History
Bangalore Watch Company (BWC) was established in 2018 by husband-and-wife duo Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj in Bangalore, India. Transitioning from their tech consulting careers in Hong Kong, they returned to India to create a watch brand that reflects modern Indian narratives. [6]
BWC introduced its first watch, the Renaissance Automatic, in 2018 as a tribute to India's watchmaking heritage; it was a dress watch drawing inspiration from the iconic HMT watches. This collection has since been retired. [7]
In 2019, BWC launched the MACH1 series, a tribute to Indian aviation. These pilot watches incorporate design elements inspired by the MiG-21 Type 77 aircraft, reflecting the legacy of the Indian Air Force (IAF). A limited-edition variant, Mach1X, was released with only 21 pieces, featuring a dial made from military-grade anodized aluminium recovered from a decommissioned MiG-21 Type 77 aircraft. [8]
The Cover Drive collection, introduced in 2020, celebrates India's passion for cricket. The watches in this series incorporate design elements inspired by the sport, appealing to cricket enthusiasts and reflecting the nation's sporting spirit. [9]
In 2021, BWC unveiled the Apogee collection, celebrating India's achievements in space exploration, particularly the contributions of ISRO. [10] Over the past five decades, ISRO has emerged as a global leader in space technology, becoming one of the few nations to successfully conduct interplanetary missions and advanced satellite launches. [11]
A now-retired model from Apogee collection, Extraterrestrial, featured a dial crafted from the Muonionalusta meteorite, estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. [12]
In 2025, Bangalore Watch Company (BWC) introduced the Peninsula collection, a series of wristwatches inspired by the diverse geographical features of the Indian subcontinent. The collection draws design elements from India's varied landscapes, including coastlines, plateaus, and forested regions, reflected in the dial colors and materials used. [13]
Products
BWC has four main collections: MACH1, inspired by Indian aviation; Apogee, honouring India's space program; Cover Drive, celebrating the spirit of Indian cricket; Peninsula Professional, an outdoor watch collection.
Aviation inspired watches
The MACH1 pilot watch collection draws inspiration from India's first supersonic fighter jet, the MiG-21. [14] The collection includes the Civilian and Aviator variants, [15] as well as the Officers Blue edition, which features a case back design depicting three MiG-21 aircraft in a v-formation. [16] MACH1 watches are available in Type A and Type B Flieger dial layout, each reflecting the legacy of aviation. The collection also incorporates symbolic elements: the Officer's Blue dial pays tribute to the IAF's No.6 uniform, the Silk Scarf variant honours women in aviation, and the Avalanche edition is inspired by high-altitude aviation. [17]
Space inspired watches
The Apogee collection is inspired by India's space program and its achievements in lunar exploration. [18] India is among the few nations with a strong presence in space exploration, with ISRO's Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions confirming the presence of water in the Moon's south pole region, particularly the dark crater Manzinus. Variants Manzinus 1 and Manzinus 2 draw inspiration from these missions, featuring a moon like disc made from the Muonionalusta meteorite. [19] Other variants include Supernova, featuring a fumé green dial inspired by the color of collapsing stars; Horizon, with a dial color reflecting the hues of Earth's Horizon; and Earthshine, which has a pale brown dial reminiscent of the crescent moon earthshine. [20]
Cricket inspired watches
The Cover Drive collection is inspired by India's prominence in cricket. Each variant incorporates elements associated with the sport, including The Outfield, The Pitch, and The Pavilion, reflecting different aspects of the game. The collection also pays homage to India's legendary stadiums through its leather straps. The Outfield features the Wankhede Tan, The Pitch comes with the Chepauk Cheroot, and The Pavilion is paired with the Chinnaswamy Cognac strap. [21] The Men in Blue also features dial colours such as blue, representing the Indian national team's iconic blue jersey and variant Yellow Jersey which is from the down south in India. [22]
Outdoor watches
The Peninsula Professional is an outdoor watch collection launched by Bangalore Watch Company in 2025. It celebrates India's diverse landscape. Each model pays tribute to a specific region: the Peninsula Agumbe takes inspiration from the rainforests of the Western Ghats; the Peninsula Laccadive is inspired by the Laccadive Sea near Lakshadweep; the Peninsula Zanskar is inspired by the Zanskar Valley in Ladakh; and the Peninsula Mannar, a limited edition of 50 pieces, features a dial made from black mother-of-pearl sourced from the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu. [23]
Exotic materials
Meteorite
The Apogee line of watches incorporates dials and discs made from the Muonionalusta meteorite, one of the oldest known meteorites, estimated to be over 4.5 billion years old. [24] Discovered in Sweden, this iron-based meteorite features a unique Windmanstätten pattern, formed by the slow cooling of nickel-iron crystals over millions of years in space. Inspired by India's lunar missions, the Manzinus model includes a meteorite disc, with each piece exhibiting a distinct crystalline structure. The Kármán Line Watch also features a meteorite dial. [25]
Fighter plane material
The MiG-21FL Type 77 was India's first supersonic fighter jet, serving as a significant part of the nation's air defense. Introduced into the Indian Air Force, it played a crucial role in various combat operations before being officially retired in 2013. [26] A watch model Mach1X featured a dial made from aluminum recovered from decommissioned MiG-21 aircraft, incorporating material from this historic fighter jet. [27]
Aircraft carrier material
The INS Vikrant (R11) was India's first aircraft carrier, serving in the Indian Navy from 1961 until its decommissioning in 1997 and eventual scrapping in 2014. The warship played a significant role in naval operations, including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. [28] A limited-edition watch, named Admiral, features a dial made from steel recovered from the INS Vikrant during its dismantling in 2014. [29]
Black Mother of Pearl
The Mannar model from the Peninsula Professional collection features a dial made from black mother-of-pearl [30] . It is a tribute to the Gulf of Mannar, a region historically known for its rich pearl fisheries dating back to the 2nd century AD.
New technology in watches
Space qualified watches
Space watches are designed to endure the extreme conditions of space, including microgravity, temperature variations, and radiation. These watches are tested for durability, accuracy, and reliability and have been worn by astronauts on various missions.
The Omega Speedmaster, certified by NASA in 1965, became the first watch worn on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. [31]
In 2024, the Kármán Line watch was sent to space aboard a specialized spacecraft, withstanding the harsh space environment. BWC became the first Indian company to develop a space-certified watch following this mission. [32]
Cerasteel™
After extensive research and development, Bangalore Watch Company® introduced Cerasteel™, a proprietary case material. Designed to deliver both strength and visual appeal, Cerasteel™ combines a robust steel inner core with a specially developed Cerakote® ceramic-polymer coating. This composite material offers the structural toughness of steel while enhancing the surface with improved wear resistance and a distinct matte finish. Debuting with the Apogee watch collection, Cerasteel™ replaces the earlier titanium case.
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