Jaipur Watch Company’s founder and CEO Gaurav Mehta talks to The Daily Guardian about his incredible watch-making journey, how the pandemic has hit his business hard, and what he is doing to beat the Covid heat. Excerpts:
Q. Tell us about the Jaipur Watch Company’s story.
A. I have been a passionate numismatist and a horologist but I have never thought that my passion would turn into my profession one day. I have always loved taking my watches apart to explore its mechanisation. During one such experiment, I decided to stick a coin from my collection onto the dial. My friends loved what I had created when they saw it and requested that I do the same for them. This made me toy with the idea of starting my own business. In the beginning, no one was willing to back this horse! So, I sold my car and my existing business, borrowed from a few friends, travelled to Switzerland to understand watch-making. Thus, I started Jaipur Watch Company in 2013.
Q. How are your watches priced?
A. Our prêt collection is priced between Rs16,000 and Rs 55,000. Our customised/bespoke watches sell between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs.24 lakh, depending on the requirements of the customer. So, our most expensive watch is studded with baguettes and sapphires.
Q. How has Covid-19 affected your business and what is your strategy post-pandemic?
A. We were selling a minimum of 1,700 watches per year. However, Covid-19 has completely disrupted our sales. We are using this time to re-programme our plans. With the world living digitally in this pandemic, we are focusing on online marketing and further primping our digital platforms. Our next phase in marketing and sales will see our very own website going through a complete transformation, enabling online buying.
Q. Can you talk about your latest innovation?
A. Our latest in the line of innovative watches are the embossed timepieces. We are now manufacturing dials with anything dear to you embossed on it — that could be a loved one, a celebrity, or a deity as per customer preference, thus creating an exclusive experience with a unique edge.