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Within the bustling streets of Bangalore, amidst the hum of expertise and the heart beat of innovation, there exists a haven of custom and craftsmanship – Bangalore Watch Firm. Based in 2018 by Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj, this distinctive horological enterprise isn’t just about telling time; it is about capturing moments, weaving narratives, and embracing the cultural tapestry of India.
In a dialog with Enterprise At this time, Nirupesh Joshi, co-founder of Bangalore Watch Firm, we delve into the center of this burgeoning model. Past the glitz and glamour of luxurious, we uncover the soulful essence that units Bangalore Watch Firm aside – a harmonious mix of custom and modernity, storytelling and precision.
On this intimate dialog, Joshi shares the inspiration behind the model’s inception, the meticulous strategy of bringing every timepiece to life, and the profound significance of infusing Indian narratives into their designs. From the long-lasting Mach 1 assortment to the heartfelt homage paid to ladies in aviation with the Silk Scarf sequence, each watch tells a narrative – a narrative of resilience, of heritage, and of the indomitable spirit of India.
PD: Are you able to elaborate on the inspiration behind the creation of the Bangalore Watch Firm and its imaginative and prescient for redefining luxurious wristwatches in India?
NJ: Bangalore Watch Firm was created with a imaginative and prescient to construct high-quality watches from India with modern-Indian narratives. We strongly really feel that the grammar of Indian watch design is outdated – India isn’t just a rustic of gods, snake-charmers, and elephants anymore. India-themed watch designs are nonetheless caught previously, and we really feel that fashionable tales like our house program, our sports activities, and our ladies personalities of Twenty first-century India must be introduced out by way of thoughtfully designed narratives in watchmaking. That’s what the model got down to do, and that’s what we’ve been doing since our founding in 2018.
PD: How does Bangalore Watch Firm incorporate parts of Indian tradition and heritage into its timepiece designs, notably with collections just like the Mach 1, Cowl Drive, and Apogee?
NJ: First, every part begins with a narrative. We search for deep and significant tales that encourage us and ones that would probably encourage others. We then spend months in design determining easy methods to translate the weather of the story into design options of the watch. For instance, all of the MACH 1 watches have a crown that’s formed like an afterburner nozzle of a fi. All our Apogee watches have the Sriharikota spaceport’s lat-long location on the dial. These design parts within the watches make us very proud.
PD: May you focus on the importance of the MACH 1 Silk Scarf assortment in honouring ladies in aviation, and the way it displays the model’s dedication to storytelling by way of its watches?
NJ: The MACH 1 assortment was created in 2019 as a celebration of tales from Indian aviation. Since 2019, the MACH 1 has included watches that remember our Air Power tales, and ones that remember tales from our naval aviation. Via Silk Scarf, the MACH 1 assortment enters the realm of India’s civil aviation.
India leads the world with 15% ladies as industrial pilots whereas mature markets just like the USA solely have 5% ladies pilots in industrial aviation. Indian ladies in aviation encourage tens of millions of younger ladies to search for and aspire.
This can be a story price celebrating, and the Silk Scarf celebrates this story.
PD: What units Bangalore Watch Firm aside from different luxurious watch manufacturers, each when it comes to design philosophy and craftsmanship?
NJ: All luxurious watch manufacturers are actually obtainable in India. We perceive that our prospects have a number of selections within the value phase we function in.
Nonetheless, Bangalore Watch Firm is the primary, and solely watch model to convey fashionable Indian narratives in watchmaking. This has by no means been accomplished earlier than, and we’re very happy with setting the path right here. We’re dedicated to telling fashionable Indian tales by way of world-class watchmaking.
When it comes to high quality, all our watches are world-class – they’re meant to final our prospects a lifetime of damage. We promise this by way of the standard of elements used, the match and end, and the eye to element in ending.
For example, all our watches are powered by Swiss-made automated actions (that require no batteries) which can be additionally utilized in Swiss luxurious manufacturers, they’re all constructed with the best grade of metal that ensures corrosion resistance, and all our watches come fitted with anti-scratch Sapphire crystals.
The designs we select, and our dedication to high quality give prospects a narrative they will put on on their wrists for a lifetime.
PD: How has the response been to Bangalore Watch Firm’s strategy to mixing modernity with Indian themes in its timepiece collections?
NJ: At this time, we make about 1000 watches yearly. 25% of our prospects are abroad, whereas the remainder are in India. Since 2018, we now have shipped our watches to greater than 30 nations. Now we have had a really constructive response to the themes and designs over the previous few years. Notably, the aviation and house collections are extremely regarded worldwide each within the watch circles and in any other case.
PD: Are you able to share insights into the method of designing, engineering, and assembling watches in Bangalore, and the way this native strategy contributes to the model’s id?
NJ: An fascinating trivia – we think about Bangalore as floor zero for watchmaking in India. HMT was headquartered right here, and there’s a lot of watchmaking trade right here nonetheless.
Our strategy of designing, engineering, and assembling watches in Bangalore is a meticulous journey that spans 12-14 months for every assortment. First, our design workforce attracts inspiration from tales we see round us right this moment, incorporating parts that mirror the essence of recent India. The engineering section focuses on precision and innovation, guaranteeing every timepiece’s design meets our excessive requirements matching the Swiss NIHS requirements.
The meeting course of is a labour of affection, with expert watchmakers meticulously bringing collectively the elements in our workshop in Bangalore. This native strategy emphasises our dedication to high quality but in addition creates a singular id for the model. Bringing watches to life in Bangalore is a celebration of our roots.
PD: With the rising prevalence of digital watches and good wearables, what do you imagine attracts shoppers in the direction of the timeless class of analogue watches?
NJ: Good wearables provide a really tangible profit – we hear our prospects use good wearables not as a result of they’re ‘cool’, however as a result of they assist them hold observe of their well being and wellness objectives.
An automated watch that’s well-made does not likely provide a tangible profit. You don’t want one to inform the time. But it surely means that you can create emotional bonds – be it a watch that was handed down within the household, or one you bought to your promotion, there may be at all times a private story related to a well-made watch that can not be changed by any digital gadget. Digital units have a brief life, whereas a well-made watch lasts you a lifetime.
PD: As co-founder of Bangalore Watch Firm, what challenges did you face transitioning from tech-consulting careers overseas to venturing into the world of watchmaking in India?
NJ: I’d be dishonest if I stated it was simple!
Transitioning from a tech-consulting profession overseas to venturing into the world of watchmaking in India posed its personal set of challenges. Adapting to a brand new trade required a deep dive into the intricacies of horology, and understanding the nuances of design, engineering, and the expertise particular to watches.
Navigating the native enterprise panorama in India, with its distinctive dynamics and laws, offered its challenges too. Constructing a world provide chain, establishing partnerships with expert staff, and guaranteeing high quality management are duties that demand a hands-on strategy. The shift from a consulting background to the posh trade required a mindset adjustment and a dedication to studying the ropes of a special commerce.
Nonetheless, I see them as alternatives to develop, unlearn, and reinvent your self. Due to our prospects worldwide, the journey has been each personally and professionally gratifying.
PD: How does Bangalore Watch Firm goal to increase its presence within the luxurious watch market in India and past, contemplating the aggressive panorama and evolving client preferences?
NJ: Constructing any model is difficult, however constructing a luxurious watch model brings a really distinctive set of challenges – operational, technical, and monetary. Since our starting, Bangalore Watch Firm has been working as an online-only model. This allowed us to concentrate on constructing out collections, listening to our prospects, seeing what designs are obtained nicely, and those that aren’t. By protecting operations direct and on-line, we decreased the operational, and monetary complexity whereas staying targeted on our prospects. We additionally used these years to construct an Possession Expertise program that my Co-Founder Mercy Amalraj oversees right this moment.
With this stable basis, the plan for the subsequent few years is to easily attain out to prospects in additional locations. It will contain an omnichannel technique, advertising and marketing activations, and model partnerships.
We hear loud and clear that our prospects need two issues from our watches – they need an genuine story, and so they need exclusivity. If we proceed to remain as a small-independent model making only a few thousand watches annually with unimaginable backstories, our prospects will proceed to like what we do!
PD: Are you able to converse to the longer term path of Bangalore Watch Firm and any upcoming collections or collaborations that lovers can sit up for?
NJ: We play these playing cards very near our chest. So, I gained’t be capable of reveal a lot. Nonetheless, the final path for the model would be the following:
Inform new tales throughout the present themes of Aviation, Sports activities, and Area. There might be new watches in every of those strains in 2024.”
Proceed to search for new themes that encourage us, and hopefully others too. Now we have recognized 3 new themes that can launch in succession beginning in 2024 and nicely into 2025.
There are additionally model collaborations within the pipeline that permit us to inform these tales extra impactfully. We’ll have to talk later in 2024 so I can inform you extra.
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