How many clocks and watches is too many? The 21st edition of the Indian International Watch and Clock Fair — Samaya Bharati 2023 — displayed a wide range of such magnificent masterpieces, some of them ancient and some ranking higher on the innovation scale.
For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the trade show gathered together over 300 brands under one roof at the Palace Grounds in Bengaluru.
Visitors were drawn to classic style grandfather watches, cutting edge 3D watches, and even a special edition Panchanga clock.
The Panchanga clock, an astronomically exact clock, is reported to be one of the largest in the world, standing at 2424 feet, and is the creation of Yajnanarayana Kammaje, an event organizer.
The prices of the timepieces on exhibit range from Rs 200 to Rs 2.5 lakhs.
Over 50,000 different timepieces were on show during the event, which was opened by CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka. Participating brands included HMT, Jaipur Watch Company, Titan, Daks, Aarks, and many more.
The idea of constructing a watch park in the state was also brought up. Additionally, Narayan stated that the government would assist the watch industry in constructing the park. “New problems must be welcomed in order to progress and comprehend the necessity to work around it,” he stated. We are prepared to make Watch Park a reality because it must be.
As a government, we may facilitate and assist with land acquisition and various licences.”
“Despite encountering many hurdles, the watch industry excelled through innovation,” said Hemal Kharod, main organizer and son of Samaya Bharati founder Mihir Kharod. Today, we are displaying the most recent developments in the domain of time.”
