Apr 13 2024, 09:41
This 16-year-old Rolex collector has tips even for veteran investors:
Most kids of his age would prefer the convenience of a smartphone over wearing a luxury wristwatch. However, for this teenager, the allure of Rolex and other luxury watches goes far beyond telling time.
As he entered the tastefully lit warm ambience of a concept store and café in South Delhi's posh Greater Kailash, his casual black T-shirt barely gave any hint of the extraordinary world he belonged to. Like most teenagers, he settled down across the table with an air of quiet confidence, and a shy smile playing on his lips. After the initial greetings, the R-word cropped up and one couldn't miss the shine in his eye.
"Batman is my favourite," Keyan Bhatia, a 16-year-old watch collector, whispered as he lovingly gazed upon the Rolex GMT Master II on his wrist. Its blue and black bezels were bearing the testimony of his passion for watches, something not common among people his age.
He can fill you in with stories and facts about Rolex that one would only hear from someone who has studied the layers of the luxury watch market in and out.
For many teenagers, a wristwatch might be seen as a clunky relic compared to the convenience of a smartphone. But for him, the allure of Rolex and other luxury watches goes far beyond telling time.
"Before Covid-19, I thought watches were completely useless. My phone could tell the time, and the best watch, in my opinion, was an Apple Watch," Bhatia admits.
However, the pandemic-induced lockdown brought about a change in Bhatia's life. With the newly found free time, he delved into the world of horology, impressed by the intricate mechanics and rich history of timepieces. This burgeoning passion coincided with a booming luxury watch market, further fueling his interest.
The Rolex "Batman" GMT-Master II caught his eye, becoming his ultimate quest. Nicknamed for its black and blue bezel reminiscent of Batman's suit, the model proved challenging to find.
Rolex was the first to create a waterproof wristwatch (Oyster) in 1926, introduced the world's first self-winding and waterproof chronometer wristwatch with a date display (day-date) in 1956, and played a role in timekeeping during deep-sea exploration.
"While they are undeniably luxury watches today, it wasn't always that way. Originally, they were known for their functionality - tools for professionals like sailors and pilots. The Submariner, for example, was a breakthrough diving watch, and features like the GMT-Master's multiple time zones were designed for practical use. In that sense, they were truly everyday watches for those who needed a reliable and robust timepiece," Bhatia elaborates.
source: et
Apr 13 2024, 09:41