15mm thick and has a lug to lug of 48mm. I think it sounds bigger than it is. It actually wears pretty nicely.

The case back is also made from stainless steel and is the standard Vostok design of a case back plate, which is held down by a retaining ring.

The base back also has some information on the back in Russian, such as being water resistant and of course the “Amphibia” name …logo…or font I guess written across the middle of the case back.

(You can read more about – How Tough Are Vostok Watches?)

Lume

The lume on this watch is disappointing. It’s no worse than any other Vostok, but I did feel a little let down.

Earlier when I was mentioning the dial I was talking about how everything is that sort of pale yellow/green colour, which to me is the colour of lume paint in the daylight, that isn’t glowing.

When I looked at this watch I thought it was going to glowing like crazy in the dark, but sadly it’s only the 3 hands and 5 lume dots. (There would be 6, but the date window has replaced one)

Part of me is disappointed by this, but a large part of me is still impressed. The numbers and markers on the dial are perfectly coloured matched to the parts that are actually lumed. Usually you can tell the difference between a lumed area and a non lumed area. Not on this watch, they look identical.

It will be interesting to see how this changes over time. Maybe the lume will age and the dial will not. I guess time will tell. 

However, I do wish it was all lumed. I think that would look amazing, but it is what is it. Vostok lume is usually average at best, often below average, so I’m not really missing out on anything by having less lumed areas than I want.

Strap

The strap is the issued bracelet. The one that everyone says is bad and pulls hairs. That can be true at times, but honestly it’s not that bad. There are a lot micro adjusts, so getting a good fit is pretty easy and I have kept it on the supplied bracelet.

(You can read more information about – Are Vostok Straps Bad?)

I did put it on a Nato for a while, which was awesome, but I like the bracelet more.

(You can read more about – How To Adjust A Vostok Bracelet)

Price

I believe the watch I ordered was £37 and the one I got was £35, so I was slightly ripped off, but I’m not going to cry over 2 quid!

Anyway, £35 …or £37 in my case, is excellent value for this watch. The Vostok Amphibia has so much history and uniqueness. To be able to own this watch for such a small amount of money is really incredible and is why I was not too upset about getting the wrong watch. It just means I have to buy another one, so I get the right one. I have no problems with increasing my Vostok collection.

(You can read more about – Where Is The Best Place To Buy Vostok Watches?)

Over All Opinion

While this is not the watch I was expecting, I really have fallen in love with it. It is pretty much my daily watch. I think I wear it more than any other. I don’t know why. I just really like it. I like that it’s not the one I want, but I still love it. It just says to me that all Vostoks are great. Pick any one at random and you will probably enjoy it.

If you haven’t got a Vostok, or specifically an Amphibia you need to get one. There is plenty to choose from and even if you get the wrong one like me, you will probably still love it. 

(You can read more about – Vostok Komandirskie vs Amphibia – What Are The Differences?)