In a defining moment for Indian watchmaking, Titan has introduced its most extravagant and artistic creation yet, the ‘Jalsa’. An ultra-limited timepiece priced at Rs 40.5 lakh, this watch costs as much as a luxury car in India. With this launch, Titan has officially forayed into the world of high-end watches that rival global maisons.
Crafted under Titan’s Nebula line, Jalsa is not just a wristwatch, it’s a wearable canvas, a tribute to regal artistry and one of Jaipur’s most iconic monuments, the Hawa Mahal, celebrating its 225th year. With just 10 pieces produced, Jalsa is not only Titan’s most expensive watch till date, but also its official entry to the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) 2025, the watch industry’s most prestigious global platform.
The luxury in its details
The dial of Jalsa is a miniature painting, depicting a Rajput king on an elephant guided by a mahout, against the backdrop of the Hawa Mahal. Created by Padma Shri awardee Shakir Ali, one of the few remaining masters of Persian-style miniature art, each dial was hand-painted using natural gemstone pigments on a delicately carved sliver of marble.
“Over the last 10 years the market for premium watches in India has exploded,” said C.K. Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company, in a statement to CNBC-TV18.
Ali experimented with wood, paper, and metal before settling on marble for the dial, known for both its historical relevance and ability to retain colour vibrancy. While marble added to the watch’s weight, each miniature painting bears subtle nuances, giving every piece a distinct, one-of-one quality.
Mechanically, Jalsa is a statement of intent. Developed in-house, the watch features a flying tourbillon, which is a highly complex movement that was once regarded to be exclusive to elite European watchmakers. The exhibition caseback in sapphire crystal showcases 144 components and 14 jewels, while the dial is framed in 18k rose gold. The hour and minute hands are crafted from sapphire, with the minute hand incorporating a magnifying lens to offer a closer view of the artwork. This is an engineering feat that demands meticulous balancing to maintain the torque integrity.
Jalsa doesn’t just honour India’s royal past, it also signifies the brand’s future. With growing interest in mechanical craftsmanship and rising domestic demand for luxury experiences, Titan has clearly indicated its ambition to compete on a global scale.
“I think our journey in the mechanical watch movement has been about 10 years now and there’s a greater appreciation of the mechanical watch movement with customers also,” added Venkataraman. He confirmed that most inquiries have emerged from within India, indicating a shift in consumer preferences toward homegrown luxury.
With Jalsa, Titan, once a staple on Indian wrists in the ’90s and early 2000s, has boldly repositioned itself with legacy, innovation, and artistry.
