Cover The Titan Jalsa features age-old Indian metier d'art on the dial
The Titan Jalsa features age-old Indian metier d'art on the dial
1 / 1
Jalsa is also Titan’s entry into the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève this year
Think watches, and India is probably furthest from your mind. But it is in this country where one of the largest watch producers in the world is located—specifically in Hosur near Bangalore, where the Titan manufacture has called home since 1984. Last year, Titan achieved an impressive US$150 billion in sales, which is around 15 million watches sold annually.
While India is its main market, Titan has set its sights beyond these borders through a growing distribution network, not to mention flexing its watchmaking savoir-faire by participating in the prestigious Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) last year, the first time for an Indian brand. It maintains the momentum this year with the Jalsa, created by its luxury division Nebula.
Read more: Tatler GMT Collective: a watch community of trailblazers in Asia
Above Titan manufacture in Hosur, India
Titan manufacture in Hosur, India
1 / 1
Jalsa, limited to 10 pieces, is definitely in a different league from last year’s Edge Ultra Slim and Edge Squircle Matte Black, Titan’s GPHG entries in the Challenge and Time Only categories respectively.
The three-part case is 18-karat rose gold, with the case middle formed by a ring of red agate, which also appeared on the movement's bridges visible through the sapphire caseback. The flying tourbillon movement was conceived, engineered and assembled by Titan, boasting 3Hz frequency and 48 hours of power reserve.
See also: The new MoonSwatch features beloved cartoon character Snoopy
Above Jalsa by Nebula is Titan’s entry into the prestigious GPHG this year
Jalsa by Nebula is Titan’s entry into the prestigious GPHG this year
1 / 1
The pièce de résistance is the hand-painted dial, which depicts a royal procession in front of Hawa Mahal, an iconic Rajasthani palace in Jaipur. It was painted by Shakir Ali, one of India’s most revered miniature painters and a Padma Shri awardee. Like a revolving window, a sapphire lens at one end of the minute hand magnifies the delicate details of the painting—and, for a fleeting moment, the tourbillon itself when the two align.
Above Red agate forms the bridges for the flying tourbillon movement of the Jalsa watch
Red agate forms the bridges for the flying tourbillon movement of the Jalsa watch
1 / 1
Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
