TRENDS
The unconventional, singular elegance of square watches
Exceptional timepieces in alternative shapes that should find a place in your collection.
INDIA
A rail enthusiast documents the last steam locomotives of India
Brand consultant and rail enthusiast Vikas Singh’s Black Beauties is the first-ever photographic documentation of the country’s steam survivors.
TRENDS
From kattan kaapi to Chameli Americano, Manoj Kumar’s inspirational Araku journey
Kumar worked with adivasis in Andhra’s Araku Valley for decades, grew coffee of the highest quality and took it to Paris in 2017. On March 19, Araku Coffee opened its first café in India in Bengaluru. Kumar wants to replicate the Araku model for other crops as well, he tells us how
TRENDS
Last Drop: Meet the hunters of rare spirits
The Last Drop hunts down forgotten spirits maturing in forlorn warehouses and cellars and releases them in extremely limited editions. There is now talk of potential collaborations with the likes of Paul John and Foursquare.
TRENDS
anOrdain: The Scottish startup that is making enamel dial watches affordable
Founded by former electronics entrepreneur Lewis Heath, anOrdain is using modern technology to enhance the appeal of an age-old craft.
TRENDS
The Goa-based spirits startup that kickstarted the craft gin craze
Nao Spirits CEO: Success in craft spirits is about balancing great pricing and great quality.
TRENDS
A beginner’s guide to Russian watches
Sturmanskie, Vostok, Raketa or Poljot? The world of Russian watches is quirky and bewildering, two collectors help us negotiate the time travel.
TRENDS
CasiOak: The Casio G-Shock with mainstream appeal
The GA-2100 line’s appeal extends far beyond the traditional Casio G-Shock fanbase
BUSINESS
Titan watches and wearables unit’s CEO on the limited-edition Edge Calibre 903, ‘premiumisation’ and what next
The Mechanical is the next step in Titan Edge’s journey, says Suparna Mitra, the CEO of the Watches and Wearables Division at Titan.
TRENDS
The whacky, wonderful world of Konstantin Chaykin
We begin our new series on independent watchmakers with the Moscow-based Chaykin, whose plucky, unconventional timepieces are stand-out material.
BUSINESS
Bombay Shaving Company’s Deshpande: Want to operate like a proper FMCG company
Earlier on January 28, Reckitt Benckiser said it will fund Bombay Shaving Company. In an interview, founder Shantanu Deshpande reveals his capital deployment plans, the evolution of the personal grooming market, especially with regard to men, and how the company weathered the pandemic.
BUSINESS
American whiskey segment growing faster than other premium whiskeys, says top executive of company that owns Jack Daniel’s
Siddharth Wadia, who is the head of Brown Forman for India, Middle East and North Africa, talks about the rising appeal of Jack Daniel’s and the emergence of off-premise as a key sales channel.
FEATURES
Meet the former banker who just launched her first rum
Standard Chartered veteran Kasturi Banerjee expects Maka Zai to fill the gap in the Indian market for a smooth, classy rum.
LIFESTYLE-TRENDS
Meet Nilgiris, Amrut’s refreshing new craft gin
The entry of Amrut into the premium gin segment is indicative of mid-size liquor companies heading to where the action is
BUSINESS
Four cool, affordable watches for 2021
You don’t have to spend crazy money to buy a neat watch. Meet anOrdain, Unimatic, Undone and BWC
TRENDS
The rise and rise of pre-owned luxury watches
The global second-hand luxury watch market, which has been showing immense promise for the last half a decade, appears to have taken off in this cataclysmic year, with the COVID-19-induced lockdowns providing additional thrust.
TRENDS
New Indian whiskies to look forward to in 2021
There are some fine whiskies on the horizon, and these include Kamet, India’s latest single malt, and new expressions from Paul John.
TRENDS
Retro-cool time capsules from another age
A new book on vintage watches shines a light on weird, whimsical creations from both established brands as well as outliers.
TRENDS
The gin makers of Goa
The last few months have seen a burst of new craft gins—Terai, Samsara, Jin Jiji, Pumori, Tickle, and GinGin—and most of them are distilled in Goa.
BUSINESS
Kerala booze brands have the most bizarre names
Bevco, the state-owned IMFL wholesale and retail monopoly, is among Kerala’s most profitable PSUs. Its annual list, released sometime before Onam, is prodigiously long and this year, it contains over 700 brands.
BUSINESS
The man behind Paul John whisky on his single-malt journey, drink-making philosophy and premium gin in the works
Last week, Jim Murray named Paul John Mithuna as the world’s third finest in his Whisky Bible 2021, the latest in a line of awards — over 250 — won by John Distilleries for its various expressions. Here is an interview with Paul P John, its chairman and managing director
INTERVIEW
The Montanari Interview: Talking time and speed with a watch collector extraordinaire
We chat with Auro Montanari on his new book, JP Morgan’s watch collection, and his fondness for Cartier.
LUXURY-LIFESTYLE
With Geneva Watch Days, the watch fair makes a tentative comeback
A look at some of the more interesting watches that were launched at the event.
CRICKET
The Raman Effect: Lessons on leadership from a fine cricketing brain
WV Raman’s recently released book, The Winning Sixer: Leadership Lessons to Master, is studded with several engaging little stories.
