Question for Members in India
Hopefully I don't step on any toes with this one...
So I'd like to believe that most are aware of the "Frankenwatch" which not-so-long-ago was called a "Mumbai special" but that seems to have fallen out of favor. In short these are older watches cannibalized together from other watches and available for very low cost.
They are notoriously available on eBay. I am curious if these things are export only, or if there is a domestic market for these as well. Are there brick and mortar (or rug on the street) places where one can buy them in-country?
I have no intention of going on some Eat-Pray-Watch excursion, I'm just wondering. If I advise someone to buy a rebuilt HMT, are there members that can do so by taking a short trip instead of requiring online ordering and intercontinental shipping?
Started as a quartzbro goofing on the mechanical snobs, wrote for thetruthaboutwatches.com, and lately started finding forgotten familial vintage watches in need of love.
I also hope that no one takes offense because it is a fact that India is to watches, what the Island of misfit toys is to Christmas Presents. I would actually love to see the production of watches being sorted by whether they are worth saving and then being dismantled with their parts sorted to be used in repairing other watches.
Interesting question...
I too would love to see one of their workshops in action. To the informed there's no problem as you know what your 'oris' at £29.99 delivered is. It's recycling or even upcycling.
My little India special £19.99 and from the other side of the world,would love to see the process.
I'll have to call out some people that might have an answer. If you're wondering why you were summoned here, it is because I think you are in India and can elaborate on this topic of the watch rebuilding (cottage) industry/industries.
@saikiranms @soumikmondal21 @Anuuuuup @shoaib @Shishirs @rakeshlink @taranpreetsingh @Arijit @hardikcha
Welcome to the watchfam!🍾
Welcome to the watchfam!🍾
Someone is more ambitious than I am in seeking the #welcome badge😉
I'll have to call out some people that might have an answer. If you're wondering why you were summoned here, it is because I think you are in India and can elaborate on this topic of the watch rebuilding (cottage) industry/industries.
@saikiranms @soumikmondal21 @Anuuuuup @shoaib @Shishirs @rakeshlink @taranpreetsingh @Arijit @hardikcha
Hi Oscar. I don't know much about it but I know someone who might. There's a page named "The Indian Horology" and they are pretty knowledgeable, you can reach out to them.
I'm leaving the links to Instagram and Facebook here.
https://www.instagram.com/theindianhorology/
https://www.facebook.com/THEINDIANHOROLOGYINSTA/
They love fashion watches too.😉
Okay, thanks to @Stricko in this thread we finally have visuals on a producer of, how shall we say, refurbished watches in India! This is the next best thing to being there for me!
Images courtesy https://www.indiamart.com/haryana-watch/aboutus.html (more there!)
This is fascinating, but at the same time sort of anticlimactic as it looks like a normal little watch and clock shop one might find, however rarely, in a strip mall or city here. I mean the open air aspect is different and the landmark-referencing way they do addresses over is a change, but otherwise this isn't as cartoonish and exotic and as I sort of expected.
So, I have a friend who's visiting Delhi next week and I'm calling in all the favors she owes me to find a frankenwatch while there. Any advice?
HMT has begun production again and a small factory has been established for reproducing beautiful classics. If you’re visiting you could buy it directly from the factory store in Bengaluru, or you could just order from their own online store www.Hmt.in which is the only approved online store. Everything else would be considered questionable.
Here is an example of a newly reproduced HMT pilot. It’s a hand wound beauty 😍
HMT has begun production again and a small factory has been established for reproducing beautiful classics. If you’re visiting you could buy it directly from the factory store in Bengaluru, or you could just order from their own online store www.Hmt.in which is the only approved online store. Everything else would be considered questionable.
Here is an example of a newly reproduced HMT pilot. It’s a hand wound beauty 😍
Do you mean https://www.hmtwatches.in ?
Do you mean https://www.hmtwatches.in ?
Right, that’s the one.