Travels to India... which watch?

Starman71 · Jan 27, 2018

mayankyadav
I am an Indian and I can tell you that no one will snatch your watch off of your wrist on the streets 😀.
Just use your common sense and be aware of your surroundings the way you will be anywhere else in US.
Book Uber or other app based taxis to travel in city ( public transport is over crowded and rented taxi drivers may charge you more than the actual charge by looking at you and realizing that you are not from around).
Pick pocket incidents mainly occurr in over crowded public transport systems and I have never heard of anybody’s watch being snatched.

PS - Majority of Indians will not even know that something like a watch could cost thousands of dollars and lot of them will bot believe you if you tell them the actual cost. Some may even take you for a fool for spending that much on a watch .
All the best. do try lut different kinds of foods. We have hundreds of varieties of food 😀

Thank you for your comments. I would never think to speak about the price, though I suppose it’s possible someone might ask (I’ve heard personal questions e.g. about income are more acceptable there as a way to show interest). I will certainly try every kind of food I can find, can’t wait!

Philip Loftus · Jan 30, 2018

Tarnsman
Thank you for your comments. I would never think to speak about the price, though I suppose it’s possible someone might ask (I’ve heard personal questions e.g. about income are more acceptable there as a way to show interest). I will certainly try every kind of food I can find, can’t wait!

Don't eat anything from the pasty vendors who walk up and down the train carriages.

akshayluc420 · Jan 30, 2018

Oh, and if buying bottled water, check to ensure that the plastic seals attaching the bottle lip and the cap are intact. Some guys refill the bottles and put a sort of plastic shrink wrap around the top, so do check the plastic seal too.

trama · Jan 30, 2018

Pretty much do whatever you want there watch-wise, YOU will be the pauper often haha!

Source: Pretty much grew up there, wore a Speedy (reduced, but not diminished) for most of it, nobody gave a sh$t. Lots of modest folk, and lots of well off folk. As most mention here, the street food is sublime. I'm jealous. Post lots of pics!

Syrte · Jan 30, 2018

Tarnsman
I will certainly try every kind of food I can find, can’t wait!

Ahem... it is recommended you avoid street food though, and if you try little “hole in the wall” places it’s recommended you stick to cooked veg, and avoid meat/ fish/poultry. I just spent 3 weeks in India— my second trip there— and I can’t wait to go back.

Beepos · Jan 30, 2018

As someone born in India and who grew up there, you'll be fine. I've worn JLCs, IWCs, vintage Omegas there. Most people's knowledge extends to Rolex and that's it

My grandma wears more money in the form gold on a daily basis than any of the watches I own.I mean, don't go around flaunting a solid gold daytona or speedmaster with diamonds. But that would be true anywhere.

A word about street food: Only eat HOT, cooked solid food. Never cold, raw or liquidy. Thus, I'd skip the raithas, pani puris, or such. And MAKE SURE YOU DRINK BOTTLED WATER or REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER ONLY

But the food is amazing. I can only speak to Chennai and Hyderabad (both cities I've lived), though I know Bangalore best. Chennai is the old heart of South India. Thus, the specialties are Vada, Masala Dosa, Idli. Personally, I would make sure to try out idiyappam , which you won't in many other places. For a non veg perspective, Chicken Chettinad is the classic Tamilian dish, though be warned, it is spicy. Oh, make sure you go to a place that serves the food on a banana leaf, as is traditional. Don't spend crazy amounts, no dish should cost more than 600 rupees, or about $10 dollars.. If you want a recommendation, Murugan Idly Shop is always fantastic.

Hyderabad has a different cuisine. Hyderabad was a muslim state for a long time, despite having a majority Hindu population. Thus dishes like Hyderabad Biriyani are traditional (and you should definitely try it). Hyderabad is also more famous for it's sweets: double khameeta, falooda, qubani khameeta. Personally, I dislike Indian sweets, so I can't give you recommendations here

If by chance any of you end up visting Bangalore, make sure you visit MTR (Mavalli Tiffin Rooms). There is no better South Indian restaurant imo (some claim it’s overrated, but it’s one of those icons)- though the aforementioned Murugan gives it a shot.

Also, in Chennai especially, a restaurant with it's sign only in Tamil is the restaurant you want to visit.

And carry Imodium. It's likely that you will get a GI bug despite all precautions. You just aren't used to the microbiome there. If you get sick, hydrate hydrate hydrate.

Wyatt66 · Jan 30, 2018

Just got back from 2 weeks in Noida myself. GMTs & Worldtimers aren’t helpful as India is 5.5 hours ahead of the UK.... If you want to blend in, Indian men seem to like big watches - consumer brands - Casio, Citizen, Diesel, Fossil seem to be very popular. I wore the Seamaster on the left, an Oris Divers 65 and a CW Trident - no problem at all but I wore sleeves long so I wasn’t waving them around.

While you are in New Delhi, check out this gentleman (google his name - you’ll find a video on YouTube)
http://www.thedelhiwalla.com/2015/0...d-khans-old-swiss-watches-new-markazi-market/

He’s hard to find but if you can find the Barkat Guest House in Nizamuddin, he is in the market just to the left of the entrance. Open from 2pm to 10pm daily including Sundays.

He has a quite a few old watches, including some Omegas - a couple of pieces I was interested in but nothing where we could agree on price. I posted some pictures recently - he has an unusual Seamaster 354 with waffle dial and what looks like it could be a Bonklip bracelet - in the end he wanted more than I was willing to pay for it. In the end I bought a nice little 3 hand Roamer for Rs. 3000 as I wanted to come away with something....

akshayluc420 · Jan 30, 2018

Beepos
Hyderabad Biriyani are traditional (and you should definitely try it)

'Paradise Biryani' is a very famous joint for Hyderabadi Biryani. Make sure you order the 'Dum' style where the goodies are baked in an earthen pot sealed by dough.

I love how so many Indians have joined this thread. As you all may have noticed, we certainly love our food!

Matty01 · Jan 31, 2018

Worth checking the detail of your travel insurance, most wont cover replacement cost of a Speedy

Tarnsman
Thanks folks for your comments! I do have insurance so there’s that as well. I will be spending time in Noida, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

@Pun it would certainly be fun to pick up a timepiece there to remember my travels by.

Starman71 · Feb 2, 2018

Thanks for all the great comments and tips. Does anyone in the Chennai area know a good Rolex dealer there?

Syrte · Feb 2, 2018

Tarnsman
Thanks for all the great comments and tips. Does anyone in the Chennai area know a good Rolex dealer there?

Sorry this does not answer your question but if you look carefully you’ll see a Rolex dealer in New Delhi on Janpat road.. near Connaught circle. Snapped late December.

Starman71 · Feb 2, 2018

Matty01
Worth checking the detail of your travel insurance, most wont cover replacement cost of a Speedy

Jewelers Mutual

Starman71 · Mar 9, 2018

Pun · Mar 9, 2018

Starman71

Welcome to India. I hope you enjoy a pleasant and safe stay here. Now temperature is increasing every day. Delhi will face more traffic snarls due up some international solar summit for three to four days. You better avoid traveling to those areas.

Seacow · Mar 9, 2018

STANDY
Wear the speedy no issue in India, more chance of belly bugs than anything.
Take Imodium supply 😉

Lots Imodium required.... ::facepalm1::

mayankyadav · Mar 9, 2018

Syrte
Sorry this does not answer your question but if you look carefully you’ll see a Rolex dealer in New Delhi on Janpat road.. near Connaught circle. Snapped late December.

Rolex has a showroom in EA Mall in Chennai. Also you can look the locations of ADs anywhere in the world from Rolex’s website 😉

davidswiss · Mar 10, 2018

Take a Seiko 5, cheap, tough and don't need a battery.

Pun · Mar 10, 2018

Pun
I live in India and can assure you that unless you plan to go to some very disturbed areas of the country, any watch you intend to carry will be fine. Like in US or in the Continent, no one pays attention to your watch here. Thugs are interested in your wallet and money anywhere in the world. India is as safe and as disturbing as the US. Hope you cherish and enjoy you stay in India.

Today I am wearing my new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso TT 1931 that I bought after chasing it for more than 2 years, and NOBODY noticed it except me....

NyCSnEaK · Mar 10, 2018

I’d go with redpcar suggestion. Very nice country, with beautiful places. Remember dangling out of a rickshaw as a kid and getting slapped for it by my pops. Rode on a elephant there as well. Love Indian cuisine. My second favorite, after Afghani.

Pun · Mar 10, 2018

mayankyadav
Rolex has a showroom in EA Mall in Chennai. Also you can look the locations of ADs anywhere in the world from Rolex’s website 😉

Rolex has few boutiques at the New Delhi Airport and at various malls in NCR Delhi. You can get most of the brands in New Delhi region except Patek. Due to recent government tax structures prices of Swiss watches are one of the most competitive in India.

Travels to India... which watch?

Starman71

Philip Loftus

akshayluc420

trama

Syrte

Beepos

Wyatt66

akshayluc420

Matty01

Starman71

Syrte

Starman71

Starman71

Pun

Seacow

mayankyadav

davidswiss

Pun

NyCSnEaK

Pun

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