Now Reading: HMT sells watches worth Rs 35 lakh in a single day
-
01
HMT sells watches worth Rs 35 lakh in a single day
On August 15, HMT's outlet in Bengaluru saw queues stretching nearly two kilometres as customers lined up for hours to buy limited-edition watches. The company sold over 2,000 pieces and watches worth more than Rs 35 lakh in a single day. The Gandaberunda edition, featuring Karnataka's mythical bird emblem, sold out first.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy announced the sales and directed HMT to ramp up production of new-series watches while maintaining quality. The Economic Times reports that HMT once controlled 90 percent of India's watch market but shut its watchmaking unit less than a decade ago. The brand was revived with limited-edition releases.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The two sources cover the same event but differ in framing. The Economic Times gives a detailed nostalgic history of HMT's rise and fall, emphasising its 90 percent market share and the competition from Titan, without mentioning the government's role in the revival. Deccan Herald focuses on Kumaraswamy's directive and tweets, framing the sales as a sign of renewed momentum under the Prime Minister's leadership. The careful reader should note that both accounts confirm strong public demand for the limited-edition watches, but neither provides details on production capacity or whether the revival is sustainable beyond the initial buzz. Watch for whether HMT can maintain production to meet ongoing demand.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 neutral
Sources (2): economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report), deccanherald.com (pro government)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
