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Lis Cuesta Peraza, wife of Miguel Díaz-Canel, attended the International Workers' Day parade in Havana this Friday, wearing what users on social media identified as a Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium watch of 33 mm, with an official retail price exceeding 6,700 dollars.
The journalist Mario J. Pentón shared the images on Facebook, highlighting the irony of the moment: "Cuba's NOT first lady attends the march with the simplicity that defines her, while Cubans often have nothing to eat in the mornings, including today, May 1st."
The watch was identified by the user Rey Calderón in the comments of the post: "This watch is a Hublot, specifically the Classic Fusion Titanium model. It is one of the brand's most iconic and minimalist designs, characterized by its titanium case with a bezel held by the famous 'H'-shaped screws and a black rubber strap."
According to Hublot's official website, the 33 mm model has a recommended retail price of 6,700 dollars in the United States, excluding taxes. At authorized dealers like Prestige Time, it is listed at 6,400 dollars, with a special offer price of 5,248 dollars. In the second-hand market, platforms like Chrono24 list it from 4,500 to 6,500 dollars.
The contrast is striking: the average monthly salary in Cuba is around 6,830 Cuban pesos, equivalent to about 15 dollars on the informal exchange rate, which means that Lis Cuesta's watch is worth more than 350 monthly salaries of a Cuban worker.
The episode takes place during a parade that this year was moved from the Plaza de la Revolución to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, in front of the United States Embassy on the Malecón in Havana, under the official argument of "austerity" and the so-called "energy blockade." The May Day march in Cuba was dedicated to the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth and the 65th anniversary of the Victory at Playa Girón.
Lis Cuesta is not the only figure of the regime who caught attention this Friday for her attire. Díaz-Canel modeled Adidas Retropy F2 sneakers valued at $1,449. Pentón noted: “Just with the cost of Díaz-Canel's and Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez's sneakers, a Cuban family can live for six months.”
It is not the first time the president's wife has appeared in public with high-value luxury items. In December 2022, Lis Cuesta defended her doctoral thesis showcasing a Cartier Ballon Bleu watch valued at over $13,000. In September 2025, during an official tour to China, she was photographed wearing that same Cartier watch, a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip phone costing over $1,200, a Boss Delaurena dress valued at $670, and Gianvito Rossi shoes priced at $2,630.
In October 2025, she was seen wearing a 549-euro Aigner watch at an educational congress, and in February 2026 she showcased another luxury accessory at a public event.
Cuba is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades. The ECLAC projects a GDP contraction of 6.5% for 2026, the worst in Latin America, with a cumulative decline of 10.3% between 2025 and 2026, while millions of Cubans face power outages of up to 25 hours a day and extreme shortages of food and medicine.
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