Nostalgia for the eighties and nineties: Montana watch

Style "retro" from time to time returns to fashion. That's why we listen with pleasure to the music, the rhythms of which excited the youth 20-30 years ago, we apply make-up "a la 20s" and we build hairdresses in the same style on our heads. And if you have a good acquaintance or a male relative of thirty-five or older age, he soon has a celebration, and you are rushing about in search of an original surprise gift-do not philosophize slyly, but look for a rarity that has become a symbol of his childhood and Of youth.

Why this watch?

As you know, the watch is a great present for a man of any age, profession and social status. The difference can be in the mark, cost, functionality. However, in comparison with all modern brands, the Montana watch, which appeared at the end of the USSR era as the first swallow "from there," as an element of "beautiful life," has virtually no competitors. And the point here is not in the excellent quality or the set of "bells and whistles", "steepness" and style of the subject. Simply for those whose childhood, youth or youth fell on the last two decades of the last century, they personified a kind of technical miracle.

To have Montana watches was prestigious: it was considered an indicator of "advancement", a special glamor in the teenage and masculine environment. And in fact, where did the Soviet production of watch factories in Belarus or the Moscow region go after them! Mechanical or electronic watches of domestic production seemed pathetic compared to foreign watches, which had an original and unusual design. Backlight, stopwatch, a set of tunes that you could listen to just like that, and you can set it on the alarm clock (Montana watches also had this function!), A logo in a foreign language, a metal bracelet and other details on the teenagers of those times made the impression of the same Strong, as in the current - the latest models of iPhones, iPods, etc. Modern fans of the "vintage" and "techno" styles will gladly decorate their wrists with this antiques, thereby creating competition for the older generation.

Another glimpse into the past

Buying this or that thing, we pay attention to the country-producer, because often this factor becomes the guarantee of the quality of the product. Where and who produced the Montana watch, it is impossible to say unequivocally: the country, the developers, the place of production of serial lots - everything was unknown, inaccurate. Some models were made all in the same China, others - in Hong Kong. The main thing is that everyone on the case, on the back cover, was engraved: "USA". This was enough for an inexperienced Soviet buyer to sincerely believe: he is getting really imported products, and therefore, quality! Yes, and buy a watch "Montana", like any scarce and therefore worthwhile goods, it was not easy. They cost them for someone available, and for someone and a little expensive - from 60 to 70 rubles. But it's not even in the price. In free trade, watch did not appear - they were hunted for commission, bought from hand. Naturally, the residents of the province had to go to regional or regional centers for scarce goods or seek help from acquaintances. But how much pride and joy appeared in the eyes of the one who had Montana on his arm, the dream clock!

Some Technical Data

"Montana" is a brand of men's watches, but they were also gladly worn by female representatives. The case was made of steel or plastic, the dial was covered with plexiglas. So that it is not scratched, a protective film is glued on the glass, many of it was not removed when wearing a watch. The first models were with the 7th and 8th melodies, the later ones with the 16th. The most famous are Montan models from the firm Kessel. In their arsenal, in addition to the scoreboard with hours and minutes, there was a stopwatch, a calendar with the indication of the day of the week, of course, an alarm clock. The function "Hourly signal" could be turned off - otherwise the sound callsigns were triggered every 60 minutes. Naturally, the clock had a highlight - turn it on by pressing a button on the edge of the case. On the dial of the models there was a fine print, similar to a gothic, magical inscription-logo with an eagle pattern: "Montana".