• Fashion

This Homegrown Watch Brand Used Antique Coins And Stamps To Change The Game 

In conversation with Jaipur Watch Company about luxury, history, and their latest launches.
  • ByRadhika Bhalla

The Maharana Pratap Stamp Automatic Watch by Jaipur Watch Company was launched in earlier this year, and features a genuine, vintage Maharana Pratap postage stamp on the dial.

Thirteen years ago, a watch lover in Jaipur decide to place an ancient coin on a dial just to see how it would look. What he didn’t know, back then, was that he would build an empire with that design. Founder of Jaipur Watch Company, Gaurav Mehta, has since created exquisite, artful creations that have graced the wrists of the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan, artist Ed Sheeran, celebrities, and sportspersons. The list is long and powerful, and with a major investment under their belt, the time for Indian timekeeping is looking bright.

“The idea of Jaipur Watch Company came from a simple experiment in 2013, that married my love for collecting coins and watches. That moment stayed with me. It made me realise that India’s own history, art, and symbolism could be transformed into wearable luxury,” Gaurav shares with The Word. Magazine over a cup of coffee at his flagship store in the Pink City. 

At the heart of the brand is a compelling desire towards Indian storytelling, eschewing trends and turning, instead, towards Indian heritage, memory, and craftsmanship. “We include a range of elements such as coins, stamps, miniature art, embroidery, filigree, and other traditional crafts,” he continues. “Every timepiece is designed to carry emotional and cultural meaning, not just utility. That blend of originality, storytelling, and Indian identity is what makes us stand apart in the watch world.”

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The Imperial 1 2013 Re-Issue features an authentic King George VI half-silver one-rupee coin
(1939–1942) on the dial.
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Founder of Jaipur Watch Company, Gaurav Mehta.

The unique designs have caught the attention of serious watch collectors across the world, and JWC’s figures reveal just that. In 2025-26, Jaipur Watch Company closed their annual revenue at approximately ₹25 crore, which is a long way from the brand’s launch where Gaurav bootstrapped ₹30 lakh to get it off the ground. Looking back, the entrepreneur traces how he manoeuvred a difficult market to build JWC. “The idea of building an Indian luxury watch brand around coins, stamps, and heritage was unconventional at the time. Industry support was limited in the early years as well, because both customers and suppliers needed time to understand the concept and trust that an Indian brand could create premium watches with strong design value and quality,” he explains.

While JWC had a delightful product, consumers took a while to warm up to it because “for a long time, luxury was associated with international names, so building belief in an Indian luxury watch brand was not easy”. Along with this, Gaurav couldn’t find enough suppliers and manufacturing partners in the country who could deliver the level of precision, detailing, and finishing required for premium watchmaking. Nevertheless, he and his team persevered to build the right ecosystem around the brand, “and the business has scaled through disciplined reinvestment, strong margins, and a sharp focus on product originality and retail expansion.”

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The Premium Baagh Collection was launched in August, boasting a leopard against
a Rajasthani Chatri motif on the dial.

Creating fresh offerings is one of their fortés, which has helped the brand stay top of mind. Amongst JWC’s recent launches is the ‘Premium Baagh Collection’, which are handcrafted luxury watches that boast a dial with a leopard against a Rajasthani Chatri motif, multi-layered stone dials, 904L stainless steel, 60-hour power reserve, and Swiss automatic movements. There are three editions of abalone, turquoise, and aventurine, and you’ll appreciate the intricate turquoise stone mosaic and muslin khadi.    

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A portrait of Maharana Pratap by Surendra Singh Shaktawat (Courtesy Wikipedia).

Another recent release is ‘The Maharana Pratap Stamp Automatic Watch’, which was inspired by the idea of preserving history through contemporary watchmaking. At the centre of the watch is a genuine vintage Maharana Pratap postage stamp, carefully integrated into the dial, complemented by a self-winding automatic movement. “For me, the intention was not simply to create another commemorative product, but to build a timepiece that reinterprets heritage in a refined and lasting form. Maharana Pratap represents courage, resilience, and honour, values that continue to hold deep meaning even today,” Guarav emphasises.

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Cricketer Dhruv Jurel has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Jaipur Watch Company.

This April, cricketer Dhruv Jurel also partnered with the Jaipur Watch Company as their brand ambassador, and he has been spotted wearing ‘The One’ and ‘The Maharana Pratap Stamp Automatic Watch’. “Dhruv represents a new generation shaped by discipline, individuality, and quiet confidence, qualities that resonate strongly with our philosophy as a brand,” Gaurav shares, speaking of Dhruv’s “grounded background” and how he has “built his journey through perseverance and intent, values that are very close to what Jaipur Watch Company stands for”. 

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The brand's boutique in Borivali, Mumbai.

Gaurav has an ambitious eye set on expanding JWC’s retail presence from 14 stores in India to 25 by the end of the financial year. And, after that, he plans to create a ₹100 crore Indian luxury brand with long-term legacy value. But behind this numbers game is a strong desire to build legacy, both for the brand and for Indian watchmaking, at large. With the four pillars that Jaipur Watch Company is built on—of design, rarity, craftsmanship, and story—the future is right around the corner.

All images: Courtesy Jaipur Watch Company