USSR chronograph watch Poljot 3133 shturmanskie 31659 grey dial with box

The Soviet Union introduced a new chronograph caliber in 1976. Called the OKEAN, meaning Ocean, the watch was solely intended for use by the BMF, the naval branch of the military.

Later, other official versions, such as the Sturmanskie, were introduced. Whether or not the 3133 was meant as a replacement for the Poljot 3017, it soon became clear that that was precisely what it was. Based on the Valjoux 7734 of which the soviets had purchased the machinery from the Swiss in 1974 to begin their own production of their new caliber. The new 31 mm movement was a less complex and more robust movement than the jewel-like 3017. A simple cam design replaced the earlier watches more complex, and costly to produce, column wheel activation. And for the first time in history a Russian chronograph was equipped with shock protection.
At 38 mm wide and 12 mm high, with 18 mm sized lugs, the watch was equipped with unique crystal that protruded from the case a fairly steep 3 mm high. All early versions of the watch had a crown at nine that turned a bezel under that purposefully high crystal that had a second hour chapter ring printed on it, making keeping track of a second time zone effortless. Like the earlier Poljot 3017, many different versions of the 3133 made there way into space on various missions. Of note was the ill fated Soyez 23 mission, that left two cosmonauts for dead atop a cracked, frozen lake bed overnight until rescue teams could safely reach them.

The 3133 was for official-use only until 1983, when it became available to a larger public marketplace, including export varients.

A slight variation of the standard 3133 is the hacking 31659 caliber version Sturmanskie that was, like earlier Sturmanskies, an air force-only piece. The watch is essentially a standard 3133 that has been re-engineered with a small lever that applies pressure to the outside of the balance when the crown is pulled out, freezing the balance and hacking the watch. In regard to this watch, is the lack of the rotating bezel and subsequently the crown at nine.
Below to the left is a picture of Japanese journalist-cosmonaut, Toyohiro Akiyama taken during his historical flight.

Another Soviet space first, Akiyama was the first private citizen to buy passage on a space flight. Akiyama was a member of the Soyez TM-11 mission that linked up with the Mir space station. The cost, a reported 28 million dollars, was paid by TBS, the Tokyo Brodcasting System. While in space, Akiyama sent a series of live broadcasts back to the earth. The watch Akiyama wore was an all stainless steel, Soviet Air Force, 31659 caliber, hacking Sturmanskie.