In 1951, India was a nation seeking a
fresh new start, having got its
independence after long struggle in
1947. India had decided to set
itself on a path of self-reliance
and become a modern economy with
rapid
industrialisation across many
sectors.
But how could a country move towards
being a modern nation without having
a sense of time and timing?
India had to progress at a rapid
pace. The country had been ravaged
and exploited by colonialism.
Progress was hence needed at express
pace across all sectors. And this
needed a sense of urgency. To
not lose a second. It needed
something to inspire a sense of
urgency. Something made in India.
This was how HMT Watches came into
being. An answer to a nation’s call.
Starting as a collaboration with
Citizen for technology transfer, HMT
Watches soon became a full Made in
India product. Over the next 40-50
years HMT watches kept ticking and
tocking, counting time as India
progressed from one milestone to
another. While the modern industrial
India started taking shape. Steel
plants, mega dams, modern defence
and telecom systems, fertiliser
plants, railways expansion, own
airlines, green revolution, milk
revolution, electrification, nuclear
power stations, setting up of the
IITs,
IIMs, ISRO, IISC, space missions,
sports achievements, stock markets –
the list goes on. India had come a
long way. With grit and while
keeping a date with time.
HMT became an everyday classic, a
household name, that people wore
with pride.
Through it all, there was one watch
that almost every Indian wore on
her/his wrist. Worn by both heads of
state as also the uncommon common
citizens. HMT as a watch marked a
passage of time for a country
coming of age. Hand-wound,
mechanical, almost spartan,
ticking-tocking, marking time and
becoming a
legend. The HMT Janata, Pilot,
Kanchan, Kohinoor became household
names. Each collection had its
story and audience. 7 million units
were being produced annually. But
then times changed.
Cheap quartz, cheap imports and short
sightedness killed HMT.
HMT had a glorious run, and
unprecedented for made in India
brands, till the influx of cheap
quartz
watches, cheaper imports, short-
sighted policies, poor marketing,
dated distribution and lack of
design
updates killed it. And Titan moved
in to take advantage of the space
vacated by HMT.
But HMT’s place as India’s mechanical
wonder still lies vacant. Even
today, the original HMT watches
remain cult pieces and are sought by
collectors. Counterfeits and fakes
have swamped the market.
Even till today there hasn’t been a
better, more durable, more loved and
efficient mechanical watch. One
that evokes national pride and with
the distinction of being a 100% made
in India product.
Can HMT have a new future? NYUCT
Design Labs initiative launched on
15th Aug 2025.
In 2024 NYUCT Design Labs launched an
initiative, which was unveiled on
15th Aug 2025 on
Independence Day to reimagine and
conceptually redesign HMT for a new
generation of Indians.
This is what as NYUCT Design Labs,
as venture designers, we have
been working on. To give
momentum to this idea of
revivalism of amazing brands and
products of India. And now we in
2026 we are seeking to get young
minds and designers to reimagine
India’s official
timekeeper and its mechanical /
automatic collections.
Today, as an India seeks its next
generation of progress, it misses
its official timekeeper. The country
and the millions who loved this
beautiful product seek its next
avatar. They wait for an HMT to
become the everyday classic all over
again. As watch lovers seek an
Indian brand that ticks all the
boxes. Pride being first. Today
online shoppers, collectors and
seekers try to get their hands on
the iconic collections which are
rare to find. Counterfeits and fakes
have swamped the market.
But for this new future to happen,
HMT needs updated designs, inspiring
expressions, material innovation and
modern-day packaging - a more
powerful, contemporary presence that
speaks to a new India while
preserving its original soul and
promise.
The best part of our initiative and
media exposure was that the Govt.
has also in Aug 2026 a year later,
initiated the revival plan and this
is great news for watch lovers.
The Government is finally showing
the initiative - Links to view
1. Centre
fast tracks HMT revival plan;
₹2,000 crore package under
consideration -
BusinessToday
2. hmt
Mint revival - Search - https://youtu.be/s5Q1b8FDmQ0?si=HYmQLQlvX7UfeXtq
3. John
Brittas on X: "HMT built
India's machine tool
industry. It deserves revival,
not endless delay. Thousands of
employees continue to suffer
delayed salaries, while those
who retired from 2018 onwards
are still awaiting their
legitimate retirement benefits.
Uncertainty continues to cripple
this i… / X
4. 'No
compromise on quality': H D
Kumaraswamy directs HMT to ramp
up production of new- series
watches
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