Vladimir Putin gives his watch to an metalworker unexpectedly
18.09.09 / Watch Stories / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Blancpain watches, Patek Philippe watches, Putin watch
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited an arms factory in the town of Tula south of Moscow this Monday. A factory worker asked for Putin’s watch tongue in cheek after the prime minister admitted times were tough for ordinary people.
After Putin’s speech on the economy, the metalworker Viktor Zagaevsky approached Putin and said, “Vladimir Vladimirovich, maybe you’ll give me something to remember you by?”
Obviously unable to think of an appropriate souvenir, Mr Putin jokingly asked the man what he wanted. “Maybe your watch,” the worker replied.
A little bit shocked for a moment, Mr Putin promptly took off his watch and gave it away to the man. Then it’s the man’s turn to be stunned.
Zagaevsky shows off his Blancpain Leman Auqua Lung watch given by Mr Putin
The watch, branded by famous Swiss watch maker Blancpain, is worth of about £5,500, which amounts to an average Russian’s yearly income. Later Zagaevsky’s son told the media that it would take his father two years to scrape together enough cash to buy Putin’s watch.
Putin's Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung Watch
It is said Mr Putin couldn’t refuse the man’s request in such circumstances. Some say Putin handed over his watch out of patriotism and good wills since both Zagaevsky’s two sons serve in the Russian military in addition that Zagaevsky works for the weapon factory.
Actually this was not the first time for Putin to gave away his watch to his Russian countrymen. Just last month, the Prime Minister met a shepherd when he is having a holiday in a desolate mountain areas in Siberia. He gave his watch to the shepherd’s son as a gift for the shepherd’ hospitable reception.
Mr Putin is known for his penchant for Swiss watches. It is said the most expensive watch Mr Putin owns is a yellow gold Patek Philippe watch that retails for about £35,000.
Given Putin’s status as a national leader, he would not wear a Patek Philippe replica watch – which you can buy on the internet easily. That means the Patek Philippe watch would cost more than Putin’s annual salary. This raised discussion about how Putin accumulates his wealth.
In my opinion, to avoid such rumor, maybe next time Mr Putin can just have a photo taken with his people and then autograph on the photo as a present. Since Putin is widely respected in Russia as a national hero, I think the Russians would readily accept this more personalizd and memorable gift.
