Bangalore Watch Company has introduced Forty Seven, a new pocket watch inspired by the years that shaped modern India. The watch looks back at the country’s transformation from a newly independent nation with limited resources into one of the world’s major economies and technology powers.
A Watch Inspired By India’s Journey
India’s growth story began from a very different starting point. At the time of independence, the country had a literacy rate of around 12 percent, a per capita income of about USD 50 and significant economic challenges.
Over the decades, India built strong capabilities in areas such as science, space technology, infrastructure and entrepreneurship. Forty Seven takes inspiration from this period of change and the ambition that helped shape the country.
Bangalore Watch Company, founded in 2018, has previously created watches inspired by aviation, cricket, space exploration and the outdoors. With Forty Seven, the brand turns its attention to the formative years of modern India.
Traditional Pocket Watch Design
Forty Seven takes inspiration from traditional pocket watches popular in the early 20th century.
The watch features surgical-grade steel with a vintage gold finish and an off-white linen-style pattern inspired by India’s self-reliance movement.
It is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and comes with a vintage leather lanyard. The watch can be worn around the neck, attached to the waist or used as a bag charm.
A New Format For The Brand
According to Bangalore Watch Company co-founder Nirupesh Joshi, the pocket watch format was chosen because it reflects the era that inspired the collection.
The brand has previously experimented with unusual materials and designs, including meteorites, aircraft carrier materials and captured carbon. Forty Seven represents another step in expanding its watchmaking capabilities while combining design with a strong Indian story.
Personalised Design
Forty Seven can also be customised with an engraving on the caseback, allowing buyers to create a more personal version of the watch.
The pocket watch is priced at USD 1,250, which is approximately Rs 1.2 lakh. Pre-orders will open on the Bangalore Watch Company website from August 11, 2026.
About Bangalore Watch Company
Founded in 2018, Bangalore Watch Company creates watches inspired by stories of modern India. Its collections cover themes including aviation, cricket, space and the great outdoors.
The brand has created watches using recovered fighter aircraft and aircraft carrier materials and has also developed Cerasteel, a material combining steel and ceramic.
The company was founded by husband-and-wife team Nirupesh Joshi and Mercy Amalraj, who left technology careers overseas to build a watch brand focused on contemporary Indian stories.
Today, Bangalore Watch Company has customers in more than 30 countries and has received recognition from international publications including The New York Times, Forbes and Hodinkee for its design and craftsmanship.
