I bought one off ebay, was just too curious

I've owned a MM20 twice (one mineral, one sapphire)and the Rusky model is ALMOST identical to the Mineral watch, in every respect bar the dial (numerals appear just slightly smaller than the real thing, about the size of the ones on the Fiddy). Otherwise, it is the same watch bar the movement. Luminosity, sandwich effect, hands matt blackness - all spot on. Case finishing is pretty good too (same as the original as far as I could make out). I'm fairly sure it's mineral crystal as the numbers don't distort as on the sapphire model.

WRT the movement: I don't know the precise model numbers but I'm told by the dealer the RXW contains the upgraded Molnja movemet with proper shock protection and high-grade regulation as used by the better Poljot International handwounds. There are some cheap Molnja movements around without shock protection and with very poor regulation - as sold in Russian pocket watches for $20 a throw. But the Rusky RXW (if it contains essentially the same movement as on the fake Fiddys doing the rounds, as I'm told it does) is an entirely different proposition. This upgraded Molnja movement was first used in the $700 Poljot International Moscow Nights, which is a cracker and as I recall one limited edition of these were certified to the Russian equivalent of COSC. My Rusky is keeping time +4sec per day and the lever assembly is perfect (better than the first of my two Ken RXWs). The Unitas is a good design but there's more than one rendtion of this movement - the base model as fitted to the RXW is a very different beast to the upgraded, decorated ones sold by the likes of Eberhard and DJR. Comparing the two movements as used in the respective RXW models, I really don't think there's much in it.

I just had to own this watch - the MM20 was just too big (too much of an occasional wearer for me) to lay out $1k for it, but at $200 I'm delighted to own one. I'm glad this has been done - the RXW was always a very dubious proposition in terms of intellectual property, this is hardly any moreso. However it's always been a nice piece and I'm glad to have one for sensible money. This is by no means a cut and dried, normal fake of an original design as (Marina Militare branding and lever design aside) it appears to be made by the original manufacturer of Ken's RXW - very possibly by agreement (as Ken isn't allowed to sell them any more due to the Japanese court ruling).

I do feel sorry for the poor buggers that laid out $1400+ for these in the height of the RXW boom, with the NIB price now dropping back to the $1000 mark, the bubble is now well and truly burst (though there's no doubt that the originals will always fetch something of a premium over the ruskys).

If this board plays fair it should welcome Rusky owners with open arms (if only to wind up the more snobbish Paneristi).