It’s always interesting to sneak a peek at the watch collections of world leaders. Their selection of luxury timepieces, be it Trump, Biden, or Putin, can offer a glimpse into their personalities and lavish lifestyle. However, most politicians refrain from sporting expensive watches to maintain a positive public image. Nevertheless, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not your average politician. Despite earning a relatively modest annual salary of £72,000, Putin possesses an exceptional and varied assortment of luxury timepieces that can leave one in awe.
According to reports, Putin is rumored to possess a few luxury yachts, a palace worth $550 million near the Black Sea and also has shares in three major oil and gas corporations. No doubt, he has an estimated net worth of around $70 billion, which would place him among the wealthiest individuals in the world. So when it comes to the Putin watch collection, it will be nothing but an extravaganza. His luxury watches alone are valued at approximately $700,000, which is nearly six times his official yearly salary of 3,661,765 rubles or approximately $115,000.
Not only that, Vladimir Putin has gifted luxury pricey wristwatches on many occasions. For example, in August 2009, he gifted a Blancpain watch, estimated to be worth approximately $10,500, to a young boy from Siberia whom he met while vacationing. Another similar watch was given to a factory worker in September 2009. There is also a video in August 2010 that shows Putin throwing a Blancpain watch at a construction site.
What watches are in Putin’s collection?
There have been several instances where Putin has been spotted wearing high end watches. His watch collections include a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar valued at $60,000, a Patek Philippe Calatrava priced at $18,000, a Breguet Marine with an estimated value of $15,000, a Blancpain Leman Flyback worth around $10,000, and a Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date with a value of approximately $10,500. Among all these most complicated watches Patek has, Tourbograph is the the most expensive one, manufactured by German watchmaker A Lange & Sohne, which is priced at $500,000. It is made of platinum and features gold-plated arms, sapphire-crystal glass, and a crocodile leather strap that has been hand-stitched. Patek Philippe Calatrava is also one of the best watches worn by Vladimir Putin. If you, too, want to take a look into Putin’s such a lavish collection, then read on.
Top 5 watches from Putin’s watch collections
1. A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph Perpetual “Pour le Mérite”
The Tourbograph Perpetual “Pour le Mérite” by A. Lange & Söhne is regarded as one of the finest watches in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s watch collection. Putin usually wears this timeless timepiece as it’s also one of his favorite watches. He wears the platinum version with a black alligator strap and a 36mm case. The watch features an L051.2 caliber, an argenté dial, and blued steel hands for a classic and elegant look. The timepiece is quite complex and costs around US$560,000, with only fifty pieces produced. Although Putin considers this watch to be replaceable, it remains a prized possession in his collection.
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2. Blancpain Léman Aqua Lung Grande Date
Blancpain, the oldest surviving watchmaking brand, is in the collections of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Specifically, Putin favors the limited edition Blancpain Grande Date Aqua Lung timepiece, opting for the 40mm version in brushed stainless steel and a transparent sapphire crystal case back, which offers a clear view of the Caliber 6950 self-winding movement. The watch features 285 components and 35 jewels, with a black dial and luminous hands and hour markers, complemented by a leather strap. Putin has acquired four of these watches, having given two away as gifts to a factory worker and a shepherd’s son. The third watch was purportedly thrown into liquid concrete at a construction site as it shows how Putin has no value in it, despite its price of $11,700.
3. Patek Philippe 5208P Grand Complication
A few years back, the Kremlin had to refute the allegations stating that a watch being sold at Antiquorum was owned by Putin, even though his name was listed on the guarantee card. The watch in question was the Patek Philippe 5208P Grand Complication, which is one of the most intricate watches ever manufactured by Patek. This Patek Philippe watch boasted a minute repeater, a mono-pusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar, among other features. Interested buyers can purchase this Patek Philippe watch for the price of $US1.15 million.
4. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar
Another impressive item in his collection is the Philippe Perpetual Calendar Moon Phase wristwatch produced by the renowned Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe. This particular model is crafted from 18K rose gold and features a manually wound Caliber CHR 29 535 PS Q, which is visible through a sapphire case back. This Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar watch comes with a moon phase indicator, which eliminates the need for adjustments during shorter months or leap years until the year 2100. Additionally, it boasts a leap-year indicator and a day-night indicator, making it one of Patek Philippe’s most complex timepieces to date. The opaline white face and rose gold markers lend elegance to the dial, while the brown alligator strap adds to its distinctive and stylish appearance.
5. F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu
We can not complete this list without mentioning Putin’s Breguet Marine.
Putin is known to be a serious enthusiast of luxurious watches, and his collection features several models with classic designs and hefty price tags. Although some of his watches, such as the Breguet Marine, Blancpain Léman Flyback, and F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu, have been discussed less frequently, they are still emblematic of his taste. The F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu is one of Putin’s more colorful pieces, adding a touch of vibrancy to his generally understated collection.
The watch is notable for its use of tantalum, an uncommon metal with blue undertones that is difficult to work with due to its high fusion temperature and density. The watch’s 39mm case houses an 18K rose gold mechanical movement and features a chrome blue dial accented with cream-colored hands and large Arabic numerals, all of which create an eye-catching contrast.
From the Writer
It is not surprising that Putin possesses some of the most extravagant and sophisticated watches among world leaders. Putin’s collection of luxury watches is impressive and includes notable pieces such as the IWC Schaffhausen Mark XVII, recognized for its stainless steel case and luminescent black dial. Another remarkable watch he owns is the Patek Philippe 5208P Grand Complication, which is among the most intricate watches created by Patek. These, alongside other watches in his possession, form an outstanding collection of top-of-the-line timepieces.
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