Bombay Watch Co in Hyderabad Offers Favre Leuba to HMT and More: Buyers Paradise

In contrast to larger cities like Mumbai, where you can explore areas like Chor Bazar to discover local vintage watch repair shops and dealers, our city here doesn't offer as many options. Even the online market for horology enthusiasts is dominated by sellers from other cities.

Finding similar opportunities in Hyderabad proved to be quite challenging. While you can always visit well-known stores like Kamal Watch or Ramesh Watch, it took us several weeks of extensive searching to finally locate what I was seeking. Eventually, we decided to inquire at Mahbub Radio in the Old City if they knew of any experienced watch experts.

That's when I discovered Bombay Watch Co, a 55-year-old watch service shop that can repair almost anything related to horology. Run by Mohd Abdul Kareem Khan, who is over 60 years old, this shop is one of the few places in Hyderabad that also sells vintage watches.

Bombay Watch Co offers a wide range of old watch models, from classic Favre Leuba to the now sought-after HMT mechanical models. During my visit to the store a few weeks ago, I came across various vintage watch models, including Tissot and Henry Sandoz. While you can browse numerous online sellers, visiting a physical watch store and indulging in conversations about these timeless pieces is a unique experience.

In a time when fashion watches are readily available and accessible, the demand for vintage or old watches is on the rise. According to Mr. Khan, "Many people still appreciate old watches, and Bombay Watch is renowned for selling these classic timepieces. Quartz watches, which are prevalent today, often lack the quality of older models."

To clarify, a quartz mechanism is essentially a battery-powered watch, which is less intricate compared to a mechanical or automatic watch. Mechanical watches operate without batteries, relying on a set of gears and a mainspring that functions when the watch is wound (typically lasting for 24 to 48 hours after a full winding). Bombay Watch offers an impressive collection of mechanical timepieces, subject to availability.

On the other hand, an automatic watch is also a mechanical watch, but it includes a rotor that self-winds the watch based on hand movements. It can essentially run indefinitely as long as it's worn. Typically, automatic watches maintain their power reserve for over 40 hours after being taken off the wrist.