An exclusive interview with Rahul Shukla, VP & Chief Sales & Marketing Officer – Watches Division, Titan Company Limited, and Tony Harris, Sales Director, JDM Group (Brand Roamer), on the occasion of Roamer’s India launch.
Could you introduce yourselves and give us a brief overview of the partnership?
Rahul Shukla heads Sales and Marketing for the Watches Division at Titan Company, alongside Tony Harris, Sales Director from JDM Group — the owners of the brand Roamer — and Ranjini, who leads Marketing for Titan Watches.
Roamer is a brand with 138 years of Swiss watchmaking heritage, founded in 1888 in Solothurn, Switzerland, with uninterrupted production ever since. When it came to finding the right partner to bring Roamer to the Indian consumer, the choice was clear — Titan. The journey has only just begun, and the early signs have been overwhelmingly positive.
How do you see this collaboration between Swiss heritage and the Indian market shaping the future of watch culture in India?
There is a deep, almost organic love for Swiss in India — reflected in everything from Yash Raj films to Swiss chocolates, and of course in the excellence of Swiss watchmaking itself. Swiss exports to India have been growing rapidly, and this is precisely the right moment to introduce Roamer to the Indian audience.
What makes this particularly exciting is that Indian consumers are much younger than those in most parts of the world. 65% of India’s population is below the age of 35, and that generation seeks authenticity above everything else — for them, style carries more weight than logos or established names. That is exactly where Roamer connects.
Finding the right partner to translate the Roamer story for the Indian consumer was crucial, and Titan brought not just scale but understanding. There’s also a meaningful cultural dimension to build on. Roamer’s global narrative is anchored in 138 years of precision and craftsmanship, but India has its own rich cultural ethos — and the brand will speak to that too. Over time, Roamer will pay tribute to Indian culture through limited edition watches drawing from Indian architecture and motifs — the Jaipur Blues, Meenakari work and more. Engaging with consumers through their festivals is also very much part of the journey ahead, because that is where cultural heritage is truly celebrated.
Watch culture in India is also undergoing a fascinating shift — the analogue watch is making a strong comeback, increasingly seen as an expression of fashion identity. Roamer’s launch with Titan is very much in service of that thought. People want a repertoire of watches; they want to identify with different aesthetics, and Roamer brings a very distinct one to the Titan portfolio. Swiss, in India’s watch culture, is seen as the pinnacle of craftsmanship and precision — translated into an aesthetic that sits naturally within how Indians dress and express themselves.
What makes Roamer different from other luxury and premium watch brands already available in India?
Two things. First, the quality and precision of the product — Roamer has always been Swiss made, produced in Switzerland, and uninterrupted in production since 1888. The standard of craftsmanship is without question. Second, the relevance of design — that classic, elegant aesthetic, sometimes with a touch of sportiness, always resonant with today’s consumer.
Critically, the pricing is accessible. Roamer makes it possible for a far wider range of consumers to own a genuinely Swiss-made watch, and that is a very specific and powerful space to occupy. What has been particularly encouraging is the response from women — globally, ladies’ watches already accounted for over 30-32% of Roamer’s business, but since launching with Titan in India, more than 42% of all purchases have been by women. That speaks volumes about the brand’s broad appeal.
How is Roamer approaching sustainability?
The best way to answer that is this — there are many things in life we don’t truly need, but what we do choose to invest in should be enduring, lasting, and built for longevity. Roamer is not selling something that is here today and gone tomorrow. There are people around the world who purchased a Roamer years ago and still wear that same timepiece today.
Sustainability, for us, means caring about the materials we use — and beyond that, creating something that lasts. A watch built to last decades is, in itself, a deeply sustainable choice.
What kind of Indian consumer are you targeting — young fashion buyers or traditional luxury consumers?
The larger part of our consumer audience will sit with young fashion buyers — driven by both the accessibility of the brand and the aspiration of owning a Swiss watch. In terms of aesthetics, while the spectrum includes vintage looks with strong appeal, the young, aspirant, fashion-forward Indian consumer is the primary one.
The numbers reflect this clearly — 65% of India’s population is below 35, and Gen Z already accounts for nearly 45% of India’s consumption. But there is really only one age, because even a 65-year-old wants to feel and present like a 35-year-old. So it’s less about demographics and more about psychographics — how young someone feels and sees themselves is far more telling than a number.
What message would you like to give Indian fashion-conscious consumers discovering Roamer for the first time?
Roamer is built for greatness. If you are at the start of your journey, working hard, being precise in your inputs, and reaching for something more, you need a Roamer watch to tell that story. Very precise, like Swiss precision itself.
On a personal note, what does the watch you’re wearing say about you?
For Tony, it reveals the artistry and craftsmanship of Roamer — simply and entirely.
Rahul’s watch speaks to his love for the colour green — the green dial echoing his green shirt.
Ranjini’s watch with the MOP dial — mother of pearl — reflects a certain purism, a love for authenticity. The embellishment on the bezel adds intrigue, but it’s the bi-metal strap that says the most: it takes two to tango. Two things that don’t seemingly belong together, when they come together, can create something magical.
Titan already has a strong portfolio of watch brands. Does Roamer not create internal competition?
Not at all. This is, in fact, one of the central criteria when evaluating any brand for the portfolio — whether it occupies a gap rather than overlapping with what already exists. Brands are plotted across multiple dimensions: fashion versus horology, aesthetics, and accessibility. Only when a clear, unoccupied space is identified does a brand enter the fold. The intent is always complementarity, never cannibalisation.
What is the price range for Roamer watches in India?
The quartz range starts at INR 30,000 and goes up to INR 50,000. The automatic and mechanical range sits between INR 70,000 and INR 1.2 lakhs. All watches come with a 7-year international warranty — a direct reflection of the brand’s confidence in its own craftsmanship and durability.
The younger generation is well placed for this. Unlike previous generations that placed greater emphasis on savings, today’s consumers — particularly Gen Z — are characterised by high disposable incomes and a genuine willingness to invest in their lifestyle, their looks and their accessorization. Gen Z and younger consumers together account for 70-80% of consumption, and they buy into stories that reflect their identity. For that, they don’t mind paying whatever it takes.
Do you see women’s watches competing with jewellery for the Indian woman’s attention?
It’s not competition — it’s co-existence. It’s about accessorization, and that is what truly appeals to today’s consumer. And it isn’t just women — men are accessorizing in very meaningful ways now too. A watch is not an alternative to jewellery; it is a distinct and powerful expression of identity in its own right.
Roamer watches are available across select Helios and Titan World stores, as well as leading multi-brand outlets and department stores in major cities. The collection is priced from INR 32,000 onwards, crafted from scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and 316L stainless steel, and powered by Swiss automatic and quartz movements.
