Introducing The New Raketa Russian Code Qatar Edition

In the heart of its Saint Petersburg manufacture, Raketa has spent decades defining its identity through independence, in-house engineering, and a willingness to challenge the most basic conventions of timekeeping. While much of the watch industry continues to refine familiar formulas, Raketa has consistently asked a more fundamental question: why should time only move in one direction?

That question found its clearest expression in the Russian Code collection, a line built around the concept of counterclockwise time display. The collection was reintroduced two years ago as part of Raketa’s core offering, and this year the brand unveils the Russian Code Qatar Edition. The watch draws inspiration from the night sky visible over Qatar on September 3, 1971, the day the country achieved independence from the United Kingdom.

The watch is housed in a stainless steel case measuring 39.5 mm in diameter and is fitted with a sapphire crystal protecting the front. Turning the watch over reveals a mineral glass caseback, while water resistance is rated at 50 metres, ensuring suitability for daily wear.

The dial features a three-layer construction and is finished in rich shades of blue that evoke the night sky above Qatar at the moment of independence. Under changing light, the textured surface emits radiant reflections that bring the printed constellations to life. The hands are treated with Super-LumiNova for nighttime legibility, while applied blue-coated numerals add depth and visual rhythm. Time is displayed through a counterclockwise layout, with a red circular motif at the tip of the seconds hand symbolising a planet as it travels in reverse around the dial.

Powering the watch is the in-house calibre 2615 CR, an automatic movement developed specifically for reverse rotation. It operates at a frequency of 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) and offers a power reserve of 40 hours. The movement contains 24 jewels and is finished with a nanocoating featuring a Neva waves motif.

The watch is paired with a genuine leather strap measuring 22 mm in width and is produced in a strictly limited run of 50 numbered pieces. Created as an exclusive tribute to the Qatari market, it is priced at €3,000, approximately AED 13,100.

For more information, visit Raketa’s official website.