Alexander Shorokhov dedicates another watch to Nobel Peace Prize winner Michael Gorbachev

Alexander Shorokhov dedicates another watch to Nobel Peace Prize winner Michael Gorbachev

It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when the world had hope for Russia (as part of the Soviet Union). The reason for this was Mikhail Gorbachev, head of the Kremlin from 1985 to 1991 and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

To this day, he is associated with terms such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (reorganisation), the reform process of the USSR, disarmament negotiations with the USA and, last but not least, German reunification.

He was a beacon of hope and at the same time something of a political pop idol with visions of freedom and peace, who managed to bring East and West closer together again after decades of the Cold War.

Alexander Shorokhov, owner of the watch brand Poljot International and founder of the Alexander Shorokhoff manufactory, not only met Mikhail Gorbachev, who died in August 2022, personally, but also owes a decisive turning point in his life to his will to reform.

Because of an agreement between Gorbachev and the then German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Shorokhov went to Germany as one of the selected progressive Russian managers to study the free market economy. This later became the basis for the "Poljot-international" brand.

To mark the 70th birthday of Mikhail Gorbachev in 2001, Alexander Shorokhov produced the first series of the "Gorbachev watch". Alexander Shorokhov had the honour of personally presenting one of them to the statesman.

Poljot-International dedicated a second model to Gorbachev in 2017, adorned with the famous words "Perestroika" & "Glasnost", under which the reform process of the Soviet Union was driven forward.

Instead of numbers, there are red gold indexes on the dial. Two flags symbolise the transition from the USSR to the Russian Federation. The model is available in three colours: black, beige and silver. All models are limited to 250 pieces per dial version. The movement is the automatic calibre 2427 from Slava with date and day of the week, double barrel, 21 rubies, shock protection and 42-hour power reserve.

In 2025, Poljot International is honouring Mikhail Gorbachev for the third time with another sequel to the "Gorbi watch". The difference to the previous models lies in the newly designed case, which now has a diameter of 42 millimetres and a height of 12.77 millimetres. The dial is curved at the edge to make the case look slimmer.

In addition, the new models, limited to a total of 200 pieces, shine in the colours green and blue with gold-plated indices and hands. Green is known to symbolise hope, while blue has a calming and clear effect.

Both are colours that Mikhail Gorbachev would certainly have liked, Alexander Shorokhov is sure.

The centrepiece of the watch has also been revised. Inside the new models ticks the automatic NH36 movement from Seiko with 24 jewels, a date and weekday display at the 3 o'clock position and a power reserve of 41 hours.

The "Gorbatchov" (Ref. No.: 36NH.4200115) is worn on a colour-coordinated leather strap with crocodile embossing. (RRP 777 €)