Speed of Flight. Mach1.

Mach is the unit used to measure speed in aviation. It marks the moment an aircraft reaches the speed of sound. 

In aviation, Mach is a language pilots understand. From Mach 1 onwards, speed is no longer measured in kilometres per hour but in relation to sound itself. The Mach 1 collection takes its name from this moment in aviation. It is a series of pilot watches inspired by Indian aviation and the people, machines, and environments that define it.

Before digital displays and modern planes, pilots relied on a few essential tools. One of them was the watch on their wrist. It had to be clear, tough, and dependable. Large numerals, high contrast dials, a triangle at twelve for instant orientation, and crowns that could be operated with gloves were not design choices, but necessities. 

Mach 1 draws from these foundations. Its layout represents the classic flieger watches, while its details carry references to aviation. The crown, for instance, is a nod to pilot watch design, built for ease of use. The crown itself takes inspiration from the shape of an afterburner nozzle, the final burst of power that pushes an aircraft forward. 

For years, pilot watches told European aviation stories. Indian aviation, despite its depth and history, remained largely absent from the wrist. Mach 1 was created to change that. 

Built in India with Swiss precision, the Mach 1 collection brings Indian aviation to the forefront. 

The Mach 1 journey began in 2019 with the Mach 1X. Its dial was made from military-grade aluminium recovered from a decommissioned MiG-21 supersonic jet, one of the most iconic aircraft in Indian aviation history. This was not just inspiration, but material continuity. A part of the aircraft that once flew at supersonic speeds was now carried on the wrist. 

As the collection evolved, it expanded into Civilian and Aviator variants, both rooted in classic pilot watch design. Black and white Flieger layouts, clear legibility, and everyday wearability kept the watches close to their functional origins. 

With the MiG-21 concluding its final chapter in the skies, Mach 1 continues to carry its legacy forward. Variants like the Stealth Civilian, Aviator, and Officer’s Blue reflect different facets of Indian aviation, from aircraft design to Air Force uniforms. 

Mach 1 is not built around a single aircraft. It is a collection of stories. 

High-altitude aviation finds its place at Flight Level 200, where the Indian Air Force operates in thin air and severe cold across the Himalayan region. Aerobatic precision is captured in Synchro, created to mark twenty-five years of the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team. Women in aviation are acknowledged through the Silk Scarf edition, launched in 2023, with its distinct Aerobloom dial. 

Naval aviation and maritime defence enter the story through the Admiral edition, forged from steel recovered from the decommissioned INS Vikrant R11 aircraft carrier. Its dial and detailing reflect the carrier’s service at sea, extending Mach 1’s narrative beyond the sky. 

Mach 1 is part of Bangalore Watch Company’s wider effort to tell modern Indian stories through watchmaking. Alongside Peninsula, watch inspired by landscapes, Apogee, watch inspired by space, and Cover Drive, drawn from cricket, Mach 1 focuses on aviation as an experience rather than an abstraction.

 
From the MiG-21 that once ruled the skies to watches inspired by uniforms, formations, the Mach 1 collection carries Indian aviation forward, something worn and lived with every day.