As India’s luxury market continues to grow, there has been an opportunity for more domestic-made brands to shine. One such brand is the Bangalore Watch Company. Since 2018, the brand has been making timepieces that are inspired by the rich landscape and heritage of the subcontinent. One such series of watches, MACH 1, has centered on the Indian Air Force. Past iterations have focused on various motifs, from formation aerobatics to aircraft carriers. For their latest launch, Bangalore Watch Company has set their sights to the clouds and high-altitude helicopters.
The Himalayas have long captivated the cultural imagination of the world – and especially those in India. With over 1,600 peaks with a towering 6,000 meter presence, the mountain range inspires both fear and awe. It’s incredible, then, to think that some of the top aviators in India use helicopters for reconnaissance and resupply operations in some of the most challenging flying conditions on the planet.
Enter the Mach 1 Avalanche, inspired by the harsh beauty of the Himalayan peaks and the danger that is intrinsically tied to the airspace. This is first evident with the “Frostpeak” dial, inspired by freshly fallen snow, which shimmers with a motif de grain that plays with light in varying conditions. The bright red minute hand, coated with Super-Luminova, draws inspiration from airspeed indicators and the vibrant colors of mountain rescue helicopters while the case back is engraved with an image of a helicopter soaring above the towering peaks, encapsulating the watch’s adventurous spirit. Each detail of this watch is a way to honor the region – and the people who risk their lives serving and protecting its populace.
On the technical side, the Avalanche has a 40mm matte black PVD-coated case made from 316L surgical-grade steel, a flat sapphire crystal with two layers of anti-reflective coating, and is water-resistant up to 100 meters. Inside, it houses the Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1 movement, for approximately 38 hours of power.
Priced at $1,200, the MACH 1 Avalanche is available for order from the Bangalore Watch Company’s website now.
