A Moment in Time

With over 200 dancing peacocks perching and preening in their magnificent plumage at the arrival of monsoon across the 47 rambling acres of lush, charcoal clouds swirling across the skies and lightly grazing the rosy domes and arches in the poetic grandeur composing the Rambagh Palace – toasted globally as a coveted luxury vacation gateway – it was the perfect backdrop for the grand moment: the unveiling of the Jalsa Tourbillon, an ode to regalia, in its bespoke elegance and finely contoured lines, hand painted by Padma Shri Shakir Ali, a prized exponent in the world of Mughal and Persian miniatures.

Gurgling fountains, the call of the mynah, and whispering leaves led the way to the gathering of enthusiasts and experts from the world of watches, at Sawai Mann Singh Palace where time paused for a moment. Carefully stroked pigments on fine marble form on the dial, the bewitching image of Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh aboard a caparisoned pachyderm – mighty and magnificent – against the pink latticed perfection of the iconic Hawa Mahal, the monument he built in 1799.

Jalsa is the labour of love by Titan, that took three years of exquisite craftsmanship to culminate in a breathtaking wrist piece. The limited edition of 10 watches in18k gold, blushes in a royal combination of rose agate, fine marble; and sapphire on the minute hand – a jewelled tribute to 225 years of the Hawa Mahal in the Pink City.

The regal theme knitted itself to the décor and the darling divaesque four course menu that wove through the evening filled with wine, gourmet gospels and the robust melody of folk songs from the desert state.

A stay at Rambagh Palace is the ultimate metaphor in luxury cupped in heritage and traditional warmth. The lilt of the grand ramparts gained a jewelled dimension, maharajah style, with the launch of Jalsa, under the gleaming stars and the velvet skies: The eloquence of a bygone era wrapped in modern extravagance in a horological coup.