Indians Love Luxury Watches | Business Podcast | Founder’s Office with Sarthak Ahuja

In this episode, we unpack the business of luxury timepieces. How demand evolves, what drives India’s booming watch market, the economics behind retailing global heritage brands, and why authenticity and after-sales service are non-negotiable.

Raunaq and Pratiek share insights on consumer psychology, the rise of watches as investments, and the unique Indian buying behaviour that global brands watch closely.

Whether you're passionate about horology, business strategy, or the luxury retail ecosystem, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how top watch houses operate in India, and the craftsmanship, discipline, and storytelling that keep the category timeless.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
01:38 - Change in Customer Preferences
03:44 - Brand-wise Market in India
06:15 - Why Indians Love Rado
09:44 - Brands in Similar Price Range
10:46 - Customer Type for each Brand
13:30 - What each Brand Stands for
15:12 - North vs South Preferences
16:40 - Breitling, Panerai
18:17 - IWC
21:56 - Bulgari Serpenti
23:17 - 5 Watch Collection for Ladies
24:43 - 5 Watch Collection for Men
25:55 - Top Luxury Cities of India
27:13 - Most Waitlisted Rolex, Allocation Process
28:40 - Flipping a Rolex for Profit
30:42 - Grey Market Premium
32:50 - How to Spot a Fake
38:10 - Cost and Profit Margins
39:32 - Seasonality
40:10 - Inventory & Working Capital
43:24 - New Business Opportunities
46:35 - Watchmaker as a Profession
50:00 - Outro

About the Host:
Sarthak Ahuja is an Investment Banker, Business Educator, and a Bestselling Author with over 2.5 Million followers across social media. He helps businesses in areas of capital structuring and M&A, and is on the advisory board of a number of startups within India and the Middle East.

About the Guest:
Raunaq and Pratiek Kapoor are Directors at Kapoor Watch Company, one of India’s leading luxury watch retailers. As second-generation leaders, they’re driving the brand’s modern expansion and bring sharp insights into luxury buying behaviour and the business of high-end watches.

Director & Producer:
Aditi Randev is a Marketing Consultant with over a decade of experience working in areas of branding and media. She has spent years working with Sony Music as well as Meta, after her formal education in Fashion Communication from NIFT Delhi, and MBA in Marketing from MICA.

She is a Director and co-founder of Niamh Ventures Pvt Ltd, where she heads Media and Content.

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