Titan has unveiled the “Jalsa,” its most lavish and creative design to date, marking a turning point in Indian watchmaking. At Rs 40.5 lakh, this scarce watch is as expensive as a luxury automobile in India. Titan has formally entered the market for luxury timepieces, competing with international maisons, with this introduction.
Made under Titan’s Nebula brand, Jalsa is more than just a wristwatch; it’s a wearable masterpiece that pays homage to regal craftsmanship and the 225th anniversary of the Hawa Mahal, one of Jaipur’s most iconic monuments. Only ten pieces were made, making Jalsa not only Titan’s priciest timepiece to date but also its official entry into the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) 2025, the most prestigious international watch event.
With the Hawa Mahal in the background, the Jalsa dial is a miniature painting that shows a Rajput ruler riding an elephant under the guidance of a mahout. Each dial was hand-painted using natural gemstone hues on a finely carved piece of marble by Padma Shri recipient Shakir Ali, one of the few surviving masters of Persian-style miniature art.
“The Indian market for high-end timepieces has grown rapidly over the past ten years,” Titan Company Managing Director C.K. Venkataraman told CNBC-TV18.
After experimenting with metal, paper, and wood, Ali decided to use marble for the dial due to its historical significance and ability to retain color brightness. Marble increased the watch’s weight, but each little artwork had minute details that gave each one a unique, one-of-a-kind feel.
Mechanically, Jalsa is a statement of intention. The watch, which was created internally, features a flying tourbillon —a very intricate mechanism previously thought to be reserved for upscale European watchmakers. The dial is framed in 18k rose gold, and the sapphire crystal exhibition caseback displays 14 gems and 144 components. The minute hand features a magnifying glass to provide a closer look at the artwork, and both the hour and minute hands are crafted from sapphire. Maintaining the torque integrity requires careful balancing, which is an engineering marvel.
