Shilpi Madan
12-Mar-2026
The latest launch from the house of Titan honours Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju’s precision and mastery on the world stage as the youngest world chess champion.
Limited edition wristpieces always honour precious moments in time.
The house of Titan has been shaping the horological tradition in India through exemplary design and thoughtful odes. Jalsa by Nebula from the House of Titan unveiled last year marked a tribute to the richness of Indian heritage. Now the horological major brings in Grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju as the Titan of the Year 2026, as a mark of recognition of his exemplary achievement as the youngest world chess champion.
The second edition of ‘Titan of the Year’ series (following the inaugural tribute to Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma last year) the Gukesh x Grandmaster is a coveted collector’s item presented in a specially designed packaging featuring a personalised note from Gukesh himself.
Excerpts from a conversation with Mahendra Chauhan, Head of Design, Titan Company Ltd.:
How is the mindset towards wearing watches changing for the Indian buyer?
There has been a decided emergence of a mega-trend: The Indian buyer is well-travelled, has a latitude of choices with the luxury market opening in the country as well. But the shift is evident with the desire to own something which represents their own identity and culture. This was missing till a few years ago. There is an assertive sense of pride in owning things that form a part of our country’s culture, heritage and achievements. There is a radical return of popularity in wearing analog watches, following the brouhaha over wearing digital watches. People are treasuring the nostalgic value of mechanical watches.
Titan is an old, trusted, robust brand wooing the Gen-next market. What’s the brand strategy?
Gukesh certainly brings in new energy, As a company we are trying to create a direction in the larger ecosystem, with interesting stories, going beyond just what's trending in terms of a new colour or fashion forecast.
Share with us a few stunning facets about the Gukesh x Grandmaster.
The unisex watch, weighing 66 grams, is priced at ?69,995, with only 500 individually numbered pieces available. The timepiece blends strategy and craftsmanship, with a first in the unique tiger eye and black agate stone marquetry dial – with 48 stone pieces, hand cut, assembled, polished, as the focal point of the dial. There are chess-inspired indices (Queen, King, Rook, Bishop & Pawns) and a Knight-inspired second hand. Add to that the in-house Calibre 7A20 automatic movement (40-hour power reserve), and sapphire crystal, 316L steel case and Italian leather strap. There are intricate, beautiful details, like the crisscross engraving, the light on top of the second hand, the rotor with the engraving of the Grandmaster's Knight.
What was the biggest challenge in designing this watch?
Perfecting the marquetry. Procuring the best stone compilation was the biggest challenge, with the team moving through 30 variations before reaching the final design. The overall form and fitment suggest an intellectual game and translating those intellectual nuances was a long, precision-driven process.
Most watch majors choose to align with cricketers and Bollywood personalities. What made Titan align with achievers away from these domains?
For us, it is not about tapping into mass popularity. We believe in aligning with someone who connects with our brand values. Each year is a progression of this alignment. We hope to continue celebrating, each year, an Indian who has made a mark created.
