New Delhi, Sept 20: Titan Company is open to acquiring or investing in smaller watch brands as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the premium and luxury segments, a senior company official said.
Titan Chief Marketing Officer Ranjani Krishnaswamy said the company is evaluating opportunities that could complement its long-term growth plans and expand its presence across different segments and markets.
She said inorganic growth, including investments in or acquisitions of smaller watch companies, had been discussed internally and could be considered when the right brand and strategic fit emerge.
“We have always been open to inorganic growth as well as organic growth. It just seems it has to be complementary and help us build our larger growth journey,” Krishnaswamy said.
She pointed to Titan’s experience with acquisitions and investments in the jewellery business, including CaratLane and overseas investments, as examples of its approach to inorganic expansion.
Any potential acquisition in the watches segment, she said, would need to complement Titan’s broader strategy rather than be driven by an opportunistic approach.
Festive demand remains strong
Krishnaswamy said Titan is witnessing a healthy start to the festive season and expects robust demand, helped by the early wedding season and a delayed Diwali.
“We are very optimistic,” she said, adding that the company was working to ensure adequate capacity to meet consumer demand.
The comments come as a number of smaller, India-focused watch brands have been developing products based on Indian design, culture and craftsmanship and attracting younger and affluent consumers.
Krishnaswamy said the growing competition was beneficial for the overall watch market and could encourage established players to become more innovative.
She said Titan viewed the emergence of new brands as an opportunity to make the category more dynamic rather than as a threat to its position.
Titan targets global high-end watchmaking
Titan recently launched Vetra, a branded movement platform aimed at strengthening its capabilities in high-end watchmaking.
The platform’s name combines “Veda”, meaning knowledge, and “Tra”, referring to an instrument.Krishnaswamy said Titan’s long-term ambition was to establish India as a significant force in the global watch industry alongside established Swiss and Japanese watchmaking traditions.
“We want to be the third force in the world of watches,” she said, referring to the company’s ambition to build India’s position in global horology.
Premium segment grows faster
Titan is seeing robust growth in its premium watch portfolio, with the segment expanding at nearly twice the pace of watches priced below Rs 25,000, according to Krishnaswamy.
At the same time, the mass-market segment priced below Rs 1,000 has remained sluggish as consumers increasingly view watches as fashion and personal-style accessories.
Limited-edition models and higher-priced watches, she said, have been attracting stronger consumer interest.
Titan also sells international watch brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Police, Cerruti and Roamer through its Helios retail network.
The company is also open to adding more accessible Swiss brands to its portfolio, particularly if free trade agreements help reduce import costs, Krishnaswamy said.
