HMT Limited Edition Watches Sold Out in Bengaluru: 2.5-KM Queue for Independence Day Special Series

By Metro Bureau | Bangalore Mail

Published: August 17, 2026

BENGALURU: Demonstrating an enduring affection for one of India’s most iconic legacy brands, watch collectors and city residents formed serpentine queues spanning nearly 2.5 kilometres outside HMT outlets in Bengaluru to acquire the newly launched limited-edition Independence Day timepieces.

The public sector unit released a special series of 1,750 watches to mark the 80th Independence Day. Featuring the Indian Tricolour and Karnataka’s state emblem—the Gandaberunda—alongside Kannada script on select dials, all six newly launched models were completely sold out within a single day.

Serpentine Queues Across Bengaluru Outlets

Priced between ₹2,000 and ₹10,000, the special collection drew buyers from every corner of the city. Enthusiasts lined up early in the morning outside HMT outlets in Jalahalli and HMT Bhavan near Mekhri Circle, with some travelling over 30 km from IT hubs like Whitefield just to secure a unit.

N. Ramesh Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director of HMT Limited, confirmed that all three factory outlets in the city experienced unprecedented demand.

“We had manufactured around 1,750 units of these special edition watches, and every single piece has been sold out,” he said, adding that the team continues to receive a high volume of purchase enquiries daily.

Union Minister Highlights Brand Legacy

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy expressed delight at the overwhelming public response, calling the massive turnout proof of HMT’s deep-rooted emotional connection with the public.

Taking to social media platform X, the Minister stated:

“The sight of people standing in a queue for nearly two kilometres to buy HMT watches shows how deeply the popularity and legacy of the HMT brand remain rooted in the hearts of people. We all grew up seeing HMT timepieces, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts are ongoing to revive this iconic factory.”

More Automatic Models Planned for September

Although primary watch manufacturing operations at HMT were halted in 2016 due to financial losses, the brand continues to hold significant heritage value among watch enthusiasts and collectors.

To cater to the surge in demand, HMT management confirmed that additional units of the limited-edition series will be manufactured and made available at retail outlets by the end of September, alongside a new line of high-quality automatic watches.