Blue Mountain limited-edition watch pays an ode to the Nilgiri Mountain Railways

Blue Mountain Edition watches from an Indian micro watch brand that originated from The  Nilgiris is on ode to the Nilgiri Mountain Railways

The iconic Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) — one of the world’s last-remaining steam-powered railways that chugs up the hills from Mettupalayam to Udhagamandalam — is the muse of Coromandel Watch Co., based in The Nilgiris. Last week, the brand launched Blue Mountain Edition, limited to 300 timepieces, as an ode to the 125-year journey of the train that covers 16 tunnels, over 200 steep curves and 257 bridges, using the rack-and-pinion system.

“Personally, it’s a tribute to the NMR, which I hopped on to during my stint in the hospitality industry with the Taj group,” says Shibin VS, co-founder of Coromandel Watch Co., which forayed into the microbrand watch industry in 2022. Originally known as Watch Projects, a vintage and pre-owned online watch store, the company sold vintage watches sourced from across the world. Then, as Madras Watch Works, thebrand’s journey in watchmaking started in September 2023 with the launch of the Marina Edition, before rebranding the company as Coromandel Watch Co. He adds that he often took the train for his journey back home while working on shifts between Coonoor and Ooty. “A ride on NMR is a throwback to a time when life was slower. The scenery brings an instant calm and I reached home feeling refreshed,” he recalls.

The Blue Mountain Edition, a collector’s item, takes inspiration from Heuer’s camero variant, a 1960s model that is no longer in production. Tag acquired Heuer in the 1980s. “This model of the iconic brand paid tribute to a racing car. We took the design inspiration from there but crafted it as a tribute to the train steeped in history”, he explains, adding that the watch has mechanical movement adapted from pocket watches created in the 17th Century.

A watch enthusiast, Shibin shares that there is something special about mechanical watches, powered by a mainspring, a coiled metal spring that stores energy. “As the mainspring unwinds, it transfers energy through a series of gears and springs, powering the watch and its functions. This intricate system of moving parts sets mechanical watches apart from their quartz watch counterparts, which are powered by batteries,” he describes.

The limited-edition watch currently comes in a single variant with silver sunburst dial. “We have used ‘To in class crystal’ called sapphire crystal for the built, highly resistant to scratches, often used in high-end watches like Tissot, Rolex and Omega. The case is a 316 surgical-grade stainless steel; the leather strap comes from Crazy Horse, a line of pull-up premium leather, that eventually creates a patina, vintage look,” explains Shibin.

The Blue Mountain Edition uses Miyots OS21 Chronograph Quartz movement, made by Citizen in Japan, and has a chronograph function too. “ Apart from keeping time, it measures the elapsed time while indicating the current time. Though chronograph watches have nothing to do with the railways, but every second counts when the chronograph function is activated on your watch, much like the synchronised working of the train’s rack-and-pinion mechanism. As NMR that enjoys UNESCO’s World Heritage Site status, climbs the blue mountains with power and precision, the watch mirrors its spirit. We chose a quartz chronograph because it reflects the same reliability, accuracy and functionality that the NMR stands for,” says Shibin adding that his motive is to create awareness about the charm of mechanical watches.

“Our first two launches, Marina Edition 2.0 and the Tanjore Edition, are automatic watches with Seiko NH35 and Seiko NH35A movements that are mechanical. There is growing craze for such innovations among the Gen Z. A swing back to the 1990s, when brands like HMTs and Seikos ruled because of the characteristic mechanism. For example, some of these watches work with hand movement. As your hand moves, the watch works.”