An eastern, state-affiliated, affordable watch brand (no, it’s not Seagull or Vostok)
Russia has Vostok, China has Seagull… and India has HMT.
HMT (Hindustan Machine Tools) is a public sector machine tool manufacturing division of the Indian government. And they used to make watches that adorned every Indian person’s wrists.
If you walked around India in the 90s before imports were deregulated, EVERYONE had one of these.
It was just part of the middle class lifestyle- when you became an adult, you bought a button up shirt and an HMT watch. My dad’s first watch was an HMT he got for 500 rupees in 1991 (4,200 rupees adjusted for inflation- or $51.32 USD).
In 2016, they stopped manufacturing watches, but you can find remaining supply on eBay to this day.
I got these from a family member in India.
They don’t have the best finishing or the best movements, but they’re charming, affordable watches with unique designs, and quite a bit of history.
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
They licenced the 8 series Miyota movement a long time ago and have been making good affordable watches ever since. Even the frankensteins they make will function well. I think India will overtake the Chinese in affordable entry level watches soon. China is going to go through some stuff in the coming years.
Despite having no need, I really want to wear an HMT and ride a Royal Enfield around just to see how much interest I draw from people (really, men) of Indian origin I get. They are also cleanly styled watches, of course, and the used price is a total winner even if the total authenticity is more fun that factual.
Some years ago I found out about them and got these off EBay. Around 10€ each (spent more to replace the terrible straps). The square is quartz, the others hand-wound mechanicals. Got also a 4th mechanical but was DOA. Fun watches although I wear them rarely. The blue was the first one and the one who gets most wrist time.
Your #hmt chetak looks fabulous 🤩