Before you start collecting watches, understand
your primary motive behind creating a collection. Based on my interactions with
different HMT watch collectors, I have tried to document below the various factors
which leads them to choose the watches they add to their collection. I am quite
sure that this list is inclusive and not exhaustive and a person may have more
than one factor behind choosing which watch one wants to add to his/her
collection. It may also happen that over a period of time the motive behind a
person’s choice evolves from one to another.
I invest
in watches:
This is one of the most debatable reasons
when it comes to HMT watches. According to a certain section of watch admirers,
HMT watches have an antique value and there monetary value has risen/will rise
over a period of time. Before we explore this factor further we need to
understand a few important things when it comes to articles that are an antique
and have an investment potential. An antique is an item which is scarcely
available and is desirable to a large number of individuals. The value of an
item goes up in direct proportion to its availability vis-à-vis the number
of people who want to acquire it. HMT watches were manufactured in large
numbers and are still being produced by the company. They were a household name
at least one or two watches in each family. Therefore to say that these watches
are scarcely available would not be true as they are still available in India
across cities. If one searches earnestly these watches are available with watch
dealers and in HMT showrooms as New-Old-Stock. Another important thing is the
demand for these watches, which would increase the competition amongst buyers prompting
the sellers to increase its cost. The demand for HMT mechanical watches has
increased over a period of time but whether it would catch the fancy of watch collectors
in large numbers is something to be observed in future. However, there are
quite a few models from HMT that are scarcely available as they were not
released in large numbers and are hardly available now e.g. excel, leo, roman
automatic, Jawahar, kaushal, bahadur etc. Premium prices are charged for these
watches and a lot of fake/Franken watches also get sold to those HMT watch
lovers who are unable to make out the difference.
I love
mechanical movements: There
are quite a few mechanical watch lovers and they the love simple yet intricate
mechanical watch movements where gears in the gear-train work in tandem to help
the user read accurate time. They prefer mechanical watch movements over the
more accurate quartz movement.
I
collect retro stuff: To
some the nostalgia of the bygone era holds a lot of attraction. To such people HMT
watches have a great retro appeal as HMT still continues to use the designs
from the 60s. They love to pick-up the watches with a retro appeal. E.g. some
love the blue color sunray dial of an Avinash watch which was typical of the
80s and the disco era, others love the white dial Janata watches with the
typical 19th century look.
I
collect what I like: There
people collect only what they like irrespective of the brand of they watch.
It’s the vibe as they say that they get from the watch that really matters. To
them it’s the entire package and the appeal of the watch that makes them choose
a particular watch. To them the movement of the watch or the company of the
watch does not matter.
I
collect a watch for its unique dial/movement: These are the people who collect watches which have
a unique dial or a different complication in the movement. They look for
specific watches like a kaushal or Bahadur or a chirag watch for its unique
dial. Such people often look for a pocket watch from HMT or a Taurus watch for
its banner date calendar movement.
I
collect watches and would like to add selected iconic watches from different
brands: People in this category are
watch lovers that love collecting watches from different brands and would add
the watches from a brands that are quite famous. Such people mostly collect selected
watches from HMT like Janata, sona, pilot and Jawan. To them the watches that
are synonymous with a brands name are a must have.
I wear
all my watches and collect watches for different occasions, moods etc: Watch lovers that look for a specific type of
watch or dial colour fall under this category. They would pick up a Janata
because they need a white dial watch or would need a simple and elegant looking
watch. They might pick up a Pilot for its retro and evergreen looks. They would
buy a sona watch as they might be looking for a beautiful yet economical dress
watch. These are the guys next door whose watch collection is limited to a few
watches and these watches would cover all the occasions in their life. They
would buy a track watch for its sporty looks or a chirag watch for its Friday
evening social get- together look.
I buy
watches to gift it to others: I have
often come across people who are on a constant lookout for unique gifts to
impress their friends and business associates. To them HMT watch is as a unique
gift option. In their opinion it’s a long lasting gift that reminds the
receiver of the giver without burning a hole in the pocket of the giver as
affordable price range is synonymous with the HMT brand. To such people model
and make of the model does not matter much. They try and find a watch which
bears the name of the receiver or the one that goes best with the taste of the
receiver of the gift. They are usually not a watch collector themselves.
I need a
watch in my name: This
is one of the biggest reasons why people want to buy an HMT watch thesedays. HMT
released various models in most of the common Indian names and I am yet to come
across a person who would not be curious once he comes to know that there is a
watch that has his name on its dial. Such people just buy that one watch in
their name and conclude their quest for HMT watches. However, there are quite a
few people who end up buying more watches as the HMT watch fever catches on
them with their first watch. The model name on the dial of the watch is the
sole reason behind the purchase of a watch for these people.
I want
to learn horology and am looking for watches to study: To a student of horology an HMT watch
movements provides an excellent opportunity to hone his skills. These folks
would buy used HMT watches, then open up the watches and study its parts to
assemble them back. Since a second hand watch is quite inexpensive it provides
the students of horology a cost effective opportunity to conduct horological
experiments. Such people mostly buy used winding and auto-winding HMT watches.
If you think that there are other motivation
factors behind a person’s collection of HMT watches; do share the same with us
by commenting on this blog.
I love mechanical movements and retro styles but they're hard to find in small watches. The 35mm size is a major plus for my small wrists. :)
ReplyDeleteThankfully we have HMT watches and its huge and impressive range of mechanical watches to cater to the needs of watch lovers with smaller wrist sizes.
DeleteDear Prashant, I have been following your blog for a few days now. I am really happy that some one is there to appreciate hmt watches. Hmt watches for me hold two special reasons. First they are so simply Indian and actually showcase the era from where we began our journey towards self sufficiency as a nation. Second, of course, I love mechanical watches and hmt still makes them!!!. I have not been so much of a collector of hmt until now. I had one old watch from 1993 which tragically got misplaced a few years ago. Recently i bought a new Janata and I am really excited about it. Taking inspiration from you I now plan to start my own humble collection. The problem with hmt as a brand is that very few people are even aware that hmt is still making watches. Most believe that the company is long defunct. The biggest challenge to make hmt regain its lost glory is to first get this misconception out so that interested people like m can once again have the joy of wearing a hmt proudly on their wrists.
ReplyDeleteDear Rohan,
DeleteI believe the biggest form of publicity is through the grapevine (unofficial channels). These are the channels which have been responsible for the misconception - HMT being closed. People like you and me can also levearge the grapevine and spread a good word about these watches through our social interactions and create more entusiasm and positivity.