First off, let’s get something straight: are they *really* “fake”? See, the thing with Vostoks is they’re like the Lego bricks of the watch world. People are *constantly* swapping parts, modding them like crazy. You got guys putting modern bezels on old cases, sticking different hands on dials that probably didn’t originally belong there. It’s a free-for-all. So, is it “fake” if it’s made of real Vostok parts, just…mixed and matched? I dunno, man, philosopical question right there.
You’ll see folks saying they’ve “never run across a fake Vostok” but instead franken watches. That’s what I’m talking about! It’s like someone took a perfectly good, working watch and said, “Nah, needs more *me*,” and then just…went wild. And honestly, sometimes it’s awesome, sometimes it’s a train wreck.
Then you gotta consider the whole “desirable vintage dial” situation. Basically, some folks are taking more modern movements and slapping on these vintage dials, probably to make a quick buck. Is that fake? Again, kinda grey area. I mean, the dial’s old, the movement works, but it’s not exactly how it left the factory, if you catch my drift.
And the bezels! Oh, the bezels. Apparently, there are *well-known fake bezels* floating around. The one example I saw mentioned the “30” being upside down. Seriously? People are faking *bezels* for Vostoks? That’s dedication (or maybe just madness) for ya.
Now, you might be thinking, “Why would anyone bother faking a cheap watch like a Vostok?” I mean, I’ve seen guys on forums saying the same thing! And I get it. But hey, people collect stuff, right? And if you can assemble a franken-Vostok, stick a “rare” dial on it, and sell it for a decent profit, well… some folks gonna do it. That’s capitalism, baby!
Honestly, figuring out if a Vostok is “original” is more like an archeological dig than a simple yes/no answer. You gotta look at the dial, the hands, the case, the bezel, the movement…it’s a whole thing. And even then, you might still be scratching your head!
