Scubaism

Vladimir Kirkin, head of the Russian Divers Association, reported success after the precious watch was brought to the surface.

The divers, who found the watch at a depth of around 1.5 metres (five feet) using a special metal detector, said they would donate the 10,000-dollar (7,350 euro) reward to a local diving school.

The diamond-studded wristwatch is said to be a limited-edition Hellmuth chronograph worth USD$200,000 and became the subject of an intensive search after a visitor said he dropped it into the Neva River in St. Petersburg. The watch was lost by an unidentified “important guest” beneath St. John’s Bridge near the Peter and Paul Fortress during the White Nights Festival over the weekend. The tourist had arrived in St. Petersburg for the celebrations, and in an apparent emotional outburst, he threw his hands into the air while crossing the Ioannovsky Bridge over the weekend.