Missed Day 1 Of India Watch Weekend? Here’s Everything Everyone’s Talking About
6 min read
India just kicked off its largest watch collectors event yet and the energy was off the charts. India Watch Weekend 2026 was a celebration of watches, community and a shared passion that resulted in a two-day power packed extravaganza. Held at the Four Seasons Mumbai on January 17th & 18th the first day of this two-day celebration by HSBC India unfolded not in a rush, but in layers. With every layer, it became clearer that this wasn’t just an event, it was a meeting of minds, passions, and philosophies around time itself.
From the moment you stepped in, the energy was unmistakable. Collectors, seasoned enthusiasts, brand founders, CEOs and industry veterans all occupied the same space, bound by a shared language of time. What made day one special was how effortless it felt. No frantic dashes between sessions, no constantly checking the clock. Instead, conversations unfolded organically over display cases, during coffee breaks, and in those moments where you found yourself listening in, only to realize you were welcome to join. By the time you checked your watch, you already knew you’d be staying longer than planned.
Saturday set the tone with a series of panel discussions that tackled the big questions shaping modern watch culture. Do Watches Make You Money? opened the conversation around value, returns, and perspective, bringing together voices from finance and horology. The panel which included Ali Nael of FutureGrail and HSBC India’s Sandeep Batra examined whether watches should be viewed as passion assets, financial instruments, or something comfortably in between. Ali Nael shared his vital collecting insights and stated, “Culture is key in India and from the markers of growth in the country’s luxury watches space, India is going to create new trends for the global watch industry to observe and even adopt.”
That dialogue flowed naturally into How to Start a Watch Collection?, a session that felt refreshingly grounded. With guidance from Pascal Ravessoud of the FHH, RedBar India’s Punit Mehta, and Arnaud Tellier of FutureGrail, the takeaway was clear: there is no single “right” way to collect, only a thoughtful one. The panel truly enlightened audiences with the vast acumen of collective horological knowledge brought to the table by the panelists. Arnaud Tellier shared that, “in the modern iteration of the watch collecting space, internet books and all the resources available are helping collectors understand watches and watchmaking better.” He further stated that, “for newcomers getting into watches, the convenience of purchasing on the internet somewhat has made the practice of physically trying on a watch before buying a bit redundant. This is detrimental in regards to the fact that fit is essential when it comes to watches.” Punit Mehta shared that, “the broader community aspect of watches is helping broaden the scope of knowledge and The Hour Markers together in its efforts with FHH is helping engage novel audiences into the hobby of collecting.”
Pascal Ravessoud in his quotes shared that, “the evolving trends in collector habits which once focused on only the hyped pieces is now shifting to independent and even microbrands as the first purchase. All this has been made possible via enhanced knowledge acquisition as well.”
One of the most compelling conversations of the day came with When Luxury Grows, Does Desire Shrink? panel, a timely debate on scaling luxury without losing aspiration. On the panel were Jan Edocs - CEO Doxa, Nitesh Gandhi, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, Niladri Mazumder, President and COO of Seiko India and Ranjani Krishnaswamy - CMO, TITAN Watches who offered perspectives that went beyond theory, touching on real-world challenges of rarity, relevance, and restraint.
Niladri Mazumder shared that, “being attentive to the collectors’ demands is yielding a product with a greater desirability element.” Ranjani Krishnaswamy shared the sentiment that, “cultural context is vital to product development and thus embedding culture in the product makes it a stronger proposition on many levels. She further shared an insight into global demand of Made in India watches by stating, “Made in India has a premium touch in the modern sense. Titan makes its watches in India for the global market and its Stellar Wandering Hour watch recorded 50% of its sales outside of India, that too limited only by supply.”
The afternoon continued with a powerful shift in tone during Are Women Rewriting the Rules of Power in Luxury?, where calm leadership, long-term vision, and influence without noise took center stage. With voices like Aurélie Streit of FHH, Christine Hutter of Moritz Grossmann, Claire Berthet of Charles Oudin, and Karishma Karer of The Hour Markers the session felt less like a panel and more like a recalibration of how leadership in luxury is evolving. Karishma Karer shared her guidance to women collectors in her statement, “everyone must find the right passion. It’s all about trying. Seeking the right passion and the right advice can truly be transformative.”
Beyond the conversations, day one was rich in hands-on experiences. Masterclasses offered rare access into the inner workings of great Maisons from A. Lange & Söhne’s Energy Transmission Masterclass to Panerai’s watchmaking experience and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Olfactive Masterclass, which reminded everyone that watchmaking is as much about emotion as mechanics. Meanwhile, Rewinding Time invited visitors to slow down, with the FutureGrail presentation and Titan’s Chambers of Time offering moments of reflection amid the buzz.
The Inner Circle sessions were among the most anticipated moments of the day. Intimate, unfiltered conversations with industry leaders including Christine Hutter (Moritz Grossmann), Tamdi Chonge (EPOS), Jan Edöcs (DOXA), Niladri Mazumder (Grand Seiko India), and Praneeth Rajsingh (MING) gave attendees rare insights into the minds shaping contemporary horology. These weren’t rehearsed soundbites, rather they were thoughtful exchanges about craft, independence, growth, and staying true to one’s philosophy in an increasingly noisy market.
On the exhibition floor, the diversity of brands underscored exactly why India Watch Weekend matters. Independent watchmaking stood shoulder to shoulder with global Maisons, with names like Laine, Genus, MING, Moritz Grossmann, EPOS, Tutima, DOXA, Panerai, Baume & Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Grand Seiko, A. Lange & Söhne, Roger Dubuis, and the FHH all drawing steady crowds. Indian voices such as Nalla Neram and Ardra added a distinctly local rhythm to the global conversation, reinforcing that India is no longer just a market, it is a participant.
As evening approached, the pace softened but the mood didn’t dip. A. Lange & Söhne’s private viewings offered quiet moments of reverence, while the Baume & Mercier Sundowner eased the day into a relaxed close. Think lingering conversations, clinking glasses but watches still firmly in focus.
So you’re all caught up on what went down at India Watch Weekend 2026 day one. But if you want to experience the true essence of watchmaking, don’t miss day two!
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