In 2014, when Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj were trying to gauge the Indian watch buyer's appetite for a quality, made-inIndia watch, several people in the trade told them not to bother with it. Nearly everyone the husband-and-wife duo - former Hong Kong-based software consultants met with dissuaded them from starting an Indian-origin watch brand. They were told that their company might not even "see the second year in business."
The advice went unheeded, and 2023 marks five years of the Bangalore Watch Company (BWC). Today, the outfit, India's first independent watch brand, sells five collections of automatic watches, with prices ranging from Rs 45,000 for the dressy Renaissance Automatic, their first watch, to Rs 79,680 for the Apogee Deepspace, their space and ISRO-inspired timepiece. Prices for BWC's limited editions, such as the recently released Synchro, a tribute to Indian Airforce's Suryakiran aerobatic team, are available on request.
BWC's watches, which use Japanese and Swiss automatic movements, are driven by stories: the Renaissance, launched in 2018 and its first watch, pays homage to both Bengaluru and the HMT era; the Mach 1 pilot watch is a nod to the MiG 21; and Cover Drive references the game of cricket. The company, which sells over a thousand watches a year and has patrons in about 30 countries, recently opened its studio in Bengaluru. Its patrons include aviation geeks, Supreme Court lawyers, and businessmen, says Joshi, who was in Mumbai in early December for an open house. Here, he talks to MW about the singular challenges he and Amalraj faced while setting up a modern Indian watch brand, the evolution of the Indian watch buyer, and the company's future collections.
Bu hikaye Man's World dergisinin April 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Man's World dergisinin April 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Royal Enfield Himalayan Glimpses Of A Faster Future
The second-gen ADV excels in most departments, shows promise in a few, and raises a rather interesting question: why doesn't Royal Enfield make faster and sportier motorcycles?
Why Men Won't Talk About Cosmetic Surgery
While more and more men are visiting aestheticians for invasive treatments, most are still hesitant to talk about it
How Skinny Is Too Skinny?
We're only talking about your jeans, gentlemen
STEERING PANERAI'S COURSE ALESSANDRO FICARELLI CHARTS NEW WATERS
As the vaunted brand's Italian heritage puts on a show at Geneva this spring, we take a closer look at one of the minds behind their latest launches and charismatic storytelling chops, at sea and back on dry land
TRACKING TIME WATCHES AND WONDERS 2024 SPECIAL
WHEN IN GENEVA....
20 Young Talents to Watch Out For
Till a few years ago, India's sporting clout was synonymous with cricket and restricted to a handful of names outside of it. That's no longer the case. We're witnessing a sporting revolution brewing, where a country of over a billion is finally showing its unlimited reserve of extraordinary talent, across the playing field. Leading the charge are these remarkable individuals, who are shaping the narrative for future generations and telling you that sports is serious business on home turf
SHOULDERING A BILLION DREAMS
Silver, Bronze, Gold? Will the third time be a charm for the champion shuttler?
Summer Notes
Scents that will make people ask what you are wearing!
My Battle With Anxiety
How It Started; How It Is Going
Newest In Niche Travel A Cool Trip To Attend Your Favourite Gig
A growing number of young Indians are traveling abroad to attend concerts, races, and various other kinds of live events