Jaipur Watch Company, one of India’s foremost bespoke indie watch brands, recently launched a limited-edition collection of watches in tribute to Raja Ravi Varma, considered one of India’s greatest artists. The watches were unveiled at a grand, two-day event in Jaipur in early August.
Goddess Lakshmi Automatic Watch. Photo Courtesy: Jaipur Watch Company
Known for putting a uniquely Indian flavour to watches, from pichwai paintings to stamps and pre independence era coins, Jaipur Watch Company has crafted a limited edition series with Raja Ravi Varma’s work in collaboration with the Kilimanoor Palace Art Trust. This collaboration also marks 10 years of Jaipur Watch Company as well the 175th birth anniversary of Raja Ravi Varma.
This is a limited-edition series with 14 of the artist’s iconic works and only 8 units per style including Radha in the Moonlight, Mohini, Hans Damyanti, Birth of Shakuntala, Vishnu among others. Each watch carries a certification from Rama Varma Thampuran, the descendant of Raja Ravi Varma who resides in Kilimanoor Palace in Kerala and heads the Kilimanoor Palace Art Trust.
Hans Damayanti Automatic Watch. Photo Courtesy: Jaipur Watch Company
“At Jaipur Watch Company, my desire to explore images of divinity in chronographs took me to Raja Ravi Varma’s art. We found, to our surprise, that most of the current generation was unaware of his work. The realisation sparked the idea of developing a world-class watch collection based on the paintings and oleographs of Raja Ravi Varma. It is our way to connect with his legacy and India’s art heritage,” said Gaurav Mehta, Founder of Jaipur Watch Company.
Radha in the Moon Light Automatic Watch. Photo Courtesy: Jaipur Watch Company
The watches themselves are made of 316L surgical grade stainless steel, 40 mm in size, and have a domed sapphire crystal alongside a genuine sapphire stone on the crown.
The Jaipur Watch Company showroom
The stunning clarity of the paintings on some of the watches is created by printing the painting directly on the glass itself and inserting a white dial underneath to create a contrast. “Our challenge was to capture the essence of these grand rectangular prints within a round miniature canvas, retaining every detail and preserving the authentic colours and wear of the oleographs,” said Mehta.
Priced at 65,000, the watches embody Raja Ravi Varma’s philosophy of making art accessible and the limited-edition pieces provide an opportunity to own a beautiful and unique piece of Indian art on your wrist.
