Titan’s Jalsa Marks India’s Bold Entry into Haute Horology

Titan has announced its bold arrival in haute horology with Jalsa, a limited‑edition timepiece from its premium line, Nebula by Titan. The one-of-a-kind watch, which has the potential to make history as India’s first Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) winner, was unveiled in a regal setting at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur by actor and brand friend Sushmita Sen. With several industry stalwarts, local and global media flown down to celebrate this iconic launch, the brand put together a grand show that mirrored a real jalsa. The watch represents a significant milestone for Titan, signalling the brand’s move towards ultra-luxury watchmaking, and India’s emergence as a serious contender on the global fine watchmaking stage. It has been officially entered in the Artistic Crafts category at GPHG competing with luxury watchmakers such as Audemars Piguet, Chopard, Bvlgari and Van Cleef & Arpels, with the shortlist results scheduled to be announced on 28 August 2025.

Speaking about achieving this feat, C.K. Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Ltd, says, “As the name suggests, Jalsa is indeed ‘a grand celebration’ of horological excellence. The timepiece’s journey began almost three years ago when we attended the GPHG exhibition in Geneva and dreamt this moment at that time. I wouldn’t call this feat a collective passion—but obsession is more accurate. We were obsessed with creating something truly extraordinary and for us, it’s about a much bigger play—not just participating, but creating an entirely new space.”

Limited to just 10 pieces, Jalsa, is a rare tourbillon timepiece in 18K gold and pays homage to regal artistry and the iconic Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, celebrating its 225th year. At first glance, the timepiece captivates with its lifelike miniature painting, the flawless agate dial, and the beauty of the open tourbillon. But behind its elegance lies relentless effort, countless experiments, and an unwavering obsession to create something truly extraordinary in collaboration with miniature artist Padma Shri Shakir Ali known for his miniature Persian and Mughal paintings.

Representing India’s grandeur, artistic heritage, and the brand’s horological excellence, the watch dial is hand-painted using centuries-old techniques and materials like natural gemstone pigments by the artist. He recreates each dial with the same painting of Jaipur’s erstwhile Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh under whose rule the Hawa Mahal was commissioned.  At the centre sits a breathtakingly rare flying tourbillon in the shape of Titan’s logo that showcases the engineering and precision at its heart, along with the beauty enveloping it—the agate case and the miniature painting bringing a moment to life.

Apart from the in-house developed flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, the other design signatures includes a sapphire crystal hour and minute hand, with the latter having a counterbalance in the form of a magnifying glass that allows that wearer to take a closer look at the painting minutely. The tourbillon movement which includes another horological first for the brand—architectural bridges inlaid with red agate—is visible through a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback.

Priced at a whopping Rs 40.5 lakh, the most expensive watch ever retailed, Jalsa is Titan’s intent to put Indian luxury design on the global map and its futuristic ambitions of developing horological complications. Speaking about the brand’s premiumisation journey Kalpana Rangamani, Chief Marketing Officer, Titan Watches, says, “Jalsa is an expression of what Nebula stands for—watches that tell stories rooted in who we are. Because if we don’t tell these stories—as a team, as a nation—who will? And if this is what three and a half years of obsession can create, the next chapter of Indian watchmaking promises to be even more extraordinary, she concludes.