A wristwatch is a style statement revealing the wearer’s taste. Gone are the days when simple oval-shaped (square dials for men), yellow-gold watches were the only options that adorned the wrist of fashion-conscious Indians. Today watches come in various innovative shapes and fluidic designs, which range from snazzy to loud, reflecting the mood and the personality of the wearer.
The luxury watch market is one of the largest and fastest growing segments in India. It has grown at a rapid pace with a CAGR of 9.3 percent between FY’2008-FY’2013. Wristwatches are major contributors in the watch market and accounted for around 89 percent of the total watch market revenue in India in 2013.
With many eager customers, it is no surprise that luxury watch brands are trying to get closer to Indian buyers. The result is the opening up of a number of flagship luxury-watch stores.
Let’s take a look at some of the trendiest luxury watch brands available to Indians at the moment.
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Emporio Armani AR1410 Chronograph
One of the most preferred luxury brands in India, Armani is loved for its high-quality elegant watches.
The Emporio Armani AR1410 chronograph, known for its durability and lightweight, is among the trendiest luxury watches available these days. This watch is the perfect amalgamation of modern and vintage elements, featuring 42mm black ceramic encasing, a black dial with Roman numeral markers, a black ceramic bracelet, and accents in rose-gold, which make it visually-appealing. There are three chronograph sub-dials, including a date indicator window.
This timepiece also comes with a mineral glass that provides protection from scratches, and wear and tear. In addition, this watch is water resistant up to 30 meters. It is versatile enough to be worn in the boardroom as well as at the gym or during your vacations.
Although the Emporio Armani AR1410 chronograph commands a high price, the admiration it will bring the wearer is worth the investment. Just like its designer apparels, Armani’s luxury watches symbolize style and class. In fact, it is the ultimate possession of pride for owners.
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Panerai Luminor 1950
Panerai is also one of the most desired watch brands in India. This Swiss luxury watch manufacturer opened its first boutique a few years back in Mumbai, India, and has since then been catering to Indians’ demand for luxury.
In case you haven’t already got one for yourself, do make it point to buy this large 44mm Panerai watch, which is worn by the current Indian cricketing sensation, Virat Kohli. This timepiece only adds to his bossman status.
The Panerai Luminor series is known for its multi-faceted functionality, which focuses especially on travellers, particularly pilots. Just like the previous legendary series Radiomir, this collection of exquisite watches has captured the imagination of many a fashionista, with its sturdy wire lugs and crown-protecting bridge and bezel.
The Panerai Luminor 1950 comes with the distinctive composite ceramic on the case, which is typical of Panerai watches. These timepieces are ideal for large wrists and are available in two sizes, 44mm and 47mm. It is powered by the brand’s famous automatic P.9001 movement and features a three-day power reserve. Further, the Panerai Luminor 1950 is water-resistant up to 300 meters. In short, it is the ultimate men’s watch that will, perhaps, never go out of style.
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Chopard Imperiale
The Imperiale collection by Chopard takes inspiration from the Roman Empire, and ancient Greece and the Byzantine eras. Its motifs and design elements replicate the embroidery found on traditional upholsteries and gowns of these imperial eras.
Designed exclusively for women, Chopard Imperiale watches are as cute as the brand’s ambassador to India, the ever-popular Bollywood star, Preity Zinta.
The curved silver Imperiale watch has a sleek, yet royal air about it. This elegant timepiece features two tiers, which provide two tones to the silver dial. While the outer tier has a flat silver finish, the other tier features a precise embroidery pattern on the silver plane. The polished watch hands are also reminiscent of the imperial eras.
An extremely tough sapphire crystal covers the case to protect this luxury watch from scratches. Reflecting the Byzantine era’s preference for the color purple, Chopard Imperiale features a single amethyst cabochon in the pull-out the crown. The bracelet is made of extremely durable stainless steel, making it ideal for regular use.
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Fossil Decker Chronograph Analog Black Dial Men’s Watch
Fossil always features among the trusted and recommended brands for men’s watch. A stylish time teller, Fossil Decker chronograph features an elegant black dial and a stainless steel case.
This watch comes with elegantly-designed hour hands and white index markers. There are three subdials – a date display window positioned at 4 o’clock, 60 seconds sub-dial placed at 6 o’clock, and a 60 minutes sub-dial placed 9 o’clock. The black bezel of the Fossil Decker chronograph features a tachymeter scale for average speed measurement.
The bracelet is made of brushed and shiny silver-colored stainless steel. Additionally, the Fossil Decker chronograph watch is water resistant up to 100 meters.
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Hublot Big Bang King
One of the world’s biggest and the youngest Swiss luxury watchmakers, Hublot is making it big in India as well. Back in 2011, the company launched a limited edition timepiece for the first Indian Grand Prix to ensure that its Indian customers get what they want.
According to Ashok Goel, the brand’s sales consultant in India, all 200 pieces that featured the tricolour on the dial were sold soon enough, even though this limited edition timepiece came with a price tag of $47,000.
Hublot Big Bang King has successfully caught the eye of Indian customers with its black dial and sapphire crystal that protects the timepiece from wear and tear. The case is made of ceramic and the watch comes with a standard rubber bracelet.
The Big Bang King can preserve power for up to 120 hours and is water resistant up to 100 meters. It can be wound up manually and features separate hours, minutes and seconds indicators.
In keeping with the brand’s love for sports, Hublot signed up ace Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh as their first Indian ambassador for his home country.
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Conclusion
Luxury watches are undoubtedly one of the best statement-making accessories. When it comes to making a style statement, most modern Indians readily pay hefty amounts for glam gadgets. With a plethora of eager customers, it is no surprise that luxury watch brands are trying to reach out to buyers in this sub-continent. This also means that it’s high time other luxury watchmakers also set their sights on Indian buyers if they haven’t already.