pre owned yacht master

• Grand Seiko
• Patek Philippe
• SHOP ALL WATCHES
• Men's Watches
• Women's Watches
• SHOP CLEARANCE

CURATED COLLECTIONS

• Classic Models
• Racing Watches
• Dive Watches
• Pilot Watches
• Dress Watches
• Limited Editions
• Watches Under $3k
• Watches Under $5k
• Watches Under $10k
• Watches Under $20k
• Watches Over $20k

FEATURED BRANDS

• A. Lange & Sohne
• Audemars Piguet
• Bell & Ross
• Jaeger LeCoultre
• Ulysse Nardin
• Vacheron Constantin
• VIEW ALL BRANDS
• Testimonials
• Trusted Partners
• In the News
• Anatomy of a Watch
• Watch Sizing Guide
• How to Videos
• Unwound Blog
• Newsletter Sign Up
• Explore Watch 101

Rolex Yacht Master Watches

Popular used rolex yacht master watches.

The Yacht-Master is a relatively new addition to the Rolex family of watches, first debuting in 1992. The model’s design benefits the sailing community. It’s equipped with unique features and functions to help skippers measure and anticipate the crucial countdown interval leading up to the start of a regatta. After just a few decades of production, a new era for the Yacht-Master began in 2010 with the release of the Yacht-Master II. Buying a Rolex Yacht-Master watch is an excellent choice whether you enjoy sailing or simply appreciate a handsome timepiece. Shop our catalog of exceptional used Rolex Yacht-Master watches for sale.

Sell My Rolex Watch

Filter Options

About Rolex Yacht Master Watches

The Yacht-Master is one of the more recent additions to the Rolex family of watches. The brand first introduced the model in 1992 with the Reference 16628. Rolex developed the collection with the needs of the sailing community in mind. It’s designed to help skippers measure and anticipate the crucial countdown interval leading up to the start of a regatta or sailing race.

The original 16628 was only available in 18-karat yellow gold. It housed a caliber 3135 movement and featured a white dial, oversized 40mm case, and triple lock crown with water resistance up to 100 meters. Just two years later, Rolex debuted a slightly smaller version with a 35mm case: the Reference 68628. That same year, they also released a women’s version, the Reference 69628, with a 29mm case.

Still, it wasn’t until seven years after its creation that Rolex made their first major update to the Yacht-Master’s design. In 1999, they introduced the first stainless steel and platinum iteration of the model. They dubbed this combination Rolesium.

Into the twenty-first century, Rolex continued to develop the design of the Yacht-Master collection. They started offering a wider array of style options for the model. This included a mother-of-pearl dial as well as a two-tone gold and steel variation. In 2005, Rolex expanded the line further with the introduction of a number of new dial colors, like white brown, silver, blue, and champagne. Then, in 2010, they made the most significant modification to the Yacht-Master collection. That year, they debuted the totally reimagined Yacht-Master II . Since then, early variations of the original Yacht-Master have gained popularity in the pre-owned market.

The Yacht-Master undeniably serves a powerful purpose for the sailing community. However, over the years, it has become a favorite among collectors and fans of the brand. The model’s modern, hefty size and eye-catching, sporty aesthetic make it equally ideal for everyday wear. Now that it’s offered in a broad range of style and color options, there’s a version to suit any individual’s unique taste. One of the latest releases is the Yacht-Master 40 with a multi-color, gem-set bezel. In 2019, we also saw the introduction of the first 42mm time-and-date Yacht Master.

Video: Rolex History

Interested in learning more about Crown & Caliber's luxurious pre-owned watches? View our YouTube channel here .

Selling Your Rolex Yacht Master Watch

Crown & Caliber makes selling a Rolex Yacht Master watch easy and rewarding. Let us assist you in the selling process and help you receive the highest possible value for your Rolex Yacht Master. Get your Rolex Yacht Master quote

• Appointment

Rolex Yacht-Master II

The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is a unique regatta chronograph dedicated to both experienced sailors and yachting enthusiasts.

Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Yacht-Master II

Keep exploring.

• CPO Warranty
• Code of Conduct
• Responsible Sourcing
• Bucherer Group
• Terms and Conditions
• Terms of use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Guidelines
• Cookie Settings
• +41 41 369 79 79
• Mon - Fri 09:00 - 18:00 Sat 09:00 - 17:00

• Privacy Overview
• Essential Cookies
• 3rd Party Cookies
• Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

These cookies are required to run available services and to provide basic shopping functions. These cookies are exempt from consent according to exceptions provided by Article 82 of the Data Protection Act.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

These cookies provide a custom experience on our website. For example, we use Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

This website uses the following additional cookies:

• Privacy Policy: https://www.rolex.com/legal-notices/cookies.html
• Privacy Policy Adobe Analytics: https://www.adobe.com/privacy/policy.html
• Privacy Policy ContentSquare: https://contentsquare.com/gb-en/privacy-center/

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

More information about our Cookie Policy

Yacht-Master

The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master, the emblematic nautical watch, embodies the privileged ties between Rolex and the world of sailing that stretch back to the 1950s.

Delivered at the time of sale, the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned guarantee card officially confirms that the watch is genuine on the date of purchase and guarantees its proper functioning for a period of two years from this date, in accordance with the guarantee manual.

Please specify your preferred mode of contact and we will respond as quickly as possible

Please read our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy .

You May Also Like

© 2024 Tapper's. All Rights Reserved.

This website stores data such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as marketing, personalization, and analytics. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. Cookie Policy

• New Watches 2023

CLASSIC WATCHES

• Lady-Datejust
• Oyster Perpetual
• Sky-Dweller

PROFESSIONAL WATCHES

• Cosmograph Daytona
• GMT-Master II
• Sea-Dweller
• Yacht-Master

ROLEX WATCH FINDER

• Gold Watches
• Men's Watches
• Women's Watches
• Our Selection
• Explorer II
• Lady Datejust
• Oysterquartz
• Pearlmaster
• Yacht-Master II
• Patek Philippe
• Explore Patek Philippe
• Grand Complications
• Complications
• Golden Ellipse
• All Watches

Featured Brands

• Grand Seiko
• H. Moser & Cie.

Shop By Category

• All New Watches
• A. Lange & Söhne
• Audemars Piguet
• Jaeger-LeCoultre

ALL SERVICES

• Watch Repair
• Jewelry Repair
• Custom Jewelry Design
• Schedule an Appointment
• Service your Rolex

SELL & TRADE

• Sell Your Watch
• Trade Your Watch

Remove From Bag

Location settings.

By using our site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies for web analytics and marketing. Within your browser you can choose whether you wish to accept cookies. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.

By Category

Anytime. anywhere., by collection.

• The Collection
• GMT-Master II
• Oyster Perpetual
• Cosmograph Daytona
• Yacht-Master
• Lady-Datejust
• Sea-Dweller
• Sky-Dweller
• Men's Watches
• Ladies Watches
• Gold Watches

• Rolex Certified Pre-Owned
• Mens Watches
• New Arrivals
• Pre-Owned TAG Heuer
• Pre-Owned Breitling
• Pre-Owned OMEGA
• Pre-Owned Tudor

Watch Brands

• Arnold & Son
• Bell & Ross
• Carl F. Bucherer
• Girard-Perregaux
• Grand Seiko
• IWC Schaffhausen
• Jacob & Co
• Jaeger-LeCoultre
• Kross Studio
• L’epee 1839
• Massena LAB
• Nivada Grenchen
• NOMOS Glashütte
• Raymond Weil
• Speake Marin
• Ulysse Nardin
• Vacheron Constantin
• William Wood Watches

Jewelry Brands

• Bijoux Birks
• Mappin & Webb
• Marco Bicego
• Pamela Love
• Paul Morelli
• Pasquale Bruni
• Penny Preville
• Roberto Coin
• Royal Asscher
• Serafino Consoli

• All Jewelry
• Bespoke Jewelry
• Yellow Gold

By Gemstone

• All Gemstones
• Luxury Jewelry
• Designer Jewelry
• Birthstones
• Mens Jewelry
• Wedding Jewelry
• Glacial Grandeur
• Naughty List
• Out Of Office
• Fireside Glamour
• Midnight Magic
• Grinch Glam
• Black Fri-Yay
• Spring Calls For Layers
• To Catch The Shimmer
• Stay Golden
• Passing Time
• Diamond Expression
• Force of Nature
• Feel The Glow

• All Engagement Rings
• Multi Stone

• Select a setting/diamond

• Ladies Rings
• Plain Rings
• Diamond Set Rings
• Eternity Rings
• All Wedding Jewelry
• Fashionable Bride
• Traditional Bride
• Glamorous Bride
• Romantic Bride
• Modern Bride
• Vintage Bride
• Sophisticated Bride
• All Wedding Looks

• Sell Your Watch

Brands we buy

The destination for engaging and insightful coverage of the world’s finest timepieces.

• Inspiration

Your Guide To Buying A Luxury Pre-Owned Watch

The Oscars 2023: What's On Their Wrist?

• Go to Calibre Home
• Shop by Category
• Shop All Watches
• All Watches
• Pre-Owned Watches
• Vintage Watches
• Cases & Accessories
• Moodymann Featuring Omega
• Medina Featuring Longines
• Shuto Featuring TAG Heuer
• Fantasy Featuring Omega
• Advantage In Featuring TAG Heuer
• Joel Hyppönen Featuring Ulysse Nardin
• Kodama Featuring Grand Seiko
• Best Sellers
• Exclusive Watches
• Dive Watches
• Smart Watches
• Dress Watches
• Sport Watches
• Pilot Watches
• Classic Watches
• Luxury Watches
• NOMOS Glashutte
• Visit Us In Store
• Shop All Pre-Owned
• Pre-Owned Home
• View All Brands
• Mappin & Webb
• Shop All Jewelry
• Glacial Grandeuer
• Shop All Engagement Rings
• Shop All Wedding Rings
• Wedding Day & Beyond
• Calibre - Watch News & Stories
• Store Finder
• Request an Appointment
• Delivery Information
• Click & Collect
• Affirm Finance
• Mayors Credit Card
• Rolex Certified Pre-Owned at Mayors
• Our Selection
• The Rolex Certification
• Click & Collect (13)
• Over $10,000 (13)
• Gem-set (1)
• Platinum (1)
• Rhodium (1)
• Automatic (12)
• Oystersteel and Platinum (6)
• 18ct Everose Gold (3)
• Oystersteel (3)
• 18K Yellow Gold (1)
• Large size (7)

  E-Mail Us

  Live Chat

  305.865.0999

Used Rolex Yacht Master

At Gray & Sons, we have an impressive collection of certified, authentic, preowned watches and fine jewelry pieces. Currently, as we witness the harmful effects of a throwaway culture we are proud to be a company that believes in restoring antique pieces and turning them into like-new conditions. Extracting gold and other prized minerals have environmental and social repercussions, hence acquiring pre-owned watches and jewelry pieces is the most sustainable way to achieve a noble elegance. Obtain a piece of history; explore our professionally curated selection of pre-owned Rolex watches below. Gray and Sons is #1 for buying Rolex Yacht Master ( 16628 ), Rolex Yachmaster 2 ( 116688 ) buyers, selling Rolex Yacht Master and repairing Rolex Yacht Master.

#1 Rolex Yacht Master I ( 16628 ) and Rolex Yachtmaster 2 ( 116688 ) Buyers Many people say, I want to sell my Rolex Yacht Master watch for cash. Grayandsons.com and sellusyourjewelry.com will buy your timepiece for cash. Gray and Sons has the Rolex Yacht Master used, new and certified authentic pre-owned. We have the largest inventory in stock of used and pre-owned Rolex Yacht Master, Rolex Explorer , Rolex Submariner , Rolex Day-Date , Dayjust, Rolex Sky-Dweller , Rolex Daytona  and more. When you purchase a new or used Rolex Yacht Master you can choose from a variety of colors such as stainless steel and gold. We have Rolex Yacht Master in 29, 35mm, 40mm and 44mm. You can choose from gold dials, white dials, silver and stainless steel dials, navy blue, blue, and charcoal colored dials. The Rolex Yacht Master comes with a Military Time hand or GMT hand that goes around once every 24 hours. Get your new and pre-owned, used, authentic Rolex Yacht Master near you at Gray and Sons near Bal Harbour shops in Surfside, Miami Beach, Florida. We sell high end used watches and jewelry. Countless people near me say, “I want to sell my Rolex Yacht Master watch for cash.” Gray and Sons and sellusyourjewelry.com will buy your Rolex Yacht Master wristwatch for cash.

218  RESULTS

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master 29mm

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master 40mm

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master II 44mm

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master 35mm

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master 34mm

Rolex Watch Yacht-Master 42mm

Rolex is a symbol for the prestigious, it is the epitome of style and elegance. Rolex Watches are reliable because they are durable and made to last. Each watch is carefully designed by the most skilled and meticulous craftsmen, reflecting more than a century of innovation. Engineering, design, and functionality converge to materialize these timeless and sophisticated wristwatches. 

Rolex Yacht-Master Prices

On our page, you will always be able to compare the retail price versus our Gray & Sons sales price. As portrayed on our site, you will see that our prices will help you attain the elegance you desire at an economical amount. You can also make small monthly payments over 12, 24, or 36 months with Affirm. 

Pre Owned Rolex Yacht-Master

Rolex yacht master watches are created and designed for sailing, yachting, and aquatic ventures in general. They are waterproof and resistant to pressure, so if you go scuba diving you can rely on any sports watch in the Rolex yacht master collection to program a countdown, and to track your time descending to make sure you have enough time to ascend with the necessary oxygen to do so.

Rolex released the oysterflex bracelet yacht master II for those who spend most of their time at sea, and need a reliable time-piece to gauge their course of time in order to conduct efficient navigation.

 Having a sturdy watch is essential whilst navigating; sailors must be prepared to endure waves crashing on board and have a hardy time-piece that can undergo physical impact in case it gets knocked off when the craft is facing tumultuous weather. Whether you are deep-sea diving, water skiing, sailing, or lounging on the beach you can depend on Rolex for durability, water-resistance, and elegance. 

Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm 16623

This original yacht master is made out of stainless steel with yellow gold. It resonates harmoniously with the sea, due to the refined dial made from Mother of Pearl. An array of small diamonds also form part of the dial, so you can tell the time in the most elegant way possible. 

Rolex Yacht-Master 34mm 168623

This Rolex watch is essential for captains, sailors and those who engage in all nautical endeavors alike. Use it to gauge your best course of action for a regatta or for cruising on your sailboat along the coast. The blue hue of the dial will tone beautifully with the color of the deep blue sea while you are out on the water. While you are on land, this watch will keep reminding you to return to the sea, for the white spheres that represent the numbers for you to tell time, mimic the same color and luster of pearls. 

Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm 16622

If you are not a big fan of rose gold, you will love this Rolex yacht master composed of stainless steel and platinum. This watch will make a wonderful addition to the Rolex collection in your closet. It is minimalistic and simple, for those who prefer a humble yet tasteful style. Owning a Rolex watch means having a watch for life, these timepieces are built to last, we guarantee you will be able to pass it on from generation to generation making this watch generate sentimental value over time. 

Rolex Yacht-Master 44mm 116688

This Rolex is not only an instrument of time but also a chronometer, designed to keep accurate time in spite of mobility or variants in temperature, moisture, and pressure. Ideal for marine navigation, this Rolex Yacht-Master will meet all your needs and expectations whilst out on the sea. The 18k gold and blue accents make a striking yet attractive contrast. This Rolex watch is a true work of art in technological design and aesthetics. 

Rolex Yacht-Master for Sale

Gray & Sons is a sustainable brand that sells the finest watches available in the market. By reselling and fixing pre-owned watches, we have the lowest impact on the environment compared to other jewelers. We see value in adhering to a fix-it culture rather than a throwaway culture. 

We support brands like Rolex that are environmentally aware. We find their dedication to professional craftsmanship and the art of making elegant, durable watches honorable. At Gray & Sons, we believe there is nothing more beautiful than fixing antique jewelry and preowned watches, to us these used watches are time capsules that symbolize the style and technology of previous times. Owning a vintage Rolex watch is to own a piece of history. 

If you have any questions or comments, reach out and contact us ! Our customer service team is ready and patiently waiting to assist you with anything you might need, whether it is purchasing a gift card or to find the perfect white gold accessory for your loved one. Our experts know exactly how to help.

Used Rolex Yacht Master II Watches | Buy Sell Repair | Gray & Sons Jewelers

Shop New Arrivals

Rolex Datejust 126331 41MM Steel & 18k Everose Gold Slate Wimbledon Dial, B&P (2019) $ 16,695

Rolex Day-Date 228235 Olive Green Roman Dial 40MM 18k Everose Gold, B&P (2022) $ 53,995

Rolex GMT-Master 126711 40MM Stainless Steel & Everose Gold Black Chromalight Dial, B&P (2021) $ 20,495

Rolex Date 15037 34MM 14k Yellow Gold, Jubilee Band Black Index Dial, Rolex Papers (1987) $ 12,595

• Yacht-Master

Rolex Yacht-Master Platinum Bezel 16622 Certified

Join the product waitlist & get first dibs.

Product Details

Rolex yacht-master 16622.

The Rolesium Yacht-Master is constructed out of sturdy stainless steel and Platinum, offering a highly durable yet fashionable statement piece for nearly any occasion.  Originally designed as a tool watch for yacht sailing, the Yacht-Master is equipped with several functions to help you conquer the seven seas.  First is the 40mm Oyster case that comes equipped with a waterproof screw-down crown and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, offering resistance to depths of up to 330 feet.  The case is topped with a 60-minute timing bezel, allowing the wearer to sync with regatta start times and measure distances while at sea.  Finally, the bezel is paired with a matching platinum maxi dial with larger luminous hour markers and hands that are designed for optimal visibility while manning the decks of a yacht.  Rolex pairs the impressive Oyster case with an Oyster bracelet with stylish high-polish center links and a secure Oysterlock clasp, creating the ultimate statement piece.

Authenticity

* All Pre-Owned Rolex watches are guaranteed to be 100% genuine and certified authentic. Certificates are issued by WatchCSA, the industry's leading independent authority on watch authentication. WatchCSA Certified Pre-Owned certificates are provided for an additional fee at checkout. All watches are shipped to fit the average size wrist (7 1/4" - 7 1/2" for men and 6 1/4" - 6 1/2" for women). Additional links can be purchased if needed. Note that "B&P" means "box and papers" where stated.

Shipping / Returns

Each order is ready for shipment within one (1) business day after the order is approved and processed. All watch orders are shipped FedEx overnight and are fully insured at no charge to the customer. Please be advised that for any deliveries from Bob's Watches, a recipient aged 21 years or older must be present to provide a signature upon receipt of the package.

For additional shipping details, click here .

For additional return details, click here .

Product Reviews ( 14 )

awesome feel and look!!

Jesse at X135 was amazing, highly recommended. Number 4 Rolex for me. Treated me with amazing professionalism before he knew anything. Very knowledgeable, and great prices

great looking watch exactly as described. very happy

Exactly what I wanted for my 1st Rolex. Not the Daytona I dreamed about, but one day.

Great price, excellent condition

Excellent condition as described. Great support to coordinate shipping and delivery.

Watch delivered next day around 10:30am Sat. Look beautiful and in great condition with all original Rolex paper, cloth and box as advertised and expected. Carefully wrapped and well protected. Very happy with my purchase. Will definitely come back for more businesses.

Awesome staff, very friendly and professional

George spent the time to understand my requirements. He provided valuable insight that led to my selection. He is a real pro!

Beautiful dial . Well made with sturdy bracelet. Good value and value retention. A watch you enjoy wearing. Good for casual or formal wear.

immediate delivery. watch appears to have been fully serviced to like new condition. fair pricing. seems like a total win.

The Yachtmaster is very heavy and great looking. Very proud to own a Rolex. Bob's has the best prices hands down. Thomas W Braun

I had been looking for my next pre owned Rolex. I found Bobs out of the blue one day. Their prices were lower than anyone else I had been looking at. Once I got the Yachtmaster I was very very happy with the condition. It also had the Rolex box and papers.

Hands down the best watch I've ever bought! I love everything about it, from the unique platinum dial and the red details, to the high polish center links and luminous hour markers. I would recommend the 16622 to anyone considering a Yachtmaster.

Your product review has been submitted for review.

A NEW PROGRAMME BY ROLEX

Rolex Certified Pre-Owned Watches

The Rolex Certification

Because they are built to last, Rolex watches often live several lives. Rolex offers the opportunity to purchase previously worn timepieces that are certified as authentic and guaranteed by the brand.

Authenticity Guaranteed

The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned programme vouches for the authenticity of second-hand Rolex watches at their time of resale by an Official Jeweler displaying the special Rolex Certified Pre-Owned plaque. It guarantees that these watches benefit from the quality criteria inherent to all Rolex products and from the full know-how and professionalism of the brand’s worldwide network of experts.

A symbol of excellence

The Rolex Certified Pre-Owned seal that comes with your watch symbolizes its status as a certified second-hand Rolex watch. This exclusive title attests to its authenticity on the date of purchase and proper functioning, and is accompanied by an international two-year guarantee.

The Two-Year International Rolex guarantee

Delivered at the time of sale, the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned guarantee card officially confirms that the watch is genuine on the date of purchase and guarantees its proper functioning for a period of two years from this date in accordance with the guarantee manual.

Buying a Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watch

Each Rolex Certified Pre-Owned watch is presented in a distinctive pouch. The timepiece comes with the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned seal, a two-year international guarantee card, a service booklet and a guarantee booklet.

Because they are built to last, Rolex watches often live several lives.

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Le Corbusier’s triumphant return to Moscow

The exhibition of French prominent architect Le Corbusier, held in The Pushkin Museum, brings together the different facets of his talent. Source: ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasilnikov

The largest Le Corbusier exhibition in a quarter of a century celebrates the modernist architect’s life and his connection with the city.

Given his affinity with Moscow, it is perhaps surprising that the city had never hosted a major examination of Le Corbusier’s work until now. However, the Pushkin Museum and the Le Corbusier Fund have redressed that discrepancy with the comprehensive exhibition “Secrets of Creation: Between Art and Architecture,” which runs until November 18.

Presenting over 400 exhibits, the exhibition charts Le Corbusier’s development from the young man eagerly sketching buildings on a trip around Europe, to his later years as a prolific and influential architect.

The exhibition brings together the different facets of his talent, showing his publications, artwork and furniture design alongside photographs, models and blueprints of his buildings.

Russian art reveals a new brave world beyond the Black Square

Art-Moscow fair targets younger art collectors

In pictures: 20th century in photographs: 1918-1940

Irina Antonova, director of the Pushkin Museum, said, “It was important for us to also exhibit his art. People know Le Corbusier the architect, but what is less well know is that he was also an artist. Seeing his art and architecture together gives us an insight into his mind and his thought-processes.”

What becomes obvious to visitors of the exhibition is that Le Corbusier was a man driven by a single-minded vision of how form and lines should interact, a vision he was able to express across multiple genres.

The upper wings of the Pushkin Museum are separated by the central stairs and two long balconies. The organizers have exploited this space, allowing comparison of Le Corbusier’s different art forms. On one side there are large paintings in the Purist style he adapted from Cubism, while on the other wall there are panoramic photographs of his famous buildings.

Le Corbusier was a theorist, producing many pamphlets and manifestos which outlined his view that rigorous urban planning could make society more productive and raise the average standard of living.

It was his affinity with constructivism, and its accompanying vision of the way architecture could shape society, which drew him to visit the Soviet Union, where, as he saw it, there existed a “nation that is being organized in accordance with its new spirit.”

The exhibition’s curator Jean-Louis Cohen explains that Le Corbusier saw Moscow as “somewhere he could experiment.” Indeed, when the architect was commissioned to construct the famous Tsentrosoyuz Building, he responded by producing a plan for the entire city, based on his concept of geometric symmetry.

Falling foul of the political climate

He had misread the Soviet appetite for experimentation, and as Cohen relates in his book Le Corbusier, 1887-1965, drew stinging attacks from the likes of El Lissitsky, who called his design “a city on paper, extraneous to living nature, located in a desert through which not even a river must be allowed to pass (since a curve would contradict the style).”

Not to be deterred, Le Corbusier returned to Moscow in 1932 and entered the famous Palace of the Soviets competition, a skyscraper that was planned to be the tallest building in the world.

This time he fell foul of the changing political climate, as Stalin’s growing suspicion of the avant-garde led to the endorsement of neo-classical designs for the construction, which was ultimately never built due to the Second World War.

Situated opposite the proposed site for the Palace of the Soviets, the exhibition offers a tantalizing vision of what might have been, presenting scale models alongside Le Corbusier’s plans, and generating the feeling of an un-built masterpiece.

Despite Le Corbusier’s fluctuating fortunes in Soviet society, there was one architect who never wavered in his support . Constructivist luminary Alexander Vesnin declared that the Tsentrosoyuz building was the "the best building to arise in Moscow for over a century.”

The exhibition sheds light on their professional and personal relationship, showing sketches and letters they exchanged. In a radical break from the abstract nature of most of Le Corbusier’s art, this corner of the exhibition highlights the sometimes volatile architect’s softer side, as shown through nude sketches and classical still-life paintings he sent to Vesnin.

“He was a complex person” says Cohen. “It’s important to show his difficult elements; his connections with the USSR, with Mussolini. Now that relations between Russia and the West have improved, we can examine this. At the moment there is a new season in Le Corbusier interpretation.” To this end, the exhibition includes articles that have never previously been published in Russia, as well as Le Corbusier’s own literature.

Completing Le Corbusier’s triumphant return to Russia is a preview of a forthcoming statue, to be erected outside the Tsentrosoyuz building. Even if she couldn’t quite accept his vision of a planned city, Moscow is certainly welcoming him back.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

• Bell & Ross
• Sell Your Rolex
• Sell Your Patek Philippe
• Sell Your Vacheron Constantin
• Sell Your Richard Mille
• Sell Your Audemars Piguet
• Sell Your Breitling
• Sell Your Cartier
• Watch Service
• Get a Free Quote Now

Holiday Hours: Sunday, 12/17: 11am - 5pm | Monday, 12/18: 11am - 7pm | Sunday, 12/24: 10am - 4pm Regular hours on all other days. Enjoy the season with Precision Watches!

• We’ll Answer --> Email
• Call Now --> Call

• BELL & ROSS
• MICHELE WATCHES

• AUDEMARS PIGUET
• PATEK PHILIPPE
• MEN'S WATCHES
• WOMEN'S WATCHES

100% Certified Authentic | Two Year International Worry Free Warranty | Free Nationwide Shipping

• Sell Your Watch

$ 13,500

Out of stock

Rolex Yacht-Master 116622

Your information.

Please provide your contact information and a Client Advisor will be in touch with you in less than one business day.

Out Of Stock

40mm - 43mm

• 40mm stainless steel and platinum case
• Stainless steel oyster bracelet
• Oysterlock clasp
• Rolex automatic movement
• Platinum bezel
• Blue dial with index markers
• Water-resistant up to 100 M/330 FT
• Manufactured in 2016

• TWO YEAR INTERNATIONAL WARRANTY
• FREE SHIPPING & RETURNS

Yacht-Master

Manufacturer ref #, strap/bracelet, band material, stainless steel oyster bracelet, stainless steel/platinum, dial markers, water resistance, 100 m/330 ft, what’s included.

• Rolex Warranty Card & Manuals with 2 Hang Tags
• 2 Year Precision Watches Warranty

Watch Description

The Rolex Yacht-Master 116622 is a stunning timepiece designed for those who appreciate both style and functionality. Its 40mm stainless steel and platinum case exudes luxury and durability, while its stainless steel oyster bracelet and oysterlock clasp provide a comfortable and secure fit.

Powered by the reliable Rolex automatic movement, the Yacht-Master boasts accuracy and reliability. Its platinum bezel, combined with the blue dial and index markers, make it both functional and fashionable.

This watch is water-resistant up to 100 M/330 FT, making it suitable for all water activities, including yachting. Manufactured in 2016, it’s a valuable addition to any watch collection. Whether you’re looking for a timepiece for your next yacht adventure or a stylish daily wear watch, the Rolex Yacht-Master 116622 is the perfect choice.

Submit An Inquiry

PRECISION WATCHES WHO WE ARE

FAMILY OWNED BY THREE GENERATIONS

You May Also Like

PRECISION WATCHES PAYS TOP DOLLAR!

• Stress-Free Process
• Instant Bank Transfer
• Responsive, Honest & Completely Transparent

Sell your watch

Latest blogs, discover the pink tudor black bay chrono at precision watches | official tudor retailer, introducing the stellar new arrival: the omega speedmaster moonwatch professional with a pristine white dial, discover the longines spirit chronograph at precision watches: a legacy of elegance and precision, exploring the timeless elegance of the hamilton intra-matic automatic chronograph, stay up to date with precision watches.

You'll be the first to have round-the-clock access to special offers, events, and new arrivals.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

Privacy Overview

Three decades after the Soviet era, this Moscow street echoes what was.

And hints where russia is heading., welcome to tverskaya street.

MOSCOW — Thirty years ago, the Soviet Union ceased to be. The flag was lowered for the last time on Dec. 25, 1991. That moment still raises deep questions for the U.S.S.R.’s heirs: “Who were we as Soviets, and where are we going as Russians?”

Many of the answers can be found on Moscow’s main thoroughfare — named Gorky Street, after writer Maxim Gorky, from 1932 to 1990, and renamed Tverskaya Street, a nod to the ancient city of Tver, as the Soviet Union was awash in last-gasp reforms.

It was the Soviet Union’s display window on the bright future that Kremlin-run communism was supposed to bring. It was where the KGB dined, the rich spent their rubles, Vladimir Lenin gave speeches from a balcony, and authorities wielded their power against one of the most famous Soviet dissidents, Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

In the 1990s, Tverskaya embodied the fast-money excesses of the post-Soviet free-for-all. In later years, it was packed with hopeful pro-democracy marchers. And now , under President Vladimir Putin, it is a symbol of his dreams of reviving Russia as a great power, reliving past glories and crushing any opposition to his rule.

Join a tour of Moscow’s famed Tverskaya Street.

Hotel National: Where the Soviet government began

The window in Room 107 at the Hotel National faces Red Square and the Kremlin. It offers a perfect view of Lenin’s tomb — fitting, since he was Room 107’s most famous guest.

The Kremlin was damaged during the Russian Revolution in 1917. So Lenin and his wife moved into Room 107 for seven days in March 1918, making the hotel the first home of the Soviet government.

The Hotel National in Moscow, from top: Artwork in the Socialist Realist style — which artists were ordered to adopt in the 1930s — still adorns the hotel; Elena Pozolotina has worked at the hotel since 1995; the hotel, which contains a restaurant, was built in 1902; the National has hosted notable guests, including Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and actor Jack Nicholson. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

The National, built in 1902 during the era of Imperial Russia, also accommodated other Soviet leaders, including Leon Trotsky and Felix Dzerzhinsky, chief of the secret police. The building continued to be used by the Soviet government as a hostel for official party delegates and was renamed First House of Soviets in 1919.

Guests can now stay in the same room Lenin did for about $1,300 a night. In more recent years, the hotel has hosted notable guests including Barack Obama (when he was a senator) and actor Jack Nicholson.

“This hotel feels a little like a museum,” said Elena Pozolotina, who has worked at the National since 1995.

“We have rooms that look onto Tverskaya Street, and we always explain to guests that this is the main street of our city,” Pozolotina said. “This corner of Tverskaya that we occupy, it’s priceless.”

Stalin’s plan: ‘The building is moving’

When Soviet leader Joseph Stalin demanded a massive redevelopment of Moscow in 1935, an order came to transform modest Gorky Street into a wide, awe-inspiring boulevard.

Engineer Emmanuel Gendel had the job of moving massive buildings to make way for others. Churches and monasteries were blown up, replaced by newspaper offices and a huge cinema.

The Moscow Central Eye Hospital was sheared from its foundation, rotated 97 degrees, jacked up, hitched on rails and pushed back 20 yards — with surgeons operating all the while, or so official media reported at the time.

Gendel’s daughter, then about 8, proudly stood at a microphone, announcing: “Attention, attention, the building is moving.” Tatiana Yastrzhembskaya, Gendel’s granddaughter and president of the Winter Ball charity foundation in Moscow, recalls that Gendel extolled communism but also enjoyed the rewards of the elite. He drove a fine car and always brought the family the best cakes and candies, she said.

The largest Gorky Street building Gendel moved was the Savvinskoye Courtyard. The most difficult was the Mossoviet, or Moscow city hall, with a balcony where Lenin had given speeches. The building, the former residence of the Moscow governor general, had to be moved with its basement. The ground floor had been a ballroom without central structural supports.

Moving buildings on Gorky Street in 1940, from left: A mechanic at a control panel regulates the supply of electricity while a house is being moved; a postal worker passes a moving house; a specialist unwinds a telephone cable during a building move to maintain uninterrupted communication; 13 rail tracks were placed under a house, on which 1,200 metal rollers were laid. (Photos by RGAKFD)

Gendel’s skills were used all over the U.S.S.R. — straightening towers on ancient mosques in Uzbekistan, inventing a means to drag tanks from rivers during World War II and consulting on the Moscow Metro.

Like many of the Soviet Union’s brightest talents, Gendel found that his freedom was tenuous. His ex-wife was called by the KGB internal spy agency in 1937 and asked to denounce him. She refused, and he avoided arrest.

“I believe he was not arrested and sent to the camps because he was a unique expert,” said Yastrzhembskaya. World War II, known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War, interrupted the Master Plan for Gorky Street.

Aragvi restaurant: A haunt of the KGB

In the 1930s, the head of the elite NKVD secret police, Lavrenty Beria, one of the architects of the Stalin-era purges, ordered the construction of a state-owned restaurant, Aragvi, to showcase food from his home republic of Georgia.

One night, NKVD agents descended in several black cars on a humble Georgian canteen in Moscow that Beria had once visited. The agents ordered the chef, Longinoz Stazhadze, to come with them. The feared NKVD was a precursor to the KGB.

Stazhadze thought he was being arrested, his son Levan told Russian media. He was taken to Beria, who said that he had agreed with “the Boss” (Stalin) that Stazhadze would run Aragvi. Stazhadze had grown up a peasant, sent to work in a prince’s kitchens as a boy.

Aragvi opened in 1938. It was only for the gilded set, a reminder that the “Soviet paradise” was anything but equitable. The prices were astronomical. It was impossible to get a table unless the doorman knew you or you could pay a hefty bribe.

Aragvi, at No. 6 Tverskaya, was a favorite of the secret police; government officials; cosmonauts and pilots; stars of theater, movies and ballet; directors; poets; chess masters. Beria reputedly dined in a private room. Poet Sergei Mikhalkov said he composed the lyrics of the Soviet national anthem while sitting in the restaurant in 1943.

It was privatized in the 1990s and struggled, before closing in 2002. It reopened in 2016 after a $20 million renovation. But the new Aragvi closed abruptly in 2019 amid reports of a conflict between its owner and the building managers.

“You put your entire soul into cooking,” said the former head chef, Nugzar Nebieridze, 59, celebrated for his khinkali, a meaty dumpling almost the size of a tennis ball. He was devastated to find himself unemployed. But other doors opened. He now prefers to travel, giving master classes around Russia.

Stalin’s funeral: A deadly street crush that never officially happened

On March 6, 1953, the day after Stalin died of a stroke, an estimated 2 million Muscovites poured onto the streets. They hoped to catch a glimpse of his body, covered with flowers and laid out in the marbled Hall of Columns near Red Square.

Yulia Revazova, then 13, sneaked from her house with her cousin Valery without telling their parents. As they walked toward Pushkin Square, at one end of Gorky Street, the procession turned into a scene of horror. They saw people falling and being trampled. Some were crushed against metal fences. Valery, who was a few years older, grabbed Yulia by the hand and dragged her out of the crowd.

“He held my hand really tight and never let it go, because it was pure madness,” she recalled recently. “It took us four or five hours to get out of there. People kept coming and coming. I couldn’t even call it a column; it was just an uncontrollable mass of people.”

“I still have this feeling, the fear of massive crowds,” added Revazova, 82. “To this day, if I see a huge group of people or a really long line, I just cross the street.”

Neither Revazova nor her cousin knew about Stalin’s repressions.

“People were crying. I saw many women holding little handkerchiefs, wiping away tears and wailing,” she recalled. “That’s the psychology of a Soviet person. If there is no overarching figure above, be it God or Lenin, life will come crashing down. The era was over, and there was fear. What will we do without Stalin?”

Officials never revealed how many people died that day. The Soviet-approved archival footage of the four days of national mourning showed only orderly marches and memorials.

No. 9: The ruthless culture minister

The Soviet culture minister, the steely Yekaterina Furtseva, was nicknamed Catherine the Third, after the forceful Russian Empress Catherine the Great. Furtseva destroyed writers, artists or anyone else who challenged Soviet ideas. She lived at an elite 1949 apartment building for government officials at No. 9 — an ultra-prestigious address with a view of the Kremlin.

Furtseva, a former small-town weaver, made sure that No. 9 was only for the cream of party officials and other notables, such as famous Soviet actress Natalia Seleznyova, scientists, conductors and architects.

Riding the coattails of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Furtseva was the only woman in the Politburo and later became the Soviet Union’s cultural gatekeeper despite her provincial sensibilities. She once infamously mixed up a symphony with an opera, and critics were quick to notice.

“She had little in common with the artistic leaders of her country except a liking for vodka,” Norwegian painter Victor Sparre wrote in his 1979 book on the repression of dissident Soviet writers, “The Flame in the Darkness.”

Furtseva was famous for previewing performances and declaring anyone even subtly critical of Soviet policies as being anti-state. Director Yuri Lyubimov described one such visit to Moscow’s Taganka Theater in 1969, when she turned up wearing diamond rings and an astrakhan coat. She banned the play “Alive,” depicting a cunning peasant’s struggle against the collective farm system. She “was livid, she kept shouting,” he told L’Alternative magazine in 1984. She stormed out, warning him she would use her influence, “up to the highest levels,” against him.

He was expelled from the party and in 1984 was stripped of his citizenship. She vehemently denounced Solzhenitsyn, and banned the Bolshoi Ballet’s version of “Carmen” in 1967 over prima ballerina Maya Plisetskaya’s sensual performance and “un-Soviet” costumes that did not cover enough leg.

“The ballet is all erotica,” she told the dancer. “It’s alien to us.” But Plisetskaya, whom Khrushchev once called the world’s best dancer, fought back. The ballet went on with some excisions (the costumes stayed) and became a legend in the theater’s repertoire.

Furtseva was nearly felled by scandal in 1974, ordered to repay $80,000 spent building a luxurious dacha, or country home, using state labor. She died months later.

Where Solzhenitsyn was arrested

The Nobel Prize-winning Solzhenitsyn exposed the Soviet system’s cruelty against some of its brightest minds, trapped in the gulag, or prison camps.

Solzhenitsyn was given eight years of hard labor in 1945 for privately criticizing Stalin, then three years of exile in Kazakhstan, a Soviet republic at the time. His books were banned. After release from exile in 1956, he was allowed to make only 72-hour visits to the home of his second wife, Natalia, at 12 Gorky St., Apt. 169. Solzhenitsyn had to live outside the city.

“People knew that there were camps, but not many people, if any, knew what life was like in those camps. And he described it from the inside. He had been there himself, and that was shocking to a lot of people,” said Natalia Solzhenitsyna during a recent interview at the apartment, which became a museum in 2018.

“Many people say that he did make a contribution to the final fall of the Soviet Union.”

Solzhenitsyn, who died in 2008, called Russia “the land of smothered opportunities.” He wrote that it is always possible to live with integrity. Lies and evil might flourish — “but not through me.”

The museum displays tiny handwritten copies of Solzhenitsyn’s books, circulated secretly; film negatives of letters smuggled to the West; and beads made of compacted bread that he used to memorize poems in prison.

“He spent a lot of time here with his children. We were always very busy. And we just enjoyed ourselves — being together,” Solzhenitsyna said. They had three sons.

No. 12 Gorky St., from top: Natalia Solzhenitsyna lived in the apartment for years, and her husband, Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn, was allowed only short visits; the site now houses a museum displaying items connected to him, such as negatives containing a copy of a novel he wrote; another exhibit includes Solzhenitsyn’s clothes from when he was sent to the gulag and beads made of compacted bread that he used to memorize poems; the Nobel Prize-winning writer’s desk is featured at the museum. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Because of KGB bugs, if the couple were discussing something sensitive, they wrote notes to each other, and then destroyed them. Two KGB agents usually roosted in the stairwell on the floor above, with two more on the floor below.

“The Soviet authorities were afraid of him because of his popularity among intellectuals, writers, people of culture and the intelligentsia.”

Her favorite room is decked with black-and-white photos of dissidents sent to the gulag, the Soviet Union’s sprawling system of forced labor camps. “It’s dedicated to the invisibles,” she said, pointing out friends.

Sweden planned to award Solzhenitsyn’s 1970 literature prize in the Gorky Street apartment, but the writer rejected a secret ceremony. A Swedish journalist in Moscow, Stig Fredrikson, was Solzhenitsyn’s smuggler. He carried Solzhenitsyn’s Nobel lecture on tightly rolled film disguised as a battery in a transistor radio, and he took other letters to the West and transported photos taped to his back.

“I felt that there was a sense of unfairness that he was so isolated and so persecuted,” Fredrikson said in a recent interview. “I got more and more scared and more and more afraid every time I met him.”

In 1971, the Soviet Union allegedly tried to poison Solzhenitsyn using a secret nerve agent, leaving him seriously ill. Early 1974 was tense. The prosecutor subpoenaed him. State newspapers railed against him.

The morning of Feb. 12, 1974, the couple worked in their study. In the afternoon, he walked his 5-month-old son, Stepan, in the yard below.

“He came back here, and literally a minute later, there was a ring at the door. There were eight men. They immediately broke the chain and got in,” his widow said. “There was a prosecutor in his prosecutor’s uniform, two men in plainclothes, and the rest were in military uniform. They told him to get dressed.”

“We hugged and we kept hugging for quite a while,” she recalled. “The last thing he told me was to take care of the children.”

He was deported to West Germany. The couple later settled in Vermont and set up a fund to help dissident writers, using royalties from his book “The Gulag Archipelago.” About 1,000 people still receive money from the fund, according to Solzhenitsyna.

When the writer and his wife returned to Russia in 1994, they traveled across the country by train. Thousands of people crushed into halls to hear him speak.

Solzhenitsyn abhorred the shock therapy and unchecked capitalism of the 1990s and preferred Putin’s tough nationalism. He died of heart failure at 89 in August 2008, five months after a presidential election in which Putin switched places with the prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, in a move that critics saw as a ploy to get around constitutional term limits.

No. 6: ‘Feasts of thought’

Behind a grand Stalin-era apartment block at 6 Gorky St. sits an ornate 1907 building famous for its facade, art nouveau glazed blue tiles, elegant arches and baroque spires. Once a monastery dormitory, it was a staple of pre-Soviet postcards from Moscow. But in November 1939, the 26,000-ton building was put on rails and pushed back to widen the street.

Linguists Lev and Raisa Kopelev lived in Apt. 201 on the top floor. Their spacious dining room became a favored haven for Moscow’s intelligentsia from the 1950s to the 1980s.

“People gathered all the time — to talk. In this apartment, like many other kitchens and dining rooms, at tables filled more often than not with vodka, herring and vinaigrette salad, feasts of thought took place,” said Svetlana Ivanova, Raisa’s daughter from another marriage, who lived in the apartment for nearly four decades.

Solzhenitsyn and fellow dissident Joseph Brodsky were Kopelev family friends, as were many other artists, poets, writers and scientists who formed the backbone of the Soviet human rights movement of the 1960s.

As a writer and dissident, Kopelev had turned his back on the Communist Party and a prestigious university position. The onetime gulag prisoner inspired the character Lev Rubin in Solzhenitsyn’s novel “In the First Circle,” depicting the fate of arrested scientists.

“The apartment was a special place for everyone. People there were not afraid to speak their mind on topics that would be considered otherwise risky,” Ivanova said. “A new, different spirit ruled in its walls.”

Eliseevsky: Pineapples during a famine

The Eliseevsky store at No. 16 was a landmark for 120 years — born in czarist Russia, a witness to the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, a survivor of wars, and a bastion during eras of shortages and plenty. It closed its doors in April.

Eliseevsky fell on hard times during the coronavirus pandemic, as international tourists dwindled and Russians sought cheaper grocery-shopping alternatives.

In the palace-like interior, two chandeliers hang from an ornate ceiling. Gilt columns line the walls. The front of the store, looking out at Tverskaya Street, has a row of stained glass.

The Eliseevsky store, which opened in 1901, is seen in April, with a few customers and some archival photos, as it prepared to close as an economic victim of the coronavirus pandemic. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Denis Romodin, a historian at the Museum of Moscow, said Eliseevsky is one of only two retail spaces in Moscow with such pre-revolutionary interiors. But Eliseevsky’s level of preservation made it “one of a kind,” he said.

The building was once owned by Zinaida Volkonskaya, a princess and Russian cultural figure in the 19th century. She remodeled the house into a literary salon whose luminaries included Russia’s greatest poet, Alexander Pushkin.

St. Petersburg merchant Grigory Eliseev opened the market in 1901. It quickly became a hit among Russian nobility for its selection of European wines and cheeses.

Romodin said it was Russia’s first store with price tags. Before Eliseevsky, haggling was the norm. And it was also unique in having innovative technology for the time: electric-powered refrigerators and display cases that allowed goods to be stored longer.

Even in the Soviet Union’s hungriest years, the 1930s famine, Eliseevsky stocked pineapples.

“One could find outlandish delicacies here, which at that time seemed very exotic,” Romodin said. “It was already impossible to surprise Muscovites with wine shops. But a grocery store with luxurious interiors, and large for that time, amazed and delighted Muscovites.”

The First Gallery: A glimpse of openness

In 1989, in a dusty government office by a corner of Pushkin Square, three young artists threw off decades of suffocating state control and opened the Soviet Union’s first independent art gallery.

That April, Yevgeny Mitta and two fellow students, Aidan Salakhova and Alexander Yakut, opened First Gallery. At the time, the Soviet Union was opening up under policies including glasnost, which gave more room for public debate and criticism.

Artists were ordered to adopt the Socialist Realist style in 1934, depicting scenes such as happy collective farmworkers. Expressionist, abstract and avant-garde art was banned. From the 1970s, underground art exhibitions were the only outlets to break the Soviet-imposed rules.

The First Gallery, from top: Yevgeny Mitta, Aidan Salakhova and Alexander Yakut opened the Soviet Union’s first independent art gallery in 1989 and received media attention; Mitta works on a painting that he displayed at his gallery; Mitta recalled recently that he “felt we had to make something new”; an undated photo of Mitta at his gallery in Soviet times. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post and courtesy of Yevgeny Mitta)

“I just felt we had to make something new,” recalled Mitta, 58, who kept his interest in contemporary expressionism a secret at a top Moscow art school in the 1980s.

“It was like nothing really happened in art history in the 20th century, like it stopped,” he said. “The Socialist Realism doctrine was invented and spread to the artists as the only one, possible way of developing paintings, films and literature.”

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, artists had to “learn how to survive, what to do, how to work and make a living,” he said.

McDonald’s: ‘We were not used to smiling’

In the Soviet Union’s final years, a mania raged for all things Western. Estée Lauder opened the first Western-brand shop on Gorky Street in 1989, after meeting Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of reformist Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, in December 1988.

The Soviet Union’s first McDonald’s, located across Pushkin Square on Gorky Street, opened on Jan. 31, 1990 — a yellow-arched symbol of Gorbachev’s perestroika economic reforms. Pizza Hut opened later that year. (In 1998, Gorbachev starred in a commercial for the pizza chain.)

Karina Pogosova and Anna Patrunina were cashiers at the McDonald’s on opening day. The line stretched several blocks. Police officers stood watch to keep it organized.

The Soviet Union’s first McDonald’s opened in 1990 and eager customers lined up to enter; Karina Pogosova, left, and Anna Patrunina were cashiers at the fast-food restaurant on Gorky Street then, and they are senior executives with the company today. (Photos by Peter Turnley/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images and Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

“The atmosphere was wonderful. The first day I had to smile the entire day and my face muscles hurt,” Patrunina said. “This is not a joke. Russians do not smile in general, so we were not used to smiling at all, not to mention for more than eight hours straight.”

Pogosova and Patrunina were students at the Moscow Aviation Institute when they learned McDonald’s was hiring through an ad in a Moscow newspaper. Interview questions included: “How fast can you run 100 meters?” It was to gauge if someone was energetic enough for the job.

Pogosova and Patrunina are still with the company today, as senior vice president of development and franchising and vice president of operations, respectively.

“I thought that this is the world of opportunities and this new world is coming to our country, so I must be in this new world,” Patrunina said.

The smiling staff wasn’t the only culture shock for customers. Some had never tried the fountain sodas that were available. They were unaccustomed to food that wasn’t eaten with utensils. The colorful paper boxes that Big Macs came in were occasionally saved as souvenirs.

McDonald’s quickly became a landmark on the street.

“I remember very well that the street and the entire city was very dark and McDonald’s was like an island of light with bright signage,” Pogosova said. “The street started to change after McDonald’s opened its first restaurant there.”

Wild ’90s and a missing ballerina

The end of the Soviet Union uncorked Moscow’s wild 1990s. Some people made instant fortunes by acquiring state-owned enterprises at throwaway prices. Rules were being written on the fly. The city was pulsing with possibilities for those with money or those desperate to get some.

“It was easy to get drunk on this,” said Alex Shifrin, a former Saatchi & Saatchi advertising executive from Canada who lived in Moscow from the mid-1990s until the late 2000s.

It all was on full display at Night Flight, Moscow’s first nightclub, opened by Swedish managers in 1991, in the final months of the Soviet Union, at Tverskaya 17. The club introduced Moscow’s nouveau elite to “face control” — who merits getting past the rope line — and music-throbbing decadence.

The phrase “standing on Tverskaya” made its way into Russian vernacular as the street became a hot spot for prostitutes. Toward the end of the 2000s, Night Flight had lost its luster. The club scene in Moscow had moved on to bigger and bolder venues.

Decades before, No. 17 had been famous as the building with the dancer: a statue of a ballerina, holding a hammer and sickle, placed atop the cupola during Stalin’s building blitz.

Muscovites nicknamed the building the House Under the Skirt.

“The idea was to have Gorky Street as a museum of Soviet art. The statues represented a dance of socialism,” art historian Pavel Gnilorybov said. “The ballerina was a symbol of the freedom of women and the idea that, before the revolution, women were slaves. It is as if she is singing an ode to the regime.”

The crumbling statues were removed by 1958. People forgot them. Now a group of Muscovites, including Gnilorybov, are campaigning for the return of the ballerina.

“It’s an idea that we want to give the city as a gift. It’s not political,” he said. “It’s beautiful.”

Pushkin Square: For lovers and protesters

Pushkin Square has been Moscow’s favorite meeting place for friends, lovers and political demonstrations.

In November 1927, Trotskyist opponents of Stalin marched to the 27th House of Soviets at one end of Tverskaya Street, opposite the Hotel National, in one of the last public protests against the Soviet ruler.

In December 1965, several dozen dissidents gathered in Pushkin Square to protest the trials of two writers. It became an annual event. People would gather just before 6 p.m. and, on the hour, remove their hats for a minute.

In 1987, dissidents collected signatures at Pushkin Square and other locations calling for a memorial to those imprisoned or killed by the Soviet state. The movement evolved into Memorial, a leading human rights group. Memorial was declared a “foreign agent” in 2016 under Putin’s sweeping political crackdowns.

In January 2018, left, and January 2021, right, protesters gathered at Pushkin Square. (Photos by Arthur Bondar for The Washington Post)

Protests in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were held at Pushkin Square earlier this year. And it is where communists and liberals rallied on a rainy September night to protest 2021 parliamentary election results that gave a landslide win to Putin’s United Russia party despite widespread claims of fraud.

Nearly 30 years after the fall of the U.S.S.R., Putin’s Russia carries some echoes of the stories lived out in Soviet times — censorship and repressions are returning. Navalny was poisoned by a nerve agent in 2020 and later jailed. Many opposition figures and independent journalists have fled the country. The hope, sleaze and exhilaration of the 1990s have faded. Tverskaya Street has settled into calm stagnation, waiting for the next chapter.

Arthur Bondar contributed to this report.

Correction: A map accompanying this article incorrectly spelled the first name of a former Soviet leader. He is Vladimir Lenin, not Vladmir Lenin. The map has been corrected.

About this story

Story editing by Robyn Dixon and Brian Murphy. Photos and videos by Arthur Bondar. Archival footage from the Russian State Documentary Film and Photo Archive at Krasnogorsk; footage of Joseph Stalin’s funeral from the Martin Manhoff Archive, courtesy of Douglas Smith. Photo editing by Chloe Coleman. Video editing by Jason Aldag. Design and development by Yutao Chen. Design editing by Suzette Moyer. Maps by Dylan Moriarty. Graphics editing by Lauren Tierney. Copy editing by Melissa Ngo.

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

The .gov means it’s official.

Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure.

The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Russia-related Designations, Updates and Removal; Counter Terrorism Designation Update; Issuance of Russia-related General Licenses

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Russia-related General License 13G , "Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024"; Russia-related General License 74 , "Authorizing the Wind Down and Rejection of Transactions Involving East-West United Bank"; Russia-related General License 75 , "Authorizing Certain Transactions Related to Debt or Equity of, or Derivative Contracts Involving, Certain Entities Blocked on November 2, 2023"; and Russia-related General License 76 , "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Entities Blocked on November 2, 2023."

Additionally, OFAC has updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List:

The following deletions have been made to OFAC's SDN List: 

PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN (a.k.a. NPO SATURN JSC; a.k.a. "SATURN NGO"), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024].  NPO SATURN JSC (a.k.a. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN; a.k.a. "SATURN NGO"), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024].  "SATURN NGO" (a.k.a. NPO SATURN JSC; a.k.a. PUBLIC JOINT STOCK COMPANY ODK SATURN), 163 Lenina Ave, Rybinsk 152903, Russia; Tax ID No. 7610052644 (Russia); Registration Number 1027601106169 (Russia) [RUSSIA-EO14024]. 

Unrelated Administrative List Updates:

NOLAN (f.k.a. OSLO) Oil Products Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9179701; MMSI 354798000 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: PONTUS NAVIGATION CORP.). -to- NOLAN (f.k.a. "OSLO") Oil Products Tanker Panama flag; Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9179701; MMSI 354798000 (vessel) [SDGT] (Linked To: PONTUS NAVIGATION CORP.).