Is that all I needed to do? Just ask? Well apparently that was all that Russian weapons factory worker Viktor Zagaevsky needed to do to get a new (for him) Blancpain wrist watch. Russia loves its former Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and he spends a good deal of his time touring around the country. While visiting the weapons factory recently, Putin was stopped on his way out. In a ballsy gesture Zagaevsky asked for something as a souvenir to remember Putin’s visit. Putin is commonly beloved in his country and tends to draw much fanfare. Apparently taken back by the request, Putin simply asked what the blue collar metal worker wanted. Who reportedly responded with “how about your watch?”
Putin’s fancy wrist watch collection has long since been a source of speculation. While the politician reports a modest income, he lives a rather lavish lifestyle and is further known to have an impressive watch collection. Among them being Patek Philippe, F.P. Journe, Franck Muller, and Blancpain timepieces. Despite his reported income of around 50,000 euros last year, the question is how can he afford the expensive luxury watches? You can answer the question for yourself.
In a gesture borne from a man whose outward generosity speaks of secret past misdoings needing redemption, Putin hands over his Blancpain Aqualung Big Date watch to the unassuming Viktor as a commemorative gift of his visit. The metal worker who hasn’t spent more than about 20 euros on a watch in his whole life was now the proud owner of a fine Swiss mechanical watch valued new at around 6,000 euros. This isn’t the first time Putin has been known to hand over watches, but it certainly isn’t a common occurrence.
