HMT Gandeberunda
Kannada numerals. Kannada, previously also known as Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India.
In the case you can see a few with Hindi Devanagiri script, both widely popular in India with Kannada being more prominent in the Bengaluru (Bangalore) and South India region and states.
These are cheap automatic movements, but also sought after and nostalgic pieces. HMT is an Indian watch band that goes back to 1953 in Bangalore, India, as a state-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Defense. It began as a manufacturer of machine tools but soon expanded into the field of horology. In 1961, the production of the first HMT watches commenced.
They continued though 2013 having almost been wiped out by the luxury and quartz era. They are back and messing new watches, but also there are original vintage and tons of redials. Some decent, some really bad.
I have a few new old stock and a few decent redials. Paid on average $35 for each. And got a few in India for what would equate to like $10 USD.
Applications Engineer by day, self-taught watch technician by night. House DJ for almost 30 years. Watch collector since 2020, but watch enthusiast since the 1990s. I collect vintage Seiko, Grand Seik...
Man you struck gold! These are beautiful! This is why I wish my wrist was just a tad bit smaller sometimes. Amazing stuff!
Man you struck gold! These are beautiful! This is why I wish my wrist was just a tad bit smaller sometimes. Amazing stuff!
Look, I love India. I travel there and mentor hackers (developers).
I picked up the pink and another blue Kohinoor while shopping in Bengaluru.
I didn't know all that I know now, so when I got home I made one or two bad purchases on eBay of redials. But is it really a bad purchase when it's only $25 and you now have an extra donor movement for the other watches?
lol. Thanks I went down the HMT rabbit hole, also picked up a few Titans while I was there. I like to commemorate trips and spend money in the regions I go to especially if they have horological brands like these where the product is made in India.
I have a few stuck in the post so this box will probably be full in the next few weeks LOL.
HMT makes signed buckles now? I'm learning so much. I have yet to see an HMT case that I don't like. What does the two-headed bird symbolize?
HMT makes signed buckles now? I'm learning so much. I have yet to see an HMT case that I don't like. What does the two-headed bird symbolize?
Good question.
The Gandaberunda was the emblem of the Erstwhile Kingdom of Mysuru under the Wodeyar rulers, and after India attained independence, it was retained by the Mysuru State as its emblem. The aforementioned state was enlarged in 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973, and the Gandabherunda continues to be the official state emblem of Karnataka. It is used as the official emblem of the Karnataka state government. It is believed to represent resilience against the forces of destruction. It appears as an intricately carved sculpture motif in Hindu temples.
HMT makes signed buckles now? I'm learning so much. I have yet to see an HMT case that I don't like. What does the two-headed bird symbolize?
Yeah, so the HMT company has had signed buckles in the past and continues to make them.
They even have a page on their website that is supposed to allow you to buy them new, but the page says "coming soon"
Therefore, in order to get one you need to buy a watch that comes with a leather band, like the Gandeberunda (not currently available on their website) I think this one is a few years old.
There are a few guys in YouTube that really do a great job of explaining a lot of the information about vintage HMTs and modern assembly. But it's not easy information to find.
I have a playlist on YouTube that had a lot of these videos for those that want to venture down this rabbit hole.
This video explains the messaging of the two headed bird: https://youtu.be/uWEqyDMGDGY?si=7vXSr9fBZ7EypLPz
Here is the ever evolving playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6plkCKba-ybbSPkBFmTHfKnj1zP59pvi
Also, something else that is just amazing about HMT is that they have been working with some local watchmakers, designers and watch communities to create a few special prototypes and limited editions.
Like the "Red Gandeberunda" and the "Mt Fuji"edition. I mean, what other watch company is doing that? They get it.
Good question.
The Gandaberunda was the emblem of the Erstwhile Kingdom of Mysuru under the Wodeyar rulers, and after India attained independence, it was retained by the Mysuru State as its emblem. The aforementioned state was enlarged in 1956 and renamed Karnataka in 1973, and the Gandabherunda continues to be the official state emblem of Karnataka. It is used as the official emblem of the Karnataka state government. It is believed to represent resilience against the forces of destruction. It appears as an intricately carved sculpture motif in Hindu temples.
This is the great thing about a regional, really national, industry. They have no qualms of infusing great local history and culture that just doesn't get done so much when distribution is multinational or global.
Yeah, so the HMT company has had signed buckles in the past and continues to make them.
They even have a page on their website that is supposed to allow you to buy them new, but the page says "coming soon"
Therefore, in order to get one you need to buy a watch that comes with a leather band, like the Gandeberunda (not currently available on their website) I think this one is a few years old.
There are a few guys in YouTube that really do a great job of explaining a lot of the information about vintage HMTs and modern assembly. But it's not easy information to find.
I have a playlist on YouTube that had a lot of these videos for those that want to venture down this rabbit hole.
This video explains the messaging of the two headed bird: https://youtu.be/uWEqyDMGDGY?si=7vXSr9fBZ7EypLPz
Here is the ever evolving playlist:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6plkCKba-ybbSPkBFmTHfKnj1zP59pvi
Great, I get to hear the proper pronunciaton for many of these words. Pardon me for assuming all HMT's had plain case backs and were just very basic less the dizzying variety of (mostly fantasy) dials. Most of what I know is from the refurbished units on eBay, which may not be an imperfect sampling.
Great, I get to hear the proper pronunciaton for many of these words. Pardon me for assuming all HMT's had plain case backs and were just very basic less the dizzying variety of (mostly fantasy) dials. Most of what I know is from the refurbished units on eBay, which may not be an imperfect sampling.
There are a few videos on that playlist that speak to redials and fakes.
Another story...
I have a few with clear case back too. I assume they were out on afterwards, but I have my 5 year old grandson good first watch. A blue HMT Kohinoor with a clear case back on hours that seeing there movement would get his gears turning.
He wears it everywhere, and somehow the adjustable bracelet on it's smallest setting fits him. 😂
Look, I love India. I travel there and mentor hackers (developers).
I picked up the pink and another blue Kohinoor while shopping in Bengaluru.
I didn't know all that I know now, so when I got home I made one or two bad purchases on eBay of redials. But is it really a bad purchase when it's only $25 and you now have an extra donor movement for the other watches?
lol. Thanks I went down the HMT rabbit hole, also picked up a few Titans while I was there. I like to commemorate trips and spend money in the regions I go to especially if they have horological brands like these where the product is made in India.
I have a few stuck in the post so this box will probably be full in the next few weeks LOL.
They're amazing to look at! I hope you get them all running, that's a helluva collection in itself.
I wouldn't say it's a bad buy at all, all's well that ends well.