"Gert Hellmuth is arriving in St. Petersburg to personally reward the Russian Divers Association July 13 for their watch rescue effort on the Neva bottom," the spokesman said. "The divers will be presented with a Hellmuth watch adjusted for diving to a depth of 50 meters (150 feet), and with $10,000."
A wealthy foreigner, whose name is being withheld, dropped the watch July 1 from a bridge spanning the Neva. The massive, diamond-encrusted watch is an exclusive product not sold in Russia. The man had stopped in St. Petersburg on his way from Moscow to see the renowned "White Nights."
During five days of searching, the divers were joined by other adventurers looking for the expensive timepiece in the hope of a reward. The incident attracted widespread attention and aroused doubts as to whether there had been any watch at all, or whether it had all been a publicity stunt.
It took the divers five days to find the watch, which was still in working order despite its lengthy submersion.
Apart from posh watches, Hellmuth is known for luxurious diamond necklaces, worth anywhere from $500,000 to $10 million, which it provides for Oscar ceremonies.
