Slava watches
A Russian watch brand descended from Moscow's Second Watch Factory and associated with Soviet-era mechanical watches, export production, and modern historical reissues.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Slava is a Russian watch brand whose institutional origins trace back to the creation of the Second Moscow Watch Factory in 1924. The factory formed part of the Soviet Union's effort to establish a domestic watchmaking industry after the state acquired and imported two American watch factories in 1919. Production at the second Moscow facility began in 1931, while the Slava name became associated with its watches during the 1950s. In Soviet usage, Slava was regarded as a classic civilian watch brand, distinct from brands aimed primarily at military, professional, or state-service applications. The brand's historical identity was built around practical wristwatches, especially mechanical models intended for everyday use. Its products became known in the Soviet and export markets for functional construction, durability, and accessible positioning. The factory also developed technically notable products. Slava tuning-fork wristwatches, including the Transistor model, received a gold medal at the 1964 international fair in Leipzig. Slava watches using a 24 mm caliber won a gold medal at an international exhibition in Brno in 1974, and the brand received another gold medal at the Leipzig international fair in 1975. During the final decades of the Soviet period, Slava expanded its international reach. Exports reportedly accounted for as much as half of production in some years, and subsidiary assembly operations existed in France and Switzerland. From 1985, during the Gorbachev era, the factory also produced models connected with the Communist Party. This period illustrates the breadth of the factory's output, which combined mass-market civilian watches, export products, and politically themed production. The factory's physical history changed sharply after the end of the Soviet period. In January 2006, the factory and its site were sold for retail development. The factory building was demolished by 2010 as the property was redeveloped for real estate. In a debt-swap arrangement, control of the Slava brand passed to the municipality of Moscow. The city granted licensing rights to the Slava trade house, which also acquired remaining inventory and stocks of movements. In 2019, the brand was purchased from the Moscow government, after which active commercial development resumed. The modern Slava brand has emphasized a premium repositioning based on Soviet and post-Soviet watch heritage. Its current assortment includes reissues of well-known models from the 1970s, 1980s, and post-Soviet period, limited collectible editions, and collaborations with watch companies, public figures, cultural properties, and other brands. Rather than relying solely on historical continuity from the original factory, the contemporary business uses the Slava name as a heritage platform for mechanical watches with retro styling and Russian cultural references. The centenary in 2024 was marked by the launch of approximately a dozen new models. Notable releases included Yozhik Slava, inspired by the Soviet animated film character and developed with Soyuzmultfilm and the Alltime network; The Little Prince, created with watch blogger and crowdfunding organizer Anton Yaitskiy; Pogonya, a revival of a Soviet driver-oriented watch concept; and AK, made in collaboration with the Kalashnikov concern. The Little Prince reportedly sold 700 pieces within seven minutes of the start of its preorder, while Pogonya received the Best Sports Watch award at the Best Russian Watches 2024 competition. Slava therefore combines a Soviet industrial legacy with contemporary limited editions, collaborations, and premium-oriented collector products.
History
Slava's industrial lineage begins with the Soviet Union's attempt to establish a domestic watchmaking sector after the 1917 Revolution. In 1919, the Soviet government acquired and imported two American watch factories. One became Moscow's First Watch Factory, later associated with Poljot, while the other formed the basis of the Second Moscow Watch Factory. The second factory was established in 1924 and began producing watches in 1931. The Slava name entered use for the factory's watches during the 1950s. It became associated with civilian, everyday watches rather than a narrowly specialized military identity. The factory produced mechanical wristwatches and other timepieces for the domestic Soviet market, while also developing technically distinctive models. Its tuning-fork wristwatches, including the Transistor, won a gold medal at the 1964 international fair in Leipzig. Slava's watches with a 24 mm caliber received a gold medal at the 1974 international exhibition in Brno, and the brand received another gold medal at the 1975 Leipzig international fair. Slava expanded its export presence during the late Soviet decades. In some years, exports reportedly represented up to 50 percent of production. Assembly subsidiaries operated in France and Switzerland, showing that the brand's commercial network extended beyond the Soviet Union. Beginning in 1985, the factory also manufactured watches for the Communist Party during the Gorbachev period. Its output consequently covered civilian mass-market watches, export products, politically themed models, and technically varied mechanical and electronic products. The collapse of the Soviet industrial system and the redevelopment of Moscow changed the brand's structure. In January 2006, the Slava factory and its land were sold for retail development. The historic factory was demolished by 2010, and the site was redirected toward real-estate projects. The brand itself was transferred to the Moscow municipality as part of a debt-swap arrangement. Moscow subsequently licensed the rights to use Slava to the Slava trade house, which also acquired the remaining inventory and stocks of watch movements. A further ownership transition took place in 2019, when the brand was bought from the Moscow government. This transaction marked the beginning of a renewed phase of active product development. The modern brand moved toward a more premium and collector-oriented proposition, using historical designs as the basis for reissues while also introducing limited editions and collaborations. The contemporary assortment draws particularly on Slava models and visual language from the 1970s, 1980s, and the post-Soviet period. The centenary year of 2024 became a major product milestone. Slava released approximately twelve new models, including collaborations linked to Soviet popular culture, contemporary watch media, automotive or driver-watch heritage, and the Kalashnikov concern. Yozhik Slava was inspired by the Soviet animated film character and created with Soyuzmultfilm and the Alltime network. The Little Prince was developed with watch blogger and crowdfunding organizer Anton Yaitskiy and reportedly achieved a rapid preorder result. Pogonya reinterpreted a Soviet watch made for drivers and won the Best Sports Watch award at the 2024 Best Russian Watches competition. The AK model was created with the Kalashnikov concern. Slava's cultural presence also extends beyond product history. The Second Moscow Watch Factory served as a filming location for the 1962 Soviet film Seven Nannies, whose plot was connected with watch production. In the 2016 Bulgarian film Glory, whose original title is Slava, a Slava watch engraved by the protagonist's father plays an important role in the story. These references reinforce the brand's association with Soviet industrial memory and personal ownership of watches as everyday cultural objects.
- 2024
Centenary collection launched
[1]Slava marked its centenary with approximately a dozen new models and several cultural and industrial collaborations.
- 2023
Afalina wins Best Sports Watch
[1]The Afalina model received the Best Sports Watch award at the Best Russian Watches 2023 competition.
- 2019
Brand sold by Moscow government
[1]The Slava brand was sold by the Moscow government, after which its active development resumed.
- 2010
Historic factory demolished
[1]The factory had been demolished by 2010 for new real-estate projects.
- 2006
Factory site sold for redevelopment
[1]The factory and its site were sold for retail development.
- 1985
Political-party models introduced
[1]During the Gorbachev era, the factory began manufacturing models for the Communist Party.
- 1975
Slava receives another Leipzig gold medal
[1]The brand won a further gold medal at the international fair in Leipzig.
- 1974
24 mm caliber watches win Brno gold medal
[1]Slava wristwatches using a 24 mm caliber received a gold medal at an international exhibition in Brno.
- 1964
Transistor tuning-fork watch receives Leipzig gold medal
[1]Slava's Transistor tuning-fork wristwatch received a gold medal at the international fair in Leipzig.
- 1950
Slava name enters use
[1]The factory's watches became associated with the Slava brand during the 1950s.
Products and positioning
Heritage-oriented Russian watch brand offering mechanical and collectible watches that reinterpret Soviet and post-Soviet designs for the contemporary premium segment.
Tuning-fork wristwatch · 1964
Transistor
A Slava tuning-fork wristwatch associated with the brand's electronic-era technical development. The model received a gold medal at the 1964 international fair in Leipzig and represents the factory's effort to produce technically distinctive watches in addition to conventional mechanical products.
Sports watch · 2023
Afalina
A Slava sports model recognized at the Best Russian Watches 2023 competition, where it received the Best Sports Watch award. Detailed specifications and the model's current production status are not established in the supplied reference material.
Cultural collaboration watch · 2024
Yozhik Slava
A centenary model themed around the iconic Soviet animated-film character Yozhik. The watch was developed in collaboration with Soyuzmultfilm and the Alltime network, linking Slava's heritage positioning with Soviet popular culture.
Limited collaboration watch · 2024
The Little Prince
A 2024 collaboration developed with watch blogger and crowdfunding organizer Anton Yaitskiy. The model attracted substantial preorder interest in the supplied account, with 700 pieces reportedly sold within seven minutes of preorder opening.
Sports and driver-inspired watch · 2024
Pogonya
A reinterpretation of a Soviet watch concept designed for drivers. Released as part of the 2024 centenary program, Pogonya received the Best Sports Watch award at the Best Russian Watches 2024 competition.
Industrial collaboration watch · 2024
AK
A watch created in collaboration with the Kalashnikov concern and introduced among Slava's centenary-era releases. The supplied reference does not establish detailed specifications, pricing, or production volume.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Slava centenary program
Russia
Slava marked its hundredth anniversary with approximately a dozen new models, using reissues and collaborations to connect the historical factory legacy with a modern premium and collector-oriented offer.
Outcome. The program produced several notable launches, including Yozhik Slava, The Little Prince, Pogonya, and AK.
Brand decisions
2024
Launch centenary collectionProduct launchBackground
Slava's centenary provided an opportunity to revive historical design themes and broaden the brand's contemporary cultural associations.
Action taken
The brand launched approximately a dozen models, including collaborations with Soyuzmultfilm, Alltime, Anton Yaitskiy, and the Kalashnikov concern.
Aftermath
The collection generated notable preorder demand for The Little Prince and earned Pogonya a Best Sports Watch award.
2019
Acquire Slava from the Moscow governmentM&ABackground
Following the loss of the original factory site, Moscow had controlled the brand through a debt-swap arrangement and had licensed its use to the Slava trade house.
Action taken
The Slava trade house acquired the brand from the Moscow government and began active development.
Aftermath
The brand moved toward premium models, historical reissues, limited editions, and collaborations.
2006
Separate the brand from its historic factory siteStrategyBackground
The factory and its Moscow site were sold for retail development, ending the site's role as the physical center of Slava production.
Action taken
The property was transferred for redevelopment, and the factory was later demolished.
Aftermath
By 2010 the historic facility had been replaced by real-estate development, while the brand continued through separate ownership and licensing arrangements.
Recent events
- 2024
Slava launches centenary collection[1]
Product launch · Campaign
For its centenary, Slava introduced around a dozen models, including Yozhik Slava, The Little Prince, Pogonya, and AK.
- 2024
The Little Prince preorder reportedly sells 700 watches in seven minutes[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The Little Prince collaboration reportedly reached 700 presold pieces within seven minutes of preorder opening.
- 2024
Pogonya wins Best Sports Watch at Best Russian Watches 2024[1]
Product launch · Other
The Pogonya model, based on a Soviet driver-watch concept, received the Best Sports Watch award at the 2024 Best Russian Watches competition.
- 2019
Slava brand acquired from the Moscow government[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The Slava brand was purchased from the Moscow government, enabling renewed active development under private ownership.
- 2010
Slava factory demolished during real-estate redevelopment[1]
Other
The former factory building had been demolished by 2010 as the site was converted for new real-estate projects.
- 2006
Slava factory and site sold for retail redevelopment[1]
M&A
The Moscow factory site associated with Slava was sold for retail development, beginning the separation of the brand from its historic manufacturing premises.
Sources1 sources
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