Gone are the days when special occasions like graduation, SSC, job placement and so on warranted the gift of watch to the recipient. Now is when even a casual movie going experience can double up as a watch buying spree, given the costs involved. Indeed there may be times when the movie ticket may cost more than the watch available at the multiplex! But then who's complaining?

Vishal Pandit is an engineering student who is passionate about trendy fashion accessories and says, "I have a collection of over 12 watches. I like to flaunt a rugged watch on my wrist. Being a student, buying an expensive watch is not possible for me however I get almost all, in fact better designs at much cheaper rates at the roadside shops. And to tell you the truth, since the last one year I don’t remember a month when I have not bought a watch."

Muzaffer Shaikh, a salesperson at one of the shops on M G road agrees with the trend. “The market is full of smart and affordable watches. There was a time when buying watches that looked like these was a luxury, but no more.We have people from all sections of the society coming and buying watches from us. And why shouldn't they since these watches give the same look as the expensive ones yet are still available in the range of Rs 100 to 200 and can be used without any problems for at least one year.”

The insides of these watches are fabricated and come with fully charged batteries that last for anywhere between six months to one year. Clearing the misconception that the watches are useless after the batteries expire, Shaikh adds, “They do not come with a warranty but then the batteries can surely be replaced. In fact if one maintains the watch properly, these can be used for longer duration as well.”

While big, colourful dials with metallic and leather belts along with additional features like stopwatch, tachometer are the characteristics of watches for men, the ones for women display fresh and vibrant colours on delicate designs. Debika Rakshe another student says, "I like trekking and a part of my trekking gear is a sports watch that I brought from roadside shop. I am a rough user and I prefer losing this watch rather than an expensive one."

It is the same trend that has compelled even giants in the field of watches to introduce affordable trendy watches in the market. According to Shabbir Ghadyali who owns a watch shop in Kumar plaza on M G Road, "Brands such as Timex and Fast Track also offer sporty watches at very competitive prices now. For instance, Timex watches start from Rs 400 while Fast Track ones are for Rs 500 and above. The added advantage in this case is the warranty that comes with the brand."

Usually it is difficult to beat the multiplexes when it comes to exorbitant prices, but the affordable watch mania seems to have caught the shopping malls and multiplexes as well. One of the stores in a city multiplex offers attractive watches for as less as Rs 120. The owner who doesn't want to be named says, "We sell minimum 12 to 15 watches a day and the demand for them is very high. Today, what is more important is looking good and people are getting to look good at cheaper prices."

Times indeed have changed.

Ques: What makes these watches affordable?

Expensive watches use high-end materials like steel, titanium for manufacturing the parts. In case of affordable watches, the assembly is made of cheaper material like plastic, which serves the purpose for hosting the gear assembly.

Ques: Where are these watches manufactured?

These watches are manufactured at a number of locations in Mumbai and Pune. However major chunk comes from China. Branded watches are however manufactured in the respective companies.

Ques: The price range

The price for these watches ranges any where between 100 and 1000 depending upon the design. For instance roadside metallic watches cost Rs 100 to 200. Branded watches come with a warranty and the price range is between 400 and 600. The replicas of some of the famous and popular models however, cost Rs 1000 and above.

Ques: Popular designs