Zaria (Заря) wristwatch (lady's)

Name/Title

"Zaria" (Заря) wristwatch (lady's)

Entry/Object ID

2025.11.26

Description

Small lady's mechanical wristwatch with a gold-tone (gilt) round case, on a brown leather strap with a gilt buckle (not original). The champagne/gilt sunburst dial is signed "ZARIA," with "17 JEWELS" and "MADE IN USSR" toward the center/lower dial, slim gilt baton hands, and a faceted gilt bezel. Crown at 3.

Acquisition

Accession

2025.11

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Penza Watch Factory

Place

State/Province

Penza Oblast

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Edition

Zaria (Заря)

Notes

Date: Post-1964/65 (Zaria brand) and pre-1992 ("Made in USSR"); style consistent with the 1960s–1980s. Exact year not determinable; within range.

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Notes

"ZARIA"; "17 JEWELS"; "MADE IN USSR."

Materials

Material Notes

Materials: Gold-plated (gilt) brass case and buckle; gilt dial and hands; crystal (acrylic/mineral); brown leather strap; 17-jewel mechanical (manual-wind) movement. Technique: Mass-produced Soviet mechanical wristwatch; gilt-plated case.

Condition

Overall Condition

Poor

Relationships

Related Places

Place

State/Province

Penza Oblast

Country

U.S.S.R.

Region

Eastern Europe

Continent

Europe

Notes

production

Place

City

Havana

Country

Cuba

Region

Caribbean, Central America

Notes

use

Research Notes

Notes

From 1964, all watches produced at the Penza Watch Factory carried the Zaria brand; by 1968 a third of the factory's output was exported to 52 countries. The Latin-script "ZARIA / MADE IN USSR" dial is the export configuration. Type: A small-caliber 17-jewel lady's manual-wind dress watch, a Penza specialty (the factory focused on women's watches from 1949).

Created By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Create Date

October 31, 2025

Updated By

María A. Cabrera Arús

Update Date

June 11, 2026