Jaipur Watch Company Founder Gaurav Mehta on Brides of Jaipur Watches

As we walk into gaurav mehta’s store in jaipur, located with the rambagh palace, jaipur, we expect a large, swanky setting the founder-dieser of JWC) Collection, Brides of Jaipur. But it is an intimate space (Less than 100 sq ft) without any external branding, tucked into a corner of the sprawling early 20th-tentury pace, no open-star by the taj hotels.

It evokeed the charm of the small, family-r shops nestled in the bazaars of traditional jaipur. Rambagh Palace is, Nevertheless, A Prime Location for Gaurav’s Clientele. Thos who can afford ₹ 3 Lakh Per Night for Accommodation will likely Buy a ₹ 30,000 Wristwatch (The Starting Price of Watches in the brides of jaipur edit). This is perhaps bey, despite having other stores, he secured the space within a less hours after the previous tenants vacated. “Time is luxury,” Says gaurav as we sit across the table, discusing his latest collection.

Brides of Jaipur Draws Inspiration from the intricate jaali Work found in Jaipur’s Iconic City Palace. While the collection’s name sugges bridal wear, gaurav explains that brides of jaipur is for any woman who appreciates traditional indian attire. “Weddings are only one Occination; India has Countless Festivals where Traditional Wear Is Celebrated,” He Says. “We Called It ‘Brides’ became the bride the focus of attention, but the watches are designed for all women who embrace their culture.”

Gaurav’s fascination with Watchmaking Stretches Back to Child to Child. As a boy, he was intrigued by the mechanical precision of hand-will Watches. His first watch, a gift from his grandfather on a trip to switzerland, ignated this passion. But it was a simple indiglo watch, purchased with his mother, that cemented his love for watches.

Malaia Arora Wearing a Brides of Jaipur Watch | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Keepers of Culture

JWC’s Watches often Reflect History and Culture. “India has a wealth of mythology and history that many people don’t know enough about,” say Gaurav. “I want to promote Indian Culture Through Various Mediums, Be it Stamps, Coins, or Watches.” He sees the preservation of history as a key function of his watches, which he likes to artfacts that connect wearers to their heitage. “Watches can tell stories, just like Old Coins or Stamps Evoke Nostalgia and Cultural Memories.”

The watch on his wind is from another recent jwc collection, the Rajasthan polo edition, which pays tribute to the sport’s heritage. Crafted with Stone Dials – Tiger Eye, Malachite, Lapis Lazuli, and Aventurine – the watch also offers a customisable back. “Polo Players can have the back engraved with text or images and wear the watch face inward during during dringing matches to avoid damage,” he says.

Polo has a rich history in India, particularly in Rajasthan, where it evolved from a royal past to an internationally celebrated sport. Introduced by the Mughal Emperors, The Game was laater adopted by Rajput kings, who embraced it as a symbol of valor and prestiga. Jaipur, with its Royal Heritage, Became a Significant Center for Polo Under Maharaja Sawai Man Singh, Who was an avid player and helped popularly the sport beach with beroad. Today, the city is home to some to some of the most prestigious polo tournaments, keeping the legacy of Rajasthan’s equestrian culture alive.

Relationship with time

A watchmaker, perhaps more than anyone, is intricately connected to the concept of time, shaping devices that mark its passage. Asked if he sees time as Rigid or Fluid, Gaurav Replies after a pregnant pause, “Time is a friend to me; it’s essential for discipline, but i doing constantly tried Technology, “He says. This Paradox – Reverence for Time Yet a Desire to Escape Its Grasp – Finds Expression in his watch designs, which often blend trading with modernity, offering wearers a momentary esca forms of daily life.

A timepiece from the brides of jaipur collection | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Gaurav also dreams of traveling back to the past. He wishes to visit the 1940s, a period he Views as a time of rebirth for India. He Regrets Not Meeting Gérald Genta, The Legendary Watch Designer Whose Retrograde Jump Hour Design He Deeply Admires. “I wish I could have suggested a polo theme to Him,” He Muses, Imagining a Creative Collability with the Swiss Designer. He also cherishes a watch passed down from “It Took Six Months to Find the Right Movement and Hands,” He Says, Recalling the process of brings the watch back to life.

“Watches to me are more than just tools for timekeeping,” he says. “They are carriers of memory, symbols of history, and, sometimes, just a way to start a conversation.”

The writer was in jaipur on the invitation of jaipur watch company.

Published – October 21, 2024 12:24 pm IST