Line History
Alongside civilian production, the Chelyabinsk factory produced for decades a line of pocket watches dedicated to the memory of the "Great Patriotic War", as the Eastern Front of the Second World War (1941-1945) is called in Russia. These examples share the basic mechanics of Molnija production, but stand out for dials and backs decorated with military iconography: emblems of the infantry, the tank corps, the navy and the air force, portraits of soldiers and celebratory inscriptions in Russian.
The line did not originate from a single commercial launch, but from editions produced on several occasions over the decades, particularly to coincide with "round" Victory anniversaries — the 20th in 1965, the 30th in 1975, the 40th in 1985, the 50th in 1995 — with colour variants of the dial, typically in bright red or deep blue, both popular among collectors.
More than everyday wrist watches, these examples were intended as commemorative objects and representational gifts, often given to veterans, officials or on the occasion of public ceremonies: a role that still makes them, today, one of the most recognizable and sought-after chapters of Molnija production.
Technical Specifications
Main Executions
Even after the historic line closed in 2007, pocket watches themed on the "Great Patriotic War" continued to circulate on the collecting market, assembled from spare Molnija movements, a sign of how closely this iconography remains tied to the brand's identity compared with many of its other productions.