The history of watches in Ukraine

People have started fixing uncontrollable time a long time ago. The tendency to subjugate it to self has started in ancient Egypt more than three and half thousand years ago when it was found sun-clock. The appearance of the first watches that worked from energy of spring was dated 1470 years. And in the end of XV centuries there was already appeared the first portable mechanic watches that were forerunner of the today watches. The next evolution of watches and watch movements is inseparably concerned with Switzerland where was generated the watch image within five next centuries that we have on the present time. In Ukraine the watch traditions are supported by Kiev Watch Factory that was found in 1997 year.

Kiev Watch Factory

The first Ukrainian watch appeared on Kiev Watch Factory in 1999 year. Exactly with watch “POLJOT”, which was assembled in Kiev, the first Ukrainian cosmonaut Leonid Kadenyuk realized his first flight. And in 2002 year Kiev Watch Factory has already presented the own watch brand “KLEYNOD”. Just so the history of Ukrainian watches has started.

We must be grateful to the present general director of Kiev Watch Factory, Olexiy Zolotaryev, for appearance of watch industry in Ukraine. Just thank to talent this businessman the watch production was successfully got straight in Kiev. “After contacting with the wrist watches catalog “POLJOT” I thought why independence Ukraine didn’t have its own production and own watch factories. And the first travel to Worldwide Watch Show in Switzerland in 1996 year turned up all my imagination about watch world. Then it was appeared the idea why not engage in production” – according to Olexiy Zolotaryev, - “The idea of own brand was born at once with idea of foundation of watch factory. The own brand was needed as Ukraine had the right on it”.

Kiev Watch Factory was founded in November 1997 year. Its work started from communication with the First Moscow Watch Factory POLJOT. Then the production of license watches POLJOT started in Ukraine. Some time later there was decided to start making own brand as Ukrainian watch brand was not anywhere till this moment. And the serial watch production with Ukrainian watch brand KLEYNOD has already started in 2002 year. Watches KLEYNOD are produced according to own art and design-technological findings of Kiev Watch Factory and consisted on basic Swiss movements.