A few months ago when I came across the Instagram page @wristedbysmi, I was pleasantly surprised to see an account dedicated to watches led by a woman in India – those kinds are a few and far between. A few scrolls of the page and it already looked promising with its educational videos. Owned by the Kerala-based IT professional Smitha Nair, the page showcases content that aims at educating women about watches, from highlighting why a timepiece matters to styling watches to reviewing them.
Smitha's watch collection
When I connected with Nair over a call, she told me that she was always fascinated with watches. Though initially viewing them as accessories, her outlook changed when her friend introduced her to Kerala’s largest watch community, TimeGrapher, in April 2025. It was after that that she began to look at watches with a keener eye. From understanding brands and their legacies to movements and mechanics and gleaning the nuances of watch design, Nair interest in this universe increased multi-fold. Her love for timepieces escalated pretty quickly after she got her first automatic watch, the Tissot Le Locle (Ref. T41218316) – its two-tone classic and compact case paired with Swiss automatic movement won her heart. Currently her collection features brands like Dennison, G-Shock, Olam watch by Timegraphers, Movado, Frederique Constant, Seiko, HMT, and Delhi Watch Company. Her passion even rubbed off on her husband, whom she gifted a Seiko Presage recently; now, he too has begun building his own collection. Moreover, Nair also reviews watches as well as shares insights about her own pieces, via story telling for a a deeper understanding to her followers
We caught up with her to learn more about her watch collecting journey and how she is helping women understand timepieces better
WatchTime India: Was there any particular moment when you fell in love with watches?
Smitha Nair: I always loved watches and I used to buy only quartz ones, largely because they are convenient. But my Tissot Le Locle, my first automatic watch, gifted to me by my brother-in-law, was also my entry into the automatic world – it has both emotional value and horological significance. It’s incredibly reliable. It helped me understand why watch connoisseurs appreciate mechanical watches. I have also started reading about how mechanical watches work and how different they are.
WTI: Tell us a little bit more about your other watches.
SN: I have a Longines moonphase, which is very special to me. I recently bought a Lucky Harvey and a Naga watch. I don’t restrict myself to women’s watches and I wear what suits my mood and outfit. There’s no formula that women must wear dials under 38mm – I just wear what feels right to me.
WTI: How to plan to educate people about watches?
SN: I started my page on July 6, 2025, after realizing that the watch space is largely male dominated. When you search for watches online, most platforms focus on men’s watches or unisex collections. Very few brands focus specifically on women. I used to question why that was. And that kept growing.
From my conversations with women – colleagues and friends – I noticed that most own just two or three watches: maybe a gold one, a silver one, and something ornate for celebratory occasions. They often don’t explore beyond that, and many don’t spend more than ₹20,000 on a watch. Through my page I want to share that there’s so much more available. My motive is spreading awareness to women on watches, that they should understand what watch they are buying. Even if they are spending Rs. 10,000, they should know where they are spending.
WTI: How did becoming a part of TimeGrapher influence your journey?
SN: Joining TimeGrapher was a big boost for me. They were all supportive. When I pitched my page idea to them, they were all ears. They support me with 200% on anything I needed, any watch I needed, there would be someone who got it for me. Recently I made a reel on HMT Project 70, though I did not own a single one of them, but somebody from the group was kind enough to bring home the entire collection for me to do this reel. That’s how powerful the camaraderie of the TimeGrapher group is.
WTI: What do you want to convey to young girls and women new to watch collecting?
SN: I do get a lot of instagram DMs of women wanting to start collecting watches – they ask me where they should start from. I just make them understand that watches should be meaningful keepsakes and not just an accessory.
I encourage them to start by learning the basics such as the difference between quartz and mechanical movements, understanding size and fit, and exploring brands within their budget. It is not about buying the most expensive piece, but about knowing why you are choosing a particular watch and what makes it special. I also remind them that collecting should be personal and enjoyable. Choose pieces that resonate with you, that you can style confidently with different outfits and occasions. When you see watches as a blend of craftsmanship, history, and self-expression, the journey becomes far more rewarding.
WTI: How do you pick your watches?
SN: I pick something that gives me a confident feminine perspective. My watch should be a mix of style and horology. If someone asks me what watch I am wearing, I should be able to tell them at least a few sentences on why I picked it and why it is special to me.
Boderry's Starry Series watch
WTI: What’s the first thing in watches you look at?
SN: First the look and then the details – what is it made of, the movement, the durability. I do have a slight affinity towards bracelets because I just love them as they go with most occasions.
WTI: Is there a watch in your collection that carries personal or family significance?
SN: My mom used to wear a Titan – she passed it down to me, so that is special. My dad had a Seiko and he gave it to my brother because it was a men’s watch. But anytime I want that watch, my brother hands it to me.
WTI: In the watch industry fashion watches are a big no…
SN: I do have fashion watches which are special to me. I am not restricted to wearing only certain brands. For women, it's important how things match with outfits. So we have to look at fashion watches also once in a while.
Delhi Watch Company's Heritage
WTI: What’s the next thing you are looking into?
SN: I have seen people mixing and matching straps.I find that really interesting because a simple strap change can completely transform the personality of a watch — it can make it dressier, sportier, or more casual depending on what I pair it with. I haven’t done it much yet because I’m still exploring combinations I love, but it’s something I want to look into next. It’s a fun way to make even one watch feel like many, and it’s creative, personal, and expressive.
Beyond that, I’m also curious about diving deeper into complications and styles I haven’t worn much yet — like chronographs or heritage-inspired pieces — because understanding different mechanics and history adds another layer to the hobby.
Images: Courtesy Smitha Nair
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