#Decode: Timepiece and Style with Neeraj Walia- Managing Director & CEO Montblanc India

[00:00:00] Welcome to Luxe Insider with Anita Khatri, Straight from Jidima. My favorite city with some bright

[00:00:11] sunny weather and like the local seahorse, sebaugh and I couldn't agree more far from

[00:00:18] the self-ranging heat in Mumbai. Watches in Wander's 2024 is by annual ritual. It's something

[00:00:26] I look forward to. Last few weeks, team Luxe Insider has been gearing up, planning schedule

[00:00:34] meetings and discussing how we can get the information to you my listeners right here

[00:00:40] from Jidima. And today's episode is a short and sweet one. It's about discovering new

[00:00:47] time pieces from Mobla and decoding style tips from the managing director and CEO of Mobla

[00:00:54] India. You don't want to miss this one. We all know Mobla writing instruments are

[00:01:00] coveted gifts or price treasures. I for one can vouch for the price treasure feeling

[00:01:07] of my Mobla pen. Not only that it has also emotion attached to it but did you know that

[00:01:14] Mobla has been raising the bar in orthology combining excellence in craftsmanship and this

[00:01:21] year is no surprise. In the booth I'm welcomed by dark blue and black

[00:01:27] use. Something like I'm beneath the ocean. Right as I enter the booth, I head straight

[00:01:34] into a cubicle to experience the novelty from this year's Watches in Wander's 2020 for

[00:01:41] collection from the Maison. I'm en-guarded by the sounds beneath the ocean. The gurgling

[00:01:48] sounds and there stands the highlight. The Mobla I see zero oxygen deep for 810. The concept

[00:01:59] of zero oxygen is that zero oxygen is housed inside the case and features several benefits

[00:02:05] for explorers who need the equipment to work in harsh environments. It eliminates fogging

[00:02:13] and oxidization of the components and thereby lasts longer and will provide continued precision

[00:02:21] over time. Zero oxygen time pieces pioneered by Mobla were introduced to scale heights

[00:02:28] above sea level that is the mountains. After conquering heights, the same technology

[00:02:35] is supplied to conquer the depths of the ocean. That is for divers. If you're wondering,

[00:02:43] what 4810 stands for? It's minus 4810 meters below sea level. Inverting the 4810 meter

[00:02:51] height of the Mobla mountain to connect the world of the ocean to the mountain.

[00:02:57] The timepiece is built to work under the ocean at 4810 meters below sea level.

[00:03:05] The 43 mm dial size piece is encased in titanium with a massive power reserve of 120 hours,

[00:03:14] which is almost 5 days. The indexes are super luminoa material so that you can read the dial

[00:03:22] below in the depths of the ocean. The timepiece is mesmerizing. You have to see the timepiece

[00:03:29] on my YouTube or Instagram. Please do check it to understand this marvel. I now move on

[00:03:36] to the inside of the booth where I'm welcome by Mr. Neeraj Valia, the managing director

[00:03:42] and CEO of Mobla India. We sit down to chat about the new

[00:03:47] pre-time pieces, his favorite from this year's release and what are the dos and don'ts while

[00:03:53] pairing the perfect timepiece. Let's hear what he has to say. So, Neeraj, this is the first

[00:04:00] day of your exhibition and how has the exhibition been so far? At first day it's full of excitement

[00:04:07] and the exhibition is very well received by the clients as well who are walking in. Mobla is

[00:04:13] always known to surpass the boundaries and bring something which is exceptional and new

[00:04:18] and this year is no exception as well. The collections are receiving very good response. It's

[00:04:24] exciting days ahead, it's just the first day. You have some specific expectation from this

[00:04:30] exhibition as such? No, the only expectation we come over here is we have an amazing

[00:04:36] we have amazing artisans, craftmills, our watchmakers who bring beautiful ideas into those beautiful

[00:04:43] timepieces. The customer should come have a touch and feel and look at those beautiful creations.

[00:04:48] We know they are amazing. We just need an interface of their touching in handholding those creations.

[00:04:54] They will be the beauty of those creations will entice them. So, is there any specific piece that

[00:05:00] has stole your heart as far as new launches concerned and why? You know it's a difficult thing.

[00:05:08] Your heart always goes out for beautiful things and there are many across in the booth whether it

[00:05:13] starts from the 48th and 10th at the deep sea or I talk about the Carbo 2 which has been launched

[00:05:21] and the Bertanditon glacial pattern dials from our IC collection. The green zero oxygen,

[00:05:29] the dial color and there is amazing beautiful story on the nuclear rear-sector which is again

[00:05:36] attribute across to the my sister celebrating the hundred years of my sister. They all have

[00:05:42] beautiful amazing pieces. We can talk there like each piece comes with so beautiful story. Like I

[00:05:50] talk about this the one I like the most again it's a difficult thing whether it's the most or many

[00:05:56] of the most, the nuclear rear-sector. The nuclear rear-sector I've always been I've always liked that

[00:06:05] concept it's a it's a complete hundred percent in house mobile or movement. A beautiful

[00:06:11] chrono where you don't have those chrono dial chrono artists across at three or six or 12 or nine

[00:06:18] but they are centered around their different positions. A chrono where the disk moves what adds

[00:06:24] this year especially is the dial when we look around the dial it takes inspiration from how

[00:06:30] the when we launched the my sister one four series the the emblem and the dimensions across

[00:06:37] the emblem the rough dimensions and the details taken from the archives that is there as the

[00:06:43] inspiration across. There's an inspiration in 1920s when we were doing the my sister the inspiration

[00:06:49] from the archives over there has been part of the dial. So it's a beautiful story and it's a it's a

[00:06:56] very unique at a different time piece it's beautiful piece. Which watch are you wearing today?

[00:07:03] Me I'm wearing the star legacy chrono. You're wearing chrono again? I like chronos, I like

[00:07:09] I like some something moving around with the wrist not too much but it has to be some detailing going

[00:07:16] across under there is some detailing which aligns with the the mood board some detailing which

[00:07:22] a watch for me is not just another accessory watch completes your mood board watch completes

[00:07:28] your complete it's it's a very important element in your silhouette. What you're planning for

[00:07:33] the day of your presenting yourself what's your mood board? It compliments everything.

[00:07:37] So you're saying that it actually speaks about your personality, your individual style.

[00:07:43] Yes there is an individual style and individual style is represented at different platforms

[00:07:49] so a watch compliments how you want to present your individual style at that particular

[00:07:54] process. So nice, you can tell our audience especially the male audience when it comes to styling

[00:08:00] your watch what are the do's and the don'ts? I like what made you today select this particular watch.

[00:08:08] How it goes perfectly well with my suit and if you say there is a beautiful patina cross which I

[00:08:15] liked on the strap a beautiful the leaf hands which are again in deep blue tone

[00:08:23] which is setting contrast across on the white dial base and setting perfectly well across with

[00:08:28] the navy suit. And it's more for me it's more a little formal casual location so I needed a watch

[00:08:39] which talks about the situation or the mood board which I am. So that's why it's nice.

[00:08:46] So are you saying that a watch won't for formal purposes need not go very well when it is

[00:08:52] worn for a casual activity? I wouldn't say that a formal watch does not go but it's how you want

[00:09:01] to carry it with your attire. Like for example I'm wearing this with a suit and if I'm going a

[00:09:08] cross for let's say an Indian ethnic wear or somewhere I'm moving across for the evening for.

[00:09:13] Yeah so then I have a beautiful heritage watch which has got a brown dial and with the same patina

[00:09:22] strap leather strap across and it goes very well across because in India you have in India you have

[00:09:29] various occasions where you have a little bit of playing where you have the beige, the red, the

[00:09:34] copper, the colors which very well intricate across into the celebrations. That goes there.

[00:09:39] If I'm going out alone having board a thing to explore nature if I'm with my friends having fun

[00:09:47] or squats my 1858 is the best watch for me it's a beautiful clean dial it's perfect.

[00:09:56] So different watches you can style for different occasions and when it comes to Indian

[00:10:01] Indian wear especially Indian traditional family get together weddings what is your suggestion

[00:10:07] can you wear a metal watch like often you would have noticed people wearing Rolex.

[00:10:14] Rolex there is this gold metal strap and that is power statement or a position that you come from

[00:10:21] a lot of bling is there what do you have to say about that? I think these are personal choices

[00:10:27] and places which go along I've been comes to Indian weddings and occasions we all understand that

[00:10:34] there is a lot of intricate work which goes across in making Indian twos or the dresses across.

[00:10:42] So watches can complement that out but for me as a person I like one with leather because for

[00:10:48] me the leather leather straps they talk about finesse they talk about story they talk about summer fair

[00:10:56] I don't think we can do patina across on metal bracelet but the patina across on leather which talks

[00:11:02] about the some of which talks about the craftsmanship which has gone inside it so I appreciate leather

[00:11:08] or and as far as the occasion is concerned if it can match you may have a gold watch or you may have

[00:11:15] all white metal watch or a rose gold watch whatever it is raining. It's it's a beautiful part

[00:11:22] watch is not separate from you it's a beautiful part of you when you are bringing yourself across

[00:11:26] at two occasions so that's that's very important picture. When they say men love their cars

[00:11:32] and watches I wouldn't say it's wrong because that's one of the accessories speaks volume for a man

[00:11:39] for sure for sure I love my watches I love the small detailing and it's not at times yes

[00:11:46] people who are intrigued in knowing what I'm wearing today or which watch I'm wearing today

[00:11:51] it's good to tell a story but it's more for me to know the beautiful story behind each watch

[00:11:56] or when you pick up a minerva you know what is a beautiful story across of minerva

[00:12:01] when you look around the case back and it's an open case back you see the beautiful

[00:12:04] rotor behind moving in an automatic watch. When you hold the crown across it's a beautiful story

[00:12:09] it's more for you own self own self and own self is talking so you know many times people

[00:12:15] ask us this question which is the best investment in a watch and what you're saying to me today

[00:12:21] is just bringing back our discussions and you know you shouldn't buy a watch for investment

[00:12:27] you should buy a watch that you enjoy. Exactly I think for me if I'm not enjoying the watch

[00:12:38] and then I would then I would like rather to look around the ROI I'm not looking at the ROI across

[00:12:43] into it my ROI is not monitored by money across into it my ROI is monitored across my neck

[00:12:48] my enjoyment and my passion and my the more fun I'm getting it the more passion I'm getting

[00:12:56] at the point satisfaction of getting in the varying of watch that's the best investment for me

[00:13:02] investment in terms of what money I'm going to get out of it I would not go in that direction as a person

[00:13:08] so I see that you're wearing a very nice and a fine detailing in your suit

[00:13:14] is it branded suit? No I go for a bespoke. Bespoke? I go for bespoke. So personalization we will say

[00:13:23] yes it plays a very important role for me picking and selecting the fine fabric I need to know about

[00:13:31] the counts of the fabric I need to know about the level of sheen across in the fabric

[00:13:37] counts and the colors and the sheen they all play an important role and along with that whether it's

[00:13:42] I need to know I need to have my preferred lining inside the pockets have to be inside

[00:13:47] about my department and all this so it's like I said you it's not just a suit you there because

[00:13:54] you're just going for an occasion it's part of you the more time you give on each of these unique

[00:14:01] things which are around you you start enjoying things which are with you rather than looking outside

[00:14:07] and exploring for enjoyment outside fabulous thank you so much Niraaj and here the tip that you

[00:14:14] want to give to any of our in-n audience when it comes to younger generation when they're looking at

[00:14:19] styling tips you know I think at the audience in India the clients in India are very well

[00:14:27] educated about the styling tips about how to dress up at different occasions see only a suggestion

[00:14:35] if I may add a choice for them would be they appreciate different they appreciate the beauty

[00:14:43] they appreciate art and there is so much happening around when it comes to mobile watches as well

[00:14:48] there's so beautiful stories around right from if you see the 20 steps taken across in making

[00:14:54] just a small it's small thing called the graphic voice technique used across in the icy dials

[00:15:00] all the zero oxygen coming in or the 3D case back engraving coming behind on to it or the

[00:15:06] burgundy dial which I was talking about the LED are 290 which is a tribute across to ATF where they

[00:15:11] are right now Messna the case back is inspired from K2 not from Everest but from K2 why K2 because

[00:15:19] those Simon Messna Reynolds Messna conquered all the peaks but K2 was his most favorite one why

[00:15:24] because when you climb K2 it was all calm why because normally at those altitudes it's a rough

[00:15:30] weather and he sat over there enjoyed the beauty of miles and miles of view across over there

[00:15:35] so this is a beautiful intricate story about it what does it talk how does it connect across with you

[00:15:40] the case back the case the dial even the strap the red stitch across it the corners look around

[00:15:47] for beautiful stories each of these pieces are piece of art there is a lot more story and detailing

[00:15:53] gone into it the craftsmanship spend a lot a lot of time in bringing these pieces apart.

[00:15:58] Thank you thank you Neeraj