Art of Time, India’s premier omnichannel luxury watch retailer, has successfully concluded its Series B fundraising of ₹175 crore (~$20 million). The funding round, spearheaded by Mithun Sacheti, Siddhartha Sacheti, Plutus Wealth Management, and Girish Mathrubootham, underscores strong investor confidence in the brand’s strategic direction. This capital infusion aims to bolster Art of Time’s retail footprint, inaugurate CIRCA – its innovative bridge-to-luxury concept, and enhance capabilities in leadership, technology, and inventory to cater to India’s burgeoning community of watch enthusiasts.
The company, established in 2015 by Gaurav Bhatia and Bharat Kapoor, has emerged as the go-to destination for luxury watch connoisseurs, boasting partnerships with renowned global watch maisons such as Cartier, Omega, Montblanc, and Bvlgari. As the exclusive partner for TimeVallée in India, Art of Time operates their physical boutiques in key urban centers.
Expressing his vision for the future, Gaurav Bhatia, Co-founder of Art of Time, emphasized, “This fundraising initiative propels us into the next growth phase, from the introduction of CIRCA in new markets to strengthening our luxury collaborations and assembling a proficient team to spearhead the transformation of luxury watch retail in India. Our primary focus remains on amplifying Art of Time’s customer-centric approach while deepening partnerships and expanding our omnichannel presence.”
A significant portion of the raised capital will be channeled into the launch of CIRCA, a trailblazing Omni retail concept by Art of Time aimed at engaging India’s evolving cohort of watch aficionados. Designed to redefine perceptions of the premium watch segment, CIRCA will introduce a contemporary retail environment that fosters exploration, making fine watchmaking more accessible to first-time buyers.
The inaugural CIRCA store is slated to open in Delhi NCR in 2025, with ambitious expansion plans across major metropolitan areas and emerging urban hubs in the fiscal year 2026.
Bharat Kapoor, Co-founder of Art of Time, highlighted the strategic significance of CIRCA, stating, “As India’s aspirational consumer landscape evolves rapidly, our objective with CIRCA is to democratize fine watchmaking, paving the way for a new wave of first-time buyers while establishing a fresh entry point for the category. We are enthusiastic about our nationwide expansion strategy, encompassing Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets. To lead this initiative, we are pleased to welcome Prashant Chaudhary as the CEO of CIRCA – Art of Time, drawing on his instrumental role in scaling CaratLane and his unparalleled retail acumen to drive CIRCA’s trajectory.”
The Series B funding round witnessed continued support from industry stalwarts such as Mithun Sacheti, the founder of CaratLane and an early investor in Art of Time, who remains actively engaged with the brand in a strategic capacity. Mithun Sacheti commended Art of Time’s unique blend of customer-centricity and operational excellence, affirming his belief in the brand’s potential to solidify its standing as the preeminent luxury watch retailer in India.
Additionally, Plutus Wealth Management, a seasoned institution in capital markets, and Girish Mathrubootham, the founder of Freshworks, participated in the funding round, signaling investor confidence in Art of Time’s distinctive positioning and the long-term prospects within India’s luxury watch market, estimated at over ₹13,000 crores (~USD 1.6 billion), with projections to surpass USD 2.8 billion by 2033 (IMARC Group).
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