Vintage 1970's serviced HMT Pilot 17J military black dial men's wristwatch WOW
This is Marriage Watch, a completely restored and serviced HMT Pilot Para Shock men's military wristwatch from the 1970's. The lavishly gold plated alloy case and bezel measures 1.37 / 34.8 mm in diameter, excluding crown and lugs, and surrounds a guilloche repainted deep black dial complimented by bright gold hour, minute, and sweep center hands, large gold raised numbers and markers, and outer chapter. Finally, to complete the restoration, the 17 jewel, Indian, Para Shock, manual wind movement, has been cleaned, serviced & and adjusted, it sets and winds as it should, is running strong, and is keeping excellent time.
It has a snap-down see-through, exhibition, stainless steel back and has been fitted with a new, genuine leather black, embossed, stitched strap with gold buckle. A "Marriage Watch" refers to a timepiece created of old and new parts into a single watch. In this case, the gold-plated case, dial, see-through back, crystal, and strap are new and the 17 jewel movement is original. A HMT watch was an integral part of the unofficial uniform of Indian office-goers through the'60s,'70s and'80s. Even today collectors of HMT timepieces swear by the brand's retro appeal, its reliability and its undeniably Indian flavor.HMT Watches started its own online sales in mid-August and many believed that this was a sign that the company was turning around. Its advertising slogan, "Timekeepers to the Nation", was certainly apt. Prashant Pandey, a resident of Bangalore and HMT aficionado, has collected more than 500 pieces in just a few years. "I saw my grandfather wear a HMT watch, " he said.
My wife's grandfather had a Pilot, which he passed on to me. There's a lot of emotional attachment to these watches.This is a legacy coming to an end. Among the first watches to be made by HMT, the Janata was a favorite of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This winding watch was plain, affordable and had more than 25 variants. Janata watches have been known to tick on for more than 40 years. The Pilot, along with Jawan, Sainik and Rakshak, were synonymous with the military.
Though these were not specialized military watches, they were supplied to the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy, which were HMT's biggest customers. The Pilot is a favorite of watch collectors. The quintessential dress watch, the Sona was a winding watch and the thinnest model made by HMT.It is known for its high-quality gold plating. Old HMT watches are still in high demand among collectors.