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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRaketa’s story has two distinct starting points: the Imperial Peterhof Factory traces its origins to 1721 as a lapidary works, while the Raketa watch brand was named in 1961, in honour of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight. The factory’s much older history is not the same as the brand’s age—and the 24-hour Polar watch is where that history meets a practical design legacy.
1721: A lapidary factory, not a watch brand
Raketa’s account begins near St Petersburg in 1721, when Peter the Great established what became the Imperial Peterhof Factory to make decorative objects from hardstone. The company’s history describes the works as a lapidary enterprise, not a watch manufacturer. Raketa’s history also describes imperial interest in hardstones from Catherine the Great’s reign, beginning in 1762, and materials sourced from the Urals and Altai. Those details are the factory’s own account of its past.
This distinction matters: 1721 is the origin date Raketa gives for the factory that preceded the watch brand. It is not the launch date of Raketa watches.
1961: The Raketa name arrives
The company says it created the Raketa brand in 1961 and chose the name in honour of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight. “Raketa” means “rocket” in Russian, making the choice an unmistakable nod to the era’s space achievements. The naming connection does not establish that Gagarin wore a Raketa-branded watch during his flight; the brand’s own account supports the former, not the latter. Raketa’s brand history explains the company’s account of the name.
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The Polar: A 24-hour watch built around a real problem
The clearest link between Raketa’s history and a recognizable watch is the Polar. According to the brand, a Soviet engineering team developed its 24-hour movement in 1968–69 for polar explorers. In regions and seasons where the sun can remain above or below the horizon for extended periods, familiar daylight cues may not tell you whether it is day or night. A dial that makes a complete rotation once every 24 hours can help make that distinction legible.
How the 24-hour display differs
A conventional 12-hour watch hand circles the dial twice in a day. On a 24-hour watch, the hour hand makes one full turn over 24 hours, and the dial is marked accordingly. The display represents the entire day/night cycle at a glance rather than repeating the same numbers twice. Raketa says the format was developed for polar conditions and later used by submariners and cosmonauts; that is not evidence that all modern astronauts use such watches.
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1969 and 1970: two dates in Raketa’s account
Raketa’s history timeline associates its watches with Soviet polar explorers in 1969, while its 24-hour collection page says the factory produced its first Polar watch in 1970. Those dates appear on different official pages and should not be compressed into one definitive launch date. The company’s timeline presents the polar-explorer connection; its collection page presents the first-production date. The 24-hour collection page also shows the current Polar 0300.
From the factory’s past to its present
The Imperial Peterhof Factory’s lapidary history remains part of the company’s identity, but Raketa presents itself today as a watch manufacturer. It says a modernization program began in 2011 and that it makes every part of its mechanical movements in-house, including hairsprings. These are company claims about its production, rather than independently verified manufacturing findings.
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- Custom model. Original vintage movement + Brand new case and dial.
- New leather band
- Stainless still back
- Watch size: 42x12mm (without crown)
In 2021, the factory marked 300 years from its stated 1721 founding and relaunched the Imperial Peterhof Factory name for work drawing on both its lapidary and watchmaking heritage. The centenary milestone belongs to the factory’s chronology; it does not make the Raketa watch brand 300 years old.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the history means for the current Polar
The Polar turns Raketa’s historical story into a functional design rather than merely a retro reference: its defining 24-hour display reflects the practical requirement the company associates with polar exploration. Raketa’s current collection presents the Polar 0300 alongside other 24-hour watches. The product page displayed a price of €2,000 when accessed in 2026; price, availability and currency can vary by market and change over time, so check the live listing for your location.
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- Custom model. Original vintage movement Brand new case and dial.
- Case size 35 mm
- Stainless still back
- New leather band
- Mechanical, Manual winding up
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- [Luxury Design] High quality hollow out mechanical wristwatch with a retro and gorgeous appearance. With a double sided hollow out design and a special movement, the extremely complex carved totem style demonstrates your noble identity and extraordinary taste
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
