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WatchTime India's Sports Watches 2024 Issue is out

The new issue features Favre Leuba's Deep Blue Renaissance on the cover
The timing of our recent event was quite opportune. While we were smack dab in the middle of working on this Sports Watches issue, we partnered with Blancpain and luxury watch retailer Time Avenue to hold a collector’s meet in Mumbai. Blancpain is known for its iconic dive watch Fifty Fathoms, and the event gave watch lovers the chance to see pieces from the Fifty Fathoms Titanium and new ceramic collection, the Ladybird and Villeret lines, and also the very special Métiers d’Art Ganesh Watch. Several guests were spotted double-wristing with their Blancpain watches, trying on the different timepieces, and getting into the specifics of the models with Jalil El Kouch-Bordier, Area Sales Manager, Blancpain, who flew down specially for the event.

WatchTime India Sports Watches 2024 Issue

The genre of sports watches continues to remain vibrant. While the popularity of integrated sports bracelets refuses to wane, for this issue we wanted to turn our eye to the brands that are trying to do something different with their timepieces. So, our cover story features the Deep Blue Renaissance from the newly resuscitated Favre Leuba. Under the leadership of industry veteran Patrik Hoffmann, the brand has launched three new collections, with our cover watch being the modern rendition of the brand’s 1964 professional diver’s watch of the same name. Somya Rauthan has delved deep into the design and history of the brand in the story  ‘Tradition Reborn’ (P. 34). I hope to see more exciting things from this brand, which has deep ties with India—Favre Leuba was the first Swiss brand to be made available in the country in 1865.


India is also seeing a renewed interest of watch brands. In July this year, the Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Insights 2024 report highlighted India as the next major growth market. Enhanced by a new trade agreement between Switzerland and India and an expanding middle class looking for sophisticated products, the country is emerging as a lucrative frontier for Swiss watchmakers. It’s a thought that Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué agreed with—last year, Panerai opened a boutique at Jio World Plaza in Mumbai, the biggest watch store in the mall, and with the recent inclusion of the Phoenix Mall of Asia outpost in Bengaluru, the brand presence has now increased to four boutiques in India. Read his full interview in the story ‘Pushing Boundaries’ (P. 30), where he talks about what sets the brand apart and the new path it is forging.


Coming back to the subject of sports watches that are forging new paths, our features on Singer Reimagined’s Divetrack (P. 58); innovations in sports watches (In It to Win It, P. 64)’ and the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph (TAG Heuer’s New Tour de Force, P. 90) highlight the timepieces that go above and beyond. Because isn’t that really the essence of sports watches? Functional field watches that achieve more than simple timekeeping. It’s an idea that Victorinox really abides by, as I found out on my visit to their Watch Competence Centre in Delémont. The brand is approaching its watches vertical with renewed vigour—read about my learnings in the story, ‘Course for Victory’ (P. 84).

The Sports Issue is our last one of 2024, and the time seems right to say that the year’s been a good one for watches. This is hoping the streak continues in 2025.
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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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