I never let myself be a slave to time; time was made for man and not man for time, said Rabelais. To continue that line of argument if time was made for man, then how much more so are watches.
The times may have changed; the fob watches of the past may now be no more than curiosities. But the wrist watches that have replaced these archaic pieces can be as much a sight to behold. They come in dizzying ranges from the purely functional to the virtually cosmetic. From mechanical watches to quartz watches which function without moving parts (they indicate the time via digits on the liquid crystal display). And there are many who dont belong to the set of contemporary clones of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland who kept looking at his watch and muttering he was late. A watch today, can clearly be as much a status symbol as a sartorial accessory.
Traditionally, Swiss watches (Rado, Omega, Piaget,Corum, Raymond Weil, to name a few) are the most coveted, associated as they are with a long history and tradition. Many watch companies such as Rolex, Tag Heur, Ebel and Gucci havent officially entered the domestic market although their products are available. There are few outlets (including the duty free shops at airports) that stock international brands, effectively serving to perpetuate the tag of exclusivity. For example, the Piaget collection of watches is available only at the Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri jewellery outlets.
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Youll find a wide variety of watches to choose from, so you have plenty of room to pick one to suit your image and style. For a suave image a la Pierce Brosnans James Bond, the Sea Master Professional of the Omega range of watches could be your comrade-in-arms for Rs 85,000. The watch has an automatic chronometer and is water-resistant to a depth of 300mts/100ft. Or for the cool Cindy Crawford look, theres the Omega Constellation. Then there is the Speedmaster, the choice of motorsport champ Michael Schumacher as well as NASA and Russian cosmonauts. It also has the distinction of being the first watch to be worn on the moon. The athletic look is associated with a Longines; these watches were closely involved in the development of the Olympic movement.
For the patriotically-minded, there are even watches to commemorate Indias Independence. Many companies have released limited edition watches to mark the occasion. For example, Corum of Switzerland has a Golden Anniversary model. This 18-carat gold watch has an image of the Taj Mahal hand-engraved on the solid gold dial. There are only 50 pieces of this range available.
Rados DiaStar DiaQueen unites the modern and classic. The case and bracelet are made of high-tech ceramics and 18-carat gold. Diamonds add additional brilliance to the the Jubile version. For a traditional Indian design that wont interfere with the sartorial philosophy behind a sari, try the Coorg Kada from Tanishq of Titan Industries. The watch is in the shape of a kada (bracelet). Its made of 18-carat gold and embellished with 22 blood red rubies. Another style is the Cabochon Kada, which is something of a fusion between occidental and oriental styles. Embellished with emeralds and rubies, this will set you back by Rs 75,000. Or theres the Traditional Rope, a watch styled along the lines of a south Indian mangalsutra and secured with a two-strand entwined rope of gold. The bonds that hold the two strands of rope are set with rubies while a lotus motif connecting the rope and watch is set with diamonds.
Diamonds arent necessarily only a womans best friend there are watches that indicate that men can gain as much from their friendship. Check out Tanishqs Diamond Arc or Aura of Brilliance (this has 103 diamonds crowning the outer rim of the watch). The DiaStar Jubile collection of Rado offers all features of the original Rado (its waterproof, boasts Swiss movement precision) plus a few extras in the form of genuine diamonds on the watch dial. The Super Jubile in the DiaStar Anatom series is even more dazzling, with the eight connecting elements of its bracelets made of gold and inset with diamonds. Piagets Tanagra range has other precious stones like topaz, coral, ruby and sapphire besides diamonds. The Piaget Dancer has a chronograph with mother of pearl dial surrounded by emerald hour markers and diamonds.
If your ideal in life is to be caught in a time-warp, try a fob watch made by Jacques Manoir. Theyll cost you Rs 3,100; or theres Titans pocket watch for Rs 6,200.
If you do set your sights on any of these premium watches, be careful about where you buy them from. Watch dealer Atul Gangoly, cautions, While buying these exclusive brands always ensure that there is back-up service. You could end up with a watch for which there are no spare parts available or a watch with a poor quality replacement.
Watches, like all mechanical instruments, require proper care and maintenance. It doesnt take a lot: wiping with a soft cloth is all that is required for day-to-day care. Metal wristbands can be cleaned in lukewarm soapy water. The leather strap should also be replaced from time to time. For perfect maintenance, it is best that you get your watch serviced from an authorised dealer or service centre.