Expensive Watches

[Vladimir]

http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/ar...9/10/26/217271
About a good watch - who wears what. Of the officials. Very informative. The article evoked much discussion, even though hours earlier got into the camera lens.

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Close-Up: Time homeland
Russia's officials are not shy about wearing a watch for $ 1 million and formally accuse them not what: Code of ethics of civil servants in Russia there is still

Alexander Gubsky
Irina Reznik
Julia Govorun
Bulletin

26/10/2009, 202 (2472)

Vladimir Putin, as you know, several people gave their clocks. In August, in Tuva he drank tea with a local shepherd and gave his son to the memory of the tea-drinking hours Blancpain, removing them from their hands. And in September, in Tula at the meeting with local workers mechanic Victor Zagajewski has asked Prime Minister: "Give something!", Tells special correspondent of Kommersant "Andrei Kolesnikov, who was present during the conversation. Prime raised his hands: they say, what you donate, I have nothing - and inappropriately drew his watch. Here worker and beamed: "The clock can be, eh?" Putin was taken aback, but took off his watch - and again Blancpain - and gave the worker. "I have exactly the same gave his son a shepherd in Tuva, - he sighed. - I liked it. I bought a second. In October, Putin went on a visit to China, and Kolesnikov, looked at the clock at the premiere of his hand: "It was as it seemed to me all the same Blancpain, which he apparently fell in love with all my heart." Watches Blancpain, Leman Aqualung Grande Date, in which Putin sealed photographer "Vedomosti", in the time directory Wristwatch Annual 2009 cost $ 10 500.

At some point we realized that in photobank "Vedomosti" there are a large number of photos Russian officials, that clearly shows they watch, and decided to write an article about this by identifying their price. Journalists of "Vedomosti" no claim to fame from the film Папараццо Dolce Vita, and because our photographers are not necessarily given assignments to photograph close-up hours of a bureaucrat: those who got in the frame, and became the heroes of this publication. All photos were taken by photographers "Vedomosti" that allows us to be absolutely sure of their reliability and to reject the assumption (as some tried to make heroes of this article) that this montage. Prices for hours we took from the Wristwatch Annual Directory for 2004-2009. (Abbeville Press Publishers, New York - London), there are listed the recommended retail prices for the American market, or in companies producing.


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Putin has not always loved watches Blancpain, he wore and Patek Philippe. At a certain image, where it shows the then head of Transneft, Semyon Vainshtok new route of the pipeline, bypassing Lake Baikal, on his arm they. Patek Philippe, it turns out, enjoyed not only by Putin.

For example, VTB President Andrei Kostin is watch Patek Philippe, Sky Moon, their price according to the catalog - $ 240 800. At the Central Bank first deputy chairman Alexei Ulyukayev on hand Patek Philippe, Chronograph Annual Calendar ref.5960, worth $ 78 800, while Transport Minister Igor Levitin - Patek Philippe, Perpetual Calendar ref.5159, for $ 74 800. The head of presidential administration Sergei Naryshkin is more modest Patek Philippe - $ 29 700, and the chairman of the Duma committee on international affairs Konstantin Kosachev hours of the same brand for $ 16 100. Another popular brand - Breguet. President Dmitry Medvedev is watch Breguet, Classique Moon Phase, which cost $ 32 200. Watches Breguet Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin and head of Sberbank Herman Gref twice cheaper than the President. According to Kudrin Wristwatch watch cost $ 14 900, and Gref - $ 14 200. In the most expensive watches of this brand appeared in public, Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller - on his arm Breguet, Classique Grande Complication Tourbillon, at a cost of $ 112 100.

"I would not divulge the names of our clients, but recognize that in Russia they are many - says the manager of Public Relations Montres Breguet Noemi Vyuger. - Among them are well-known people. "

Another favorite brand Russian civil servants - Ulysse Nardin. Watch this brand is Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, the price in the catalog - $ 15 900; price hours chapters "Rosnanotehnology Anatoly Chubais - 20 500 Swiss francs, Samara Governor Vladimir Artyakov - $ 22 800.

The general director "Rostekhnologii" Chemezov photographed in Rolex for $ 31 500, a watch of this brand and the governor of Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Khloponin, their price in the catalog - $ 27 000.


Million for hours

The most expensive watch one of those that managed to photograph the "Vedomosti" - from the head of the capital building complex, the Deputy Mayor of Moscow Vladimir Resin. He wore DeWitt, La Pressy Grande Complication. Employee of the manufacturer, identified the clock on the photo, said that their cost - 1 044 800 Swiss francs (excluding taxes). We also have a clock Artyakov DeWitt, Academia Tourbillon Differentiel rose gold, but they are cheaper resinskih - 225 000 Swiss francs (excluding taxes). His predecessor, Konstantin Titov (now Senator) is more modest clocks - Eberhard & Co for $ 6500. A member of the headquarters of the Swiss brand Montres DeWitt said that the hours of their brands are very popular among the officials and this year was sold to 1050 hours.

I have Resin and at least one hour a rarity - GreubelForsey Double Tourbillon 30 ° (their cost - $ 360 000 in the case of white gold or $ 425 000 in the case of platinum, according to a Wristwatch Annual for 2008).

At the hand of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov hours Bovet. In the company's office was informed that this model Fleurier Minute Repeater in the case of white gold 18 carat), but the price is not named. According to the chief editor of "Open" Alexander Vetrov, the retail price for this model in America may be about $ 300 000.


Gift Friend

"Usually, expensive watches become members of royal families, celebrities, stars of show business - said Elizabeth Doerr, senior editor hour catalog Wristwatch Annual. - Officials are not so much larger share of the total buyers of expensive hours.

A week ago, "Vedomosti" Send request to people who find themselves in the photos to comment on why they chose this particular brand watch, when and where they were purchased. Only a few commented on the request. Kozak Roslyak hours donated. Kozak conveyed through the Assistant Ilya Dzhusa that the watch - a gift to a dear friend's birthday, how much they cost, he Kozak knows. Juice says that this one has no relation to the performance deputy prime minister and never spoke to him with any requests. According to the student: Leonid, head of the press-service Roslyak, the clock in January of this year, capital officials gave her daughter on the anniversary - 55 years. Prior to that he had a good watch made in Japan. According to Assistant Chemezov, head of Rostekhnologia "-" a modest man "and prefers to watch made in Russia. Several years ago, President Putin presented him with a watch "President", and Chemezov their wears. Is there a boss watches Rolex, the assistant did not know.

"Revenue Minister, each year they declared objective, allows you to make major purchases" - gave an answer Levitin his assistant Svetlana Kryshtanovskaya. Minister declared income for 2008 - 20.6 million rubles. Becoming a minister in 2004, Levitin sold his shares in companies and now receives income from interest on bank deposits, she explained earlier. Others refused to answer questions "Vedomosti", or simply ignored them. With representatives of Kadyrov could not be reached. "The question [about the hours] incorrect, it relates to privacy premiere" - said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov. In the same spirit, spoke and an officer of the governor of St. Petersburg: "Valentina Ivanovna [Matvienko] commented on work issues, and this is a series of show business."


The Code does not apply

"Dear your watch official - is a challenge to the population of the country, where 17%live below the subsistence level", - considers partner FBK Igor Nikolaev. But today, he continues, the only limitation to government officials stated in Article 575 of the Civil Code (which is valid from January 2009): "the person replacing gosdolzhnosti" can not accept gifts valued at more than 3000 rubles. "In connection with the execution of their duties. Official always explain that it is a personal gift, not connected with his work, said Nikolaev, demonstration of expensive watches, he believes, contrary to the elementary norms of ethics. But these rules have not been developed until now. In August 2002, Putin issued a decree approving the general principles of official conduct of public servants. On his official should "refrain from any conduct which might call into question the objective performance of official duties", but nothing concrete, this decree does not offer. In March 2009, Medvedev issued a decree "On the federal program" Reform and development of public service in 2009-2013. ", Where invited to formulate standards of conduct for officials by 2013," So until 2013 the officials and managers of state companies can easily be in the public hours for a million dollars ", - concludes Nikolaev.

"In America, the choice of accessories, watches are very carefully - said Sabina finals, the representative of the agency Propaganda GEM, luxury brands the driving. - For example, Barack Obama wore a low-cost model of a clock TAG-Heuer Series 1500 Two-Tone Divers for $ 3000-6000. But before the election changed it to low-cost American-made clocks. In the West, people in public positions are not very expensive things ».