Diamond sputnik

Snagged this watch at the flea market for 5 bucks. Obviously, I didn't even bother haggling—at that price, trying to beat down the seller's profit just felt wrong. Visually, it’s in fantastic shape. The only catch is that the alarm spring feels loose, or maybe broken, I have no clue.

It’s a Chinese watch from the '60s or '70s, made in Shanghai. The coolest thing about it is the seconds hand—or rather, the fact that there isn't one. Instead, you've got Sputnik floating around the dial like it's suspended in mid-air. To pull this off, instead of a standard central seconds hand, they installed a clear disc with the satellite printed on it. The movement drives the disc, making Sputnik orbit the dial without looking attached to a single thing. Pretty awesome effect!