The Awards | Jury Day |Party @ Tote | Winners | Media Coverage
 
 

India hosts the first-ever Watch World Awards, 2010

New Delhi, August 2010: Delhi’s swish set and high-profile luxury watch lovers converged at The Claridges, Surajkund, to witness India’s first-ever Watch World Awards 2010.  A pioneer of its kind, the Watch World awards were the first of its kind to be instituted in India and were supported immensely by its partners AU Finja and Religare. With the participation of eminent CEOs from global top luxury watch brands, distinguished guests & personalities and a priceless exhibition of the most exquisite watches, the awards are poised to become an annual calendar event for the watch industry. The awards were graced by the dignified presence of Chief Guest Ms Sheila Dixit, Chief Minister, New Delhi, who also presented some awards.

The awards covered 11 product categories and 6 marketing categories and one mega award - “Watch of the Year”. In its maiden year, Watch World Awards received around 100 entries from brands in both the categories. The product entries were further shortlisted to around 45 entries which were judged in Mumbai by an eminent jury panel comprising of Antoine Simonin, master watchmaker with five decades of experience in watchmaking; Rohit Bal, India's numero uno fashion and product designer; Chhaya Momaya, India's leading grooming expert and socialite; and Padmabhushan Michael Ferreira, four time World Billiards Champion and an avid watch collector. The marketing entries were judged by Market Gate’s Shripad Nadkarni and Sharda Agarwal.

Bollywood actor and popular comedian Cyrus Sahukar was the emcee for the evening. The guests who attended the awards were - Charu Parasher, Vani Tripathi, Amanpreet Wahi, Nitin Bal Chauhan, Chhaya Momaya, Michael Ferreira, Ritu Beri and many more. A four crore watch which was on display at the exhibition which was also received ‘Watch of the Year’ award was the cynosure of all eyes at the event. Another major highlight of the evening was a scintillating musical performance by the legendary Wadali Brothers, which was enjoyed immensely by guests.

Commenting on the celebrated occasion, Mr Mitrajit Bhattacharya, President and Publisher of the Chitralekha Group, which publishes Watch World said, “It has not been easy for the international watch brands to establish themselves in the tough and demanding Indian market due to constraints like high rentals, excessive duties, discerning customers looking for price parity and extremely low retail margins. Withstanding all these tribulations the watch brands have not only survived but triumphed in creating a loyal clientele which is growing arithmetically. No mean achievement because the hard work has brought India to the threshold of world horology market—a feat, which we feel needs to be recognized, and the maiden Watch World Award is a humble step in that direction. With participation of international brands with their latest global launches, Watch World Award is an international award coming from India’s premier watch magazine. An event made possible, thanks to whole hearted participation by leading and iconic brands and a jury comprising the best from the world of horology, fashion, aesthetics, design and marketing.”

The proud achievers of the glorious Watch World Awards are elaborated below.

Marketing & Advertising Awards category

Best Marketing Campaign in Print- Guess
Best Marketing Campaign on TV- Morellato
Best Marketing Campaign on Outdoor- Ulysse Nardin
Best Event Organised- Titan Be More Legends
Best In-store merchandise- Seiko
Best Boutique- TITAN Flagship, Linking Road

Product Awards category

Complicated Watch of the Year- Harry Winston Opus X
Jewellery Watch of the Year- Bulgari Serpenti
Jewellery Watch of the Year-    Parmigiani Kalpa XL Tourbillon Arlequin
Sports Watch of the Year- Breitling Navitimer World
Fashion Watch of the Year- Harry Winston Talk To Me
Watch with Highest Utility- Parmigiani Kalpa Tonda Hemisphere
Watch with Artistic Excellence - Cartier Santos 100 Flying Tourbillon  
Watch with Best Design- Harry Winston Project Z6
Watch with most Innovative design- Romain Jerome Titanic DNA: Tourbillon Steampunk Ala Grande
Value For Money Watch of the Year-  Breitling Chronomat B01
Best Limited Edition Watch of The Year- Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan Jaquemarts Minute Repeater
Best Concept Watch of the Year- Montblanc Metamorphosis
Watch of the Year- Ulysse Nardin Genghis Khan Jaquemarts Minute Repeater

Renowned Jury member, Mr Antoine Simonin, Master watchmaker and author who is on his first visit to India to judge the awards, commented “This is the first time I am visiting India. It’s my pleasure to be part of this noble initiative taken by Watch World. The world market is today looking at India and the Watch World Award is the first step towards putting India on the world map of horology. I am pretty sure, seeing the response of global brands in the first year itself, that Watch World Award will become a calendar event for the watch industry in years to come.”

Remarking on the first horology awards in India by Watch World, Jean-Paul Girardin, Vice President, Breitling said, “It is of course great news. It just confirms the interest for fine Swiss watches in India, a development in which Watch World has played an instrumental role. Therefore, we are not surprised that they would come up with this great idea in which Breitling is extremely happy to participate.”

Other international watch professionals who showed their gracious presence at the event were Richard Reocreux, Area Sales Director, Middle-East & India, Cartier, Kelaine Roethlisberger, Director Marketing & Sales, Ulysse Nardin, Manuel Emch, CEO, Romain Jerome, Ramzi Nael, Area Director, Middle-East & India, Panerai, Guillaume Marx, Area Sales Director, Parmigiani Fleurier, Tetsuji Ishimaru, MD, Seiko India, Marc Antoine Abadie, Regional Director, Harry Winston.

The awards night was a spectacular evening to remember with a priceless exhibition of exquisite watches by the participating brands, alongside a special display of paintings and sculptures.