Bengaluru: Time is running out for the government-owned watchmaker HMT. Set up in 1961, with headquarters in Bengaluru, HMT watches (with its ad tagline ‘timekeepers of the nation’) soon assumed pride of place in the average Indian household. However by 1990s, it began facing stiff competition from other watchmakers, both Indian and foreign, and started posting continuous losses after 2000. In view of the imminent shut down, five iconic models flew off the shelves at Karnataka Bhavan near Mekeri Circle.
The Pilot was synonymous with the men in uniform and a mainstay at military canteens. Although they were not specialised military watches, they were supplied to HMT’s biggest consumer base - Army, Navy and Air Force. It is now a hot favourite among watch collectors.
Other notables include Sona, the dress watch, which was known for its gold plating and sleek design, the thinnest offering by HMT; Kanchan, the ‘dowry watch’, which could make or break a marriage and Janata, as the name conveyed the aam aadmi’s watch. A sporty and much more contemporary looking Astra, with a stopwatch display, is also a rage among the collectors, as it happened to be HMT’s first digital offering.
Patrons have been active on Facebook, with collector Prashanth Pandey setting up the HMT Watch Collectors group, a platform for all HMT collectors to connect with each other. They can share pictures of HMT watches, exchange ideas and trivia as well.
The shut down was announced last Thursday as the NDA government announced its plan to deal with sick PSUs. Hindustan Photofilms, HMT Watches, HMT Bearings, HMT CW, Tungabhadra Steel and Hindustan Cables have been slated for closure, along with a settlement plan worth Rs 1,100 crore. However, the outlet at Unity Bhavan wore a deserted look on Wednesday afternoon, with HMT employees continuing to insist that the talk of shutting was just a ‘rumour’.
