Raketa Big Zero - Gold Case with Original Box [Very Rare]

The Raketa Big Zero emerged in the mid-1980s as a utilitarian object, built with clarity and purpose. Commissioned by the All‑Soviet Society of the Blind, it featured an unusually stark dial - oversized numerals at the quarters, and a bold “0” in place of the traditional 12. The idea was practical: readability mattered more than convention. 

Time, after all, starts at zero.

Raketa, meaning “rocket” in Russian, was founded in 1961, the same year Gagarin went to space. These were watches made at the Petrodvorets Watch Factory, one of Russia’s oldest manufacturers, originally established by Peter the Great in 1721.

But what began as a functional design soon evolved into a symbol. By the late 80s, the model was nearly shelved, until a group of Italian buyers visited the Petrodvorets Watch Factory and saw something else in that zero. To them, the watch mirrored the spirit of Gorbachev’s reforms. It carried the promise of a new beginning.

Soon after, The Big Zero re-entered production, this time in multiple variants; black dials, Soviet insignias, even pocket-watch formats.

There’s a story, repeated often enough to become lore, that Gorbachev himself wore the Big Zero during a diplomatic visit to Italy in 1985. When asked to explain Perestroika, he is said to have raised his wrist and replied, “It’s like my watch. The Soviet people want to start everything from zero.” The Italian press reportedly headlined this vivid metaphor, cementing the watch’s symbolic status.

Whether or not the quote is apocryphal, it captured the imagination of a post-Cold War Europe trying to decode the signals coming from Moscow. The watch became a talking point; not just a curiosity, but a small, wearable piece of political theatre.

Even though it isn’t a particularly expensive watch by collector standards, it continues to be held in high regard. Its status has little to do with price and everything to do with character.

The Big Zero has since been reissued in modern form with automatic movements, sapphire crystal, and better finishing. But the design remains unchanged.

Technical Details:

This watch has a Manual 2609HA movement with 42 hours power reserve. The movement has a frequency of 18000 vph.

• Diameter: 39mm
• Case Material: Gold
• Thickness: 11mm
• Lug Width: 18mm
• Bezel Material: None
• Glass: Acrylic Glass
• Dial Color: Black
• Crown Type: Regular
• Center Seconds
• Includes: Watch and Box