Mannar

Collection Backstory: 

180 million years ago, a landmass broke off from Gondwana land. It travelled east thousands of miles and collided with Europe. The resulting collision formed the high peaks of the Himalayas. Oceans formed around the peninsula, with rich biodiversity in the deep forests in the midlands. This is the story of the Indian Peninsula. 

The Peninsula Professional is our newest collection of watches created to celebrate our Earth’s geographic diversity. A tribute to the high peaks, the lush forests, and the rich oceans. All this, with a backstory that connects back home to India. This is a collection to remind us that this land does not belong to us alone, it belongs to millions that were here before, and ones that will follow. To respect, preserve, and pass on this land that we call home, welcome to the Peninsula. 
 
Why this watch: 

In the Indian Ocean, between India and Sri Lanka, lies the Gulf of Mannar. For over 2,000 years, freedivers went deep into these waters to collect pearls formed by wild oysters. The conditions here were perfect—these pearls were known for their size and shine. Indian Kings wore them with pride, and Roman traders came looking for treasures to take back home. But since the 1900s, the pearl beds have collapsed. Today, they are only a memory. 

The Mannar with a rare black mother-of-pearl dial, part of the Peninsula collection, is a tribute to the lost pearl beds of the Indian Ocean. The dial reflects soft colours as light moves across it, with every piece showing different natural patterns formed by wild oysters. No two dials are alike, making each watch truly one of a kind. 

Design and specifications: 

The perfectly rounded case of the Mannar is inspired by an object that is ubiquitous in India’s landscapes – the Pebble stone. The case is built out of surgical grade stainless steel, PVD coated in black, with no sharp angles, and hidden, concealed lugs in the back. A perfectly contoured shape, adorned by a super-domed sapphire crystal to form a perfect sphere – an organic shape that hugs the wearer’s wrist perfectly. 

The dial has multiple elements – dive watch styled applied indices provide depth, filled with Swiss BGW9 Grade-A Super-Luminova® for unmatched visibility in low-light conditions. A “wave index” at the 3H position custom designed to mimic the waves of the Oceans, and a “forest index” at the 9H position custom designed to mimic the rainforests – both filled with Super-Luminova® with incredible attention to detail to provide a glow in the dark.

And the centerpiece, the large singular disc made of a slice of mother of pearl, coated in black to match the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mannar. 
On the back, a tasteful artwork etching depicting nature, with elements of Oceans, High-peaks, and Forests, with text claiming to pay respects to our planet.
  
The case is built for perfect outdoor conditions – a Swiss Made Sellita Automatic movement, 200 meters of watertightness and a pairing of high-density fluoro-elastomer rubber straps for wearing comfort makes the Mannar a perfect choice for all sporting and outdoor adventures. 

Owing to the rarity and challenge of working with Mother of Pearl, the Mannar is a limited edition of just 50 pieces produced in the collection.