Founded in 2018 by former technology executives turned entrepreneurs Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj, Bangalore Watch Company (BWC) manufactures high-quality mechanical watches in India and exports them to more than 30 countries. Its collections draw inspiration from modern Indian themes, including Aviation, Space, Cricket and the Outdoors. The brand combines Swiss-quality watchmaking with Indian narratives designed for global audiences, moving away from the conventional stereotypes associated with Indian watch designs.
The company has recently attracted attention for producing the only Indian-made watch to qualify for a spaceflight, creating watches using fighter-plane aluminium and, most recently, capturing carbon from the atmosphere for its watch dials. It has also gained international recognition through its participation in Dubai Watch Week 2025 and Geneva Watch Days 2026. In addition, the brand has been listed for the GPHG Awards (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève) three times in a row.
Explaining the company's ambition to establish India as a recognised contributor to the independent watch industry, Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company, said, “The independent watch industry has shown that great watch brands can come from anywhere. Brands like MING and Christopher Ward have built global communities by having a clear point of view. We believe India can be part of that global independent watch story, with a distinctly modern Indian perspective.”
Bangalore Watch Company currently operates a single flagship boutique in Bengaluru, with its watches priced between INR 150,000 and INR 300,000. The business reports a 30% repeat purchase rate and relies on a concierge-style service model that has enabled it to sell limited-edition watches without establishing a conventional retail network.
With an annual production capacity of 1,500 watches, the company plans to quadruple its capacity over the next three to five years. The expansion is intended to support its international ambitions while allowing the brand to retain its focused approach to manufacturing, customer relationships and retail presence.
Mercy Amalraj, Co-Founder of Bangalore Watch Company, said, “India is at an exciting point in its journey, with the world paying greater attention to what is being built here. We want to be part of that story, while also taking an Indian brand to a global audience. We have always believed that a world-class watch brand can be built from Bangalore, and the opportunity now is to take that belief, and the watches we have built around modern India, to collectors around the world.”
The funding comes as India becomes one of the fastest-growing importers of Swiss luxury watches, while the average selling price of watches in the country continues to move into the premium category as disposable incomes rise. This market environment provides the backdrop for BWC's plans to build a stronger international presence.
However, the company's expansion strategy will remain deliberately selective. Rather than establishing a large retail network across India, Bangalore Watch Company intends to focus on two to three strategic overseas locations in key markets and potentially add one more location in India. Its objective is to establish a presence in markets where a strong community of collectors already exists and where there is genuine interest in the brand, rather than pursuing widespread retail expansion.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj, who left their technology careers overseas to pursue their interest in modern Indian storytelling, Bangalore Watch Company has developed a following among customers in more than 30 countries.
The brand's collections combine contemporary design, technical innovation and narratives centred on 21st-century India. Its achievements include watches made using recovered fighter planes and aircraft carrier materials, India's first watch qualified for spaceflight, and its proprietary Cerasteel material, a fusion of steel and ceramic. Publications including The New York Times, Forbes and Hodinkee have recognised the company's originality and craftsmanship.
With fresh capital from its own customer base, a planned fourfold increase in production capacity and a targeted international retail strategy, Bangalore Watch Company is positioning itself to reach more collectors worldwide while continuing to build its identity around modern Indian watchmaking.
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