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Virat Kohli and Watches: A Conversation

WatchTime India caught up with the captain of the Indian Cricket Team, Virat Kohli, during the new Tissot boutique launch in Mumbai.

WTI: You've always shared a very vested interest in the watch industry. What attracted you the most about Tissot?

VK: Tissot is a brand which synced with me immediately. Firstly, the legacy of the company and the kind of treatment you get being a Tissot ambassador is something I really appreciate. They are so respectful towards their ambassadors and the relationship they maintain with you as their ambassador is something which is very, very special. Obviously, the watches have been around forever and it's a trusted brand for so many people, both in India and globally. It's a brand which is very dear to people and you don't see any Tissot lover drifting away from the brand. That to me speaks of the trust factor that the brand brings with it, and that's very important for me.

" In general, and this is since the beginning, I was always loved watches in which you can also see the mechanism." Virat Kohli

WTI: What qualities do you share with the brand?

VK: I think honesty and passion, towards our work. We're both very true to ourselves and who we are. I don't think Tissot has ever tried to be someone they're not, and that's something even I totally believe in. Thus, I have this immense respect for the brand, and it's one of the reasons why the sync was really so easy. I am very big on loyalty. I've always been a person who always sticks to my beliefs, and Tissot has had these very values resonating through them for years now.

WTI: A Tissot timepiece you cannot do without?

VK: My favourite Tissot timepiece is yet to come, it's launching very soon, so you'll see it. But currently, one watch I absolutely love is the Powermatic. I love it. It's a classic. I do have some big (dial) ones as well, but the elegance just speaks through this timepiece.

WTI: What attracts you more to a timepiece – the mechanical complexity or the design?

VK: In general, and this is since the beginning, I was always loved watches in which you can also see the mechanism. It's definitely something which really impresses me like with the Powermatic. From a design perspective, I have started liking more classical looking pieces now to wear on a daily basis. It's comfortable, light, and looks smart.

WTI: Do you wear different Tissot timepieces based on different events in your life?

VK: Yes, definitely. I have watches which have big dials in rose gold, with very interesting patterns done on the outside, which I mostly wear for very formal events. They come with a leather strap and for me, they look very classy. Then I have watches with steel bracelets as well, for casual events and get-togethers. But on a daily basis, I like to wear something which is classic and light.

WTI: What does “time” mean to you – not timing, time?

VK: Time is everything. It's the only constant in this world, which is a very cliched statement, I know. Honestly, I don't think there is

"I'd always wanted to wear a tuxedo while doing some cricket stuff and Tissot made me do that! So, that was very special. Very James Bond except I had a cricket ball in my hand, which was very cool." Virat Kohli Captain, Indian Cricket Team and Tissot Brand Ambassador

anything more important than time. You cannot move ahead of time, you cannot live in the past, you have to keep moving ahead with time. It's something that always makes you realise about being in the moment, and it makes you respect it.

Time, for me is on a constant move, and whether we like it or not, we're always losing time. It keeps running away from us. If my head right now would have been in the chat I had maybe, ten minutes ago, I wouldn't be able to give you the answers that I'm giving you right now. So, time for me is everything and it's meant to be respected. You can't always live in the past, or in the glories of your past. Neither are you allowed to think of the future and feel ecstatic about it. You have to respect what's coming your way and move along with it.

WTI: Your most memorable time with Tissot in your tenure till now?

VK: I think my first shoot – I got to wear a tuxedo. I'd always wanted to wear a tuxedo while doing some cricket stuff and Tissot made me do that! So, that was very special. Very James Bond except I had a cricket ball in my hand, which was very cool. I think I saw it (the advertisement) in Australia as well, somewhere, and I felt so nice about it because that is something that I always saw myself doing and it's the first thing that happened when I collaborated with Tissot - that will always remain a truly memorable moment.

WTI: What one constant thing do you carry with you from one tournament to the other?

VK: My watch. It's my one constant thing.

 

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Launched in 2012, WatchTime India is the result of a collaboration between America's most-read watch magazine, WatchTime and, India's leading media house, Malayala Manorama. With an aim to popularise and celebrate the evolving watch culture of the country, the publication is your one-stop destination for everything related to fine luxury watches. From the latest tests to reviews, to exclusive features on the history and horological heritage of some of the most spectacular watch brands of the world, the WatchTime India portal has a lot to offer. Stay tuned for an exciting journey, through the fascinating world of watches!

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