Storytelling and Complications are the Most Exciting Frontiers for Us: Mahendra Chauhan, Head of Design, Watches and Wearables at Titan Company Ltd.

A new chapter in Indian watchmaking was written when Titan unveiled Stellar 3.0, inspired by the Infinite, its landmark festive collection. At the heart of the nine extraordinary timepieces are three limited editions, led by a historic first for the nation: the Wandering Hours. 

Stellar 3.0 was imagined as a canvas where infinite celestial wonders meet horological ingenuity. The Wandering Hours transforms this vision into reality. Inspired by orbiting moons and wandering stars, its drifting numerals glide across a sculpted arc like planets charting their celestial course. Twin satellite discs, sculpted from crystallised titanium and framed by brushed copper bezels, orbit with deliberate grace along the minute track. Powered by Titan’s in-house movement, this masterpiece, offered in just 500 pieces, is priced at ₹1,79,995.

GMT India caught up with Mahendra Chauhan, Head of Design for Watches and Wearables at Titan Company Ltd., to discuss the brand’s latest novelties and its enduring design philosophy.  

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GMT India: What guiding philosophy inspired the design of Stellar 3.0?

Mahendra Chauhan (MC): With Stellar 3.0, we wanted to evolve our cosmic story into a living experience of time. The idea was to evoke time in motion ― not just measured, but felt as well. Every element of the design, from the wandering hours display to the sculpted dial, was imagined to capture that sense of celestial fluidity. It’s a celebration of imagination and Indian ingenuity ― a moment where design meets emotion and engineering meets poetry ― redefining what Indian watchmaking can stand for: bold, imaginative, and future-forward.

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GMT India: How did you approach the balance between traditional horology and contemporary aesthetics in Stellar 3.0?

MC: We always begin with a narrative, not a mechanism. The wandering hour complication is rooted in classical horology, yet we reinterpreted it through a modern, sculptural lens. Every surface, texture, and proportion was designed to feel timeless, grounded in tradition, but forward in form. It’s this duality that gives Stellar 3.0 its character: technically refined, visually arresting, and emotionally resonant.

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GMT India: Wandering Hours is a bold departure from conventional Indian watch design. What inspired this complication?

MC: The idea came from observing the elegance of planetary motion ― how celestial bodies glide in orbit, never hurried, never static. That rhythm of the cosmos became our metaphor for time itself. The wandering hour allowed us to translate that poetry into motion. It took years of research, prototyping, and patience, but when the hour disc first swept across the dial in perfect harmony, we knew we had created something that reflected both artistry and Indian engineering excellence.

GMT India: Could you walk us through the design and engineering challenges of executing the wandering hours display?

MC: It was a demanding yet exhilarating process. Miniaturising the complication while maintaining precision required months of iteration. We had to reinvent our gear architecture, work with lightweight alloys, and perfect torque distribution so that the motion felt effortless. What looks fluid on the dial is actually the result of deep technical mastery. The entire project represents multiple teams coming together to create a true horological marvel. Seeing it glide seamlessly ― the hour disc orbiting across a fixed minute arc ― is a quiet triumph for Indian watchmaking.

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GMT India: Titan has experimented with unconventional materials like meteorite dials and crystallised titanium. What drives these choices?

MC: Every material carries a story. Meteorite connects directly to the cosmos, crystallised titanium reflects strength and light like frozen starlight, while aventurine and malachite evoke the mystery of deep space. These materials aren’t chosen for novelty, they’re chosen for emotion. They allow us to express time as texture, to make each watch feel alive. And what’s exciting is that Indian consumers today truly understand and value that depth of storytelling. It is our way of saying, “We’re ready to play at the top.”

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GMT India: Titan has long been associated with accessible timepieces. How intentional was the move towards haute horology?

MC: It’s a very deliberate evolution. We’ve always stood for trust and craftsmanship, and now we’re expanding that legacy into artistry and innovation. Stellar is our statement of intent, proof that Indian watchmaking can stand tall among the world’s finest. It bridges our heritage with a bold, global vision, showing that we can engineer complexity while still retaining soul and story.

GMT India: The global market is shifting from functional watches to emotional collectibles. How is Titan responding?

MC: We’re fully embracing it. People now seek watches that mean something or mark moments, emotions, and individuality. So, we begin with emotion — crafting limited-edition timepieces that tell stories, embrace rare materials, and carry meaning in every detail. Each piece becomes a personal keepsake, not just a timekeeper. A Titan collector today isn’t just owning a watch, they’re wearing a memory, a fragment of art, a piece of India’s horological journey.

GMT India: Have you noticed a change in how Indian consumers view fine watchmaking?

MC: Absolutely. There’s a growing awareness and appreciation for movements, materials, and craftsmanship. Collectors are becoming more discerning; they want authenticity and originality. The curiosity is palpable; the pride in Indian-made excellence is real. It’s encouraging to see audiences respond not just to design, but also to the stories and innovation behind each timepiece.

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GMT India: As Titan Watches’ Head of Design, what is your vision for Indian watchmaking on the global stage?

MC: Our goal is to define a design language that is proudly and distinctively Indian, contemporary, original, and globally relevant. We’re not trying to imitate Swiss minimalism or Japanese precision; we’re building something of our own, rooted in culture and craft. If we can marry that authenticity with world-class engineering, India can create its own horological signature.

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GMT India: Where do you see the greatest opportunity for innovation — design, materials, or storytelling?

MC: All of them, because they’re interconnected. For Titan, storytelling and complications are the most exciting frontiers. India has centuries of mythology, geometry, and symbolism, an endless archive of inspiration. Translating that into modern horology gives us an edge few countries can match. When you infuse meaning into mechanics, every tick of the watch feels like part of a larger story.

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GMT India: What role can Indian culture and craftsmanship play in shaping this design language?

MC: A transformative one. India’s heritage holds a rare balance of proportion, colour, and philosophical depth. Our temples, textiles, and crafts reflect an innate understanding of rhythm and symmetry, qualities that resonate deeply with watch design. When that sensibility merges with modern technology, we don’t just make watches; we create artefacts that carry India’s creative spirit into the future of global horology.

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