India, May 19 -- On April 10, the Prime Minister was spotted wearing a wristwatch adorned with a tiger motif that immediately drew the attention of watch enthusiasts in India - not for its price tag or a global luxury label, but for its origin. The timepiece came from Jaipur Watch Company, an Indian horology brand known for crafting mechanical watches inspired by the country's heritage.

For generations, aspirational watch enthusiasts in India chased Swiss names such as Longines, Tudor, Hublot, Rolex, Omega, and Tag Heuer for wrist status. At the same time, legacy domestic makers like Titan served the mass market. That left a glaring middle: style-conscious buyers who wanted premium design, mechanical craftsmanship, and storytelling, but ...