Himalaya is one of the most talked about HMT timepieces of recent times. It was initially launched in a limited series dedicated to a watch community in India. Responding to the growing demand for a regular variant of the limited edition, the Bengaluru (Bangalore) based watchmaking company has released the Himalaya SIL LS model.
In this article, I am sharing some points that I observed during the hands-on review of the HMT Himalaya watch.
HMT Himalaya Watch Review
Just like most of the HMT mechanical hand-wound wristwatches, Himalaya is a petite-sized timekeeper. It has a case diameter of just 34mm. It spotlights a fluted bezel, which enhances the elegant appeal of this classic dress watch.
The case design is inspired by that of HMT Pramod. Made of Ion Plated Steel, the middle case and fluted bezel spotlight polished finish.
HMT Himalaya has an attractive silver sunburst dial with 12 tapered index hour markers in polished steel. A stand-out feature of this timepiece is the clever application of light blue details. The depiction of the great mountain range also features the same shade. Just below it, you can discover the texts PARASHOCK and 17 JEWELS. The same light blue tone is also used on the small hour-markings on the outer dial ring.
Under the 12 o’clock hour marker, the dial spotlights the emblematic HMT brand representation and below that you can see the text “Himalaya”. In the limited edition model, a slightly different font has been used for marking Himalaya.
All the three hands are in finished in steel. The hour and minute hands are dauphine-shaped. The watch does not feature any type of luminescent coating on its hands or hour-markers. In the limited edition Himalaya model, the centre seconds hand is in blued steel finish.
As indicated near the 6 o’clock index, each Himalaya watch houses the iconic HMT 231 mechanical manual-winding calibre. It is a 17-Jewel movement, traditionally used with all HMT hand-wound watches for men. It maintains a beating rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour. The nominal power reserve of Cal. HMT 231 is 38 hours.
The case is topped with a flat mineral crystal glass. The snap-off type case-back of HMT Himalaya is made of stainless steel. It features various inscriptions like SHOCKPROOF, WATER RESISTANT, INDIA as well as the iconic HMT logo, brand name and case numbering.
In HMT Himalaya Limited Edition, the case-back displays additional texts like “HIMALAYA – THE CROWN OF INDIA” and “LIMITED EDITION OF 100” (without serial number) as well as the Himalaya Mountain illustration. The limited edition Himalaya watch was primarily created for the members of a Facebook group known as World of HMTs.
The Himalaya watch has a small crown at 3 o’clock for winding the mechanical movement and setting the time. It has a water resistance rating of 20 meters.
For this men’s dress watch model, HMT has opted for a blue leather strap with matching color stitching and pin buckle. The lug/strap width is 18mm.
HMT Himalaya Watch Price
HMT has been known for its reasonably priced mechanical wristwatches dedicated to mass population. Faithfully following the company philosophy, the Himalaya watch will not break your budget. It costs less than 40 US Dollars!
Summary
In my opinion, Himalaya is an adorable dress watch with a glittering face design and a trust worthy engine. The designers have succeeded in fusing an iconic case design with exceptional dial finishing and the light blue details. The polished dauphine hands are brilliant. Readability is also excellent because of the large dial area, thanks to the thin bezel design. The use of mineral glass instead of acrylic is also a remarkable decision. It would be great if HMT develops a slightly larger version of this model in future.
The Himalaya watch is a product of ABD (Auxiliary Business Division) – an entity incorporated after the closure of HMT’s manufacturing units.
You can buy this watch from the company’s online store and the official HMT showrooms in Bangalore. Unfortunately, HMT is not accepting orders from outside India. Interested overseas customers may utilize the services of shipping platforms like Shoppre to buy HMT watches.
