Premier Ivo Sanader owns a collection of valuable watches worth at least 150 thousand euro, and not only 2 expensive watches worth 38 thousand euro as the press has reported in recent days. Nacional has arrived at this information by analysing photographs of the premier at public events and in speaking with those well acquainted with expensive watches and who have observed what Sanader wears on his wrist. This investigation established that he owns some fifteen watches from famous watch and jewellery makers including Rolex, IWC, Panerai, Cartier and others.

It all began last week when the daily paper 24 sata released an article criticizing several high ranking state officials for not reporting expensive watches in their asset cards. The article included new photographs, among them one showing the most expensive of the watches observed, Sanader’s A. Lange und Söhne, model Grand Lange 1, worth 28 thousand euro. It was soon revealed that Sanader also owns a Blancpain Villeret Ultraslim watch, worth about 10 thousand euro.

At a reception for the press held on Friday, 5 January, Sanader tried to justify himself, saying that he had not reported the watches because the forms were confusing. Then he mentioned that he has another 3 or 4 watches that he did not report. He also showed those present his Mercedes watch that he received in 1999 when he purchased a vehicle from that company, however, that watch is only worth a few hundred euro. It is interesting that in its investigation of several thousand of the Premier’s photographs, Nacional did not once come across the Premier wearing the Mercedes watch.

For example, at the 2^nd HDZ General Assembly in 2001, he wore a Panerai Luminor. In December 2004, he signed Jadranka Kosor’s presidential candidacy wearing a Blancpain on his wrist and he welcomed the Guardian of the Franciscan Monastery in Siroki Brijeg wearing a Rolex Dayton. Last April, he greeted the ministers of the CEFTA states in Bucharest wearing a gold Cartier Pasha, while in October 2003, at a photo shoot at Nacional, he wore a Franck Muller.

Of late, Sanader most prefers his A. Lange und Söhne, model Grand Lange 1. This watch is particularly interesting as the product of one of the few top watchmakers outside of Switzerland to make their own mechanism. This watchmaker has a very interesting history. It was established in 1845 by Adolph Lange, who was until that point the royal watchmaker for the Saska court. This marked his venture into private business, which he also gave a social note to, by moving from the royal city of Dresden to the mountain town of Glasshutte, one of the poorest towns in Germany at that time. There he took fifteen malnourished and talented young men and with them developed a watchmaking business. Thanks to his innovations in the field of machine tools and precise measurement instruments, A. Lange watches became among the most prized in Europe in the 19^th century. His son Richard proved to be as talented a watchmaker as his father, and their business blossomed with the unification of Germany in 1871.

The company survived World War I by producing precise submarine chronometers instead of luxury watches, and in the period between the two wars, they survived the economic crises and hyperinflation in Germany by making other specialized products. At the start of World War II, Walter Lange began his schooling as a watchmaker, making him the fourth generation. He witnessed when a Russian bomber destroyed the main A. Lange und Söhne workshop on 8 May 1945. Occupation followed – Glasshutte had fallen into the Soviet zone. The company was closed down and the workshop dismantled and moved to the USSR, where it became the foundation of the watchmaking industry there. Walter Lange succeeded in fleeing to the West. Immediately upon the reunification of Germany in 1990, Walter Lange, then a 66 year old man, returned to his hometown of Glasshutte and began to rebuild the family business. The first four models were already on the market in 1994.

Sanader’s Grande Lange 1, with a platinum case, cannot be bought in Croatia. The nearest retailer is in Graz, Austria, where it costs 32,200 euro. Collectors are particularly attracted by the fact that it is hand wound, best once daily, and one of the hands shows how much energy is left in its springs. The strap is made of snakeskin.

Though the Premier is often photographer wearing his Lange, according to the photographs, it would appear as though his Blancpain Villeret Ultraslim is his favourite, at least for official occasions. As the name suggests, the main characteristic of the watch is its thinness – only 8.8 mm. The precise mechanism has been crammed into an unbelievably thin space – only 3.25 mm. Depending on the type of clasp on the crocodile skin strap, this watch with a pink gold case costs between 9 and 10 thousand euro. This model was named after the Swiss village where the company was founded 270 years ago.

One of Sanader’s dearest watches is certainly the Cintree Curvex Grand Guichet, produced by the Swiss company Franck Muller. Sanader has frequently appeared in public with this watch in recent years. His model has a steel strap and case and a separate date and second counter. In wearing such a decent watch on formal occasions, Sanader proves that he knows his watches well and that he does not err in the selection of what to wear on his wrist. It is admirable that a man with such a busy schedule as the premier as enough time in the morning to decide which watch of his valuable collection would be best for the day ahead.

On certain formal occasions, Sanader has appeared wearing the newest Cartier Pasha model, available only since 2005. The case is made of pink gold and the strap is made of alligator skin. Considering that Cartier is better known as a jeweller than a watchmaker, the crown bears a sapphire. The watch is valued at 11,500 euro. Sanader has another Cartier, the Tank model.

Sanader has more appropriate models for sporting occasions. Is there any better model for riding a motor boat than the IWC Big Pilot or Grosse Fliegeruhr? Sanader wore one of those for a regatta. This is a pilot’s watch, famed for its robustness, with a steel case and tough bison leather strap. The steel version costs 10,500 euro. However, this is not the only watch he has by famed Swiss watchmaker Schaffhausen. He has also been spotted wearing an IWC Portuguese Chrono Automatic. This model has a steel case and snakeskin strap and separate hands for minutes and seconds. This version costs about 5800 euro.

Certainly, the most exclusive watch in Sanader’s collection is the Roger Dubuis Golden Square. Though Nacional has received information that the premier owns one of the watches available on the market under that name, we were unable to confirm which model. In any case, Roger Dubois is a very young company as far as watchmakers go, only ten years, and the company is known for their exceptionally complicated mechanisms and limited series, as well as the company’s dizzying growth. All the Golden Square models were produced in only 28 copies, with prices ranging from 20 to 100 thousand euro. For collectors, these watches are worth much more, as they are not readily available.

Sanader has also been spotted wearing a Paneria Luminor Marina watch, the official watch of high ranking Italian navy officers, worth 3700 euro. The watch has a steel case and cowhide strap. Allegedly, the Premier has yet another Panerai underwater watch in his collection.

According to our sources, the Premier also owns at least three Rolex watches, which are, in watchmaking terms, upper middle class and typically represent the entrance ticket to the world of high class watches. One of Rolex’s most popular models, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Dayton, has been seen on the premier’s wrist, while he also has a larger, though no less lovely Rolex Yacht-Master, worth 6100 euro.

Our sources say that he also has an Audemars Piguet. This company’s lowest line of watches costs between 7 and 10 thousand euro. Sanader also owns a Montblanc watch made by the renowned penmakers that have only been making watches for the past eight years. In comparison with Sanader’s other watches, this is not expensive, worth between 1.5 and 8 thousand euro. Sanader’s collection likely also contains a Dunhill, by the London company specialized for luxury. However, the Premier has not been photographed with this watch, likely because Dunhill makes extravagantly futuristic watches that are not in line with Sanader’s classic taste.

Last week, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt reported Sanader to the Conflict of Interest Commission for not reporting only two of his numerous watches (15 that we have counted). Commission Chairman Josip Leko reacted immediately and announced that he would ask Sanader why he did not report the watches, but that it is not his task to establish the origin of someone’s assets. If he purchased them, then he will have to say where the money come from, as their value surpasses his annual premier’s salary fivefold. If he received them as gifts, then he will have to say when and under what circumstances, for in a civilized and democratic state, it is unthinkable that a high ranking official would receive such a fortune in gifts. In any case, in this election year, Sanader will have to openly and directly explain where these watches came from as this will best benefit both Sanader and his party. Let him show the Commission his watches, receipts for their purchase and he shouldn’t have any further problems.

Two years ago, President Stipe Mesic received a Cartier Santos 100 watch, but he has never worn it. Instead, he put the 3700 euro watch in the collection with the other statesman gifts he has received. Sources close to the premier claim that Sanader has also reported and put aside state gifts he has received, the most valuable of which is a gold watch he received from Jacques Chirac.

The politicians many Croats would like to see as their next premier, businessman Radimir Cacic (HNS) is also a lover of expensive watches. His collection rivals that of Sanader, and perhaps surpasses it in terms of truly exclusive models. For example, Cacic owns a Vacheron Constantin, watches valued at 20 thousand euro and up.