Company:Bangalore Watch Company
 Logo of Bangalore Watch Company | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch manufacturing, Luxury goods |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Nirupesh Joshi & Mercy Amalraj |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Luxury watches |
| Website | Official website |
The Bangalore Watch Company (BWC) is an Indian luxury watch brand founded in 2018 and based in Bangalore.[1] The company produces wristwatches inspired by contemporary Indian themes, with collections reflecting aspects of Indian aviation, the Indian space program, and India's Cricket Legacy. BWC's notable collection Apogee is India's first space qualified watch.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
In 2021, BWC unveiled the Apogee collection, celebrating India's achievements in space exploration, particularly the contributions of ISRO.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
Space inspired watches
The Apogee collection is inspired by India's space program and its achievements in lunar exploration.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
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. 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.[12]
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.[13]
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.[14] A limited-edition watch, named Admiral, features a dial made from steel recovered from the INS Vikrant during its dismantling in 2014.[15]
Black Mother of Pearl
The Mannar model from the Peninsula Professional collection features a dial made from black mother-of-pearl[16]. 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.[17]
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.[18]
References
- ↑ Balasubramanyam, K. R. (2023-12-17). "Former tech consultants turn entrepreneurs, find success in luxury watch industry with Bangalore watch company". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/electronics/former-tech-consultants-turn-entrepreneurs-find-success-in-luxury-watch-industry-with-bangalore-watch-company/articleshow/106064518.cms?from=mdr.
- ↑ "Bangalore Watch Company tests its apogee wrist watch in Space, prototype travels 35 km into Earth's atmosphere". The Economic Times. 2024-05-04. ISSN 0013-0389. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/electronics/bangalore-watch-company-tests-its-apogee-wrist-watch-in-space-prototype-travels-35-km-into-earths-atmosphere/articleshow/109842929.cms?from=mdr.
- ↑ Muyiwa, Joshua (2019-06-14). "On India’s watch: Nirupesh Joshi’s Bangalore Watch Company" (in en-IN). The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fashion/nirupesh-joshi-of-bangalore-watch-company-on-popularising-fine-watchmaking-in-the-indian-market/article27922915.ece.
- ↑ archive, From our online (2019-03-09). "The Quintessential Bangalore watch" (in en). https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/fashion/2019/Mar/09/the-quintessential-bangalore-watch-1948405.html.
- ↑ "MACH in India: Watch firm pays wristy tribute to MiG-21" (in en). https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/mach-in-india-watch-firm-pays-wristy-tribute-to-mig-21-760570.html.
- ↑ Nath, Aatish (2021-08-27). "Wristwatch for ISRO: The Bangalore Watch Company launches Apogee" (in en-IN). The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/fashion/wristwatch-for-isro-the-bangalore-watch-company-launches-apogee/article36136193.ece.
- ↑ "India's journey to the stars: 8 iconic Isro rocket launches". The Times of India. 2025-04-21. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/indias-journey-to-the-stars-8-iconic-isro-rocket-launches/photostory/120485524.cms.
- ↑ Joseph, Lesly (2019-09-14). "Now, you can wear MiG-21 history on your wrist" (in en). https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/Sep/14/now-you-can-wear-mig-21-history-on-your-wrist-2033229.html.
- ↑ "Bangalore Watch Company’s Apogee: Watches inspired by ISRO" (in en-US). https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/luxury-lifestyle/bangalore-watch-companys-apogee-a-watch-inspired-by-isro-7368871.html.
- ↑ "https://www.businessworld.in/article/bangalore-watch-company-launches-watch-collection-to-celebrate-indian-cricket-351314" (in en). https://www.businessworld.in/article/bangalore-watch-company-launches-watch-collection-to-celebrate-indian-cricket-351314.
- ↑ "Bangalore Watch Company's Peninsula Professional Collection Is An Ode To The Indian Subcontinent" (in en). 24 June 2025. https://luxe.outlookindia.com/watches-jewellery/watches/bangalore-watch-company-peninsula-collection-an-ode-to-diverse-indian-landscapes.
- ↑ Bagade, Hrithik Kiran (2024-05-08). "Time at 35-km high" (in en). https://www.newindianexpress.com/xplore/2024/May/08/time-at-35-km-high.
- ↑ "MiG-21, India's first supersonic fighter, flies into history". The Times of India. 2013-12-12. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mig-21-indias-first-supersonic-fighter-flies-into-history/articleshow/27230270.cms.
- ↑ "Indian Navy takes delivery of indigenous aircraft carrier 'INS Vikrant'". The Times of India. 2022-07-29. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-navy-takes-delivery-of-indigenous-aircraft-carrier-ins-vikrant/articleshow/93194614.cms.
- ↑ "New watch collection crafted with INS Vikrant R11 metal". The Times of India. 2023-08-22. ISSN 0971-8257. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/fashion/luxury/fashion/new-watch-collection-crafted-with-ins-vikrant-r11-metal/articleshow/102941802.cms.
- ↑ "BANGALORE WATCH COMPANY, Mannar" (in fr). https://www.gphg.org/en/watches/mannar.
- ↑ "50 Years On, the Omega Watch That Went to the Moon (Published 2019)" (in en). 2019-06-29. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/29/fashion/watches-omega-speedmaster-moonwatch-anniversary.html.
- ↑ "Bangalore Watch Company's Apogee is India's first Space-qualified watch | Fashion Trends - Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. 2024-07-01. https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/bangalore-watch-company-s-apogee-is-india-s-first-space-qualified-watch-101714551830587.html.
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