In the heart of Russia's Volgograd region, a piece of history glimmers on the market—a golden "Raketa" watch, said to have been a gift to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev on his 73rd birthday. The seller, a resident of Kamyshin, has set the price at 35 million rubles, a fraction of its estimated auction value of $2.5 to $5.5 million. The watch, bearing the serial number 88285, is a relic of the Petrodvorets Watch Factory, established in 1961, and carries a gravitas that transcends time.
The back of the watch is etched with a dedication: "To dear L.I. Brezhnev from the Central Committee of the CPSU," dated December 19, 1979. This inscription, along with accompanying documents, traces the watch's journey from Brezhnev's wrist to its current owner. According to the seller, the watch was pawned by Brezhnev's daughter, Galina, in 1983 and never reclaimed, adding a layer of intrigue to its storied past.
While the watch's historical significance is undeniable, its true worth lies in the hands of experts. The seller claims the watch has been appraised by an antique specialist, though the authenticity of its provenance remains a subject of debate. In the West, such artifacts often find their way into corporate collections, but in Russia, they remain the domain of private collectors, who are willing to pay a premium for a slice of history.
Despite its lofty valuation, the seller is open to negotiation, offering a rare opportunity for history enthusiasts to own a piece of Soviet legacy. Whether the watch truly belonged to Brezhnev or not, its allure is undeniable—a golden relic from a bygone era, ticking away the seconds of its storied existence.
