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Tissot launches 50 watch brands in India

Swiss watchmaker Tissot, a $ 2.22 billion Swatch group company, today entered the Indian market with a wide range of watches, targetted at upper middle class segment.

Swatch group's regional general manager for South Asia Ravi Thakran said the Tissot launch that in the 35 to 40 million watch market in India, around 25 million watches are sold in the range of Rs 1,000.

''There was no watch available in the segment from Rs 3,000 to Rs 12,500. Tissot today introduced the watches in the range of Rs 3,200 to Rs 23,500,'' Thakran said.

Tissot entered the Indian market with 50 brands and would launch 30 more brands in the next six months, he added.

The company is part of the Swatch group, known the world over for its high quality and innovative time keeping devices. It has its presence in 145 countries of the world with more than 12,000 sales outlets.

Speaking on the occasion, Ulrich Fischer, vice-president, Asia-Pacific, Tissot, said, ''Tissot watches have always enjoyed brand loyalty in the Indian subcontinent. For years, discerning customers from India have been purchasing Tissot watches abroad. Now every Indian will have an opportunity to buy these high-quality, stylish products here.''

Tissot will reach out to the Indian consumer via 150 leading watch retailers all over the country. It has appointed Sugam Precision Private Limited of New Delhi to support retailers in the north and the east and Designers Watches Private Limited of Bombay in the south and west. Special care is being taken to ensure prompt, quality service to customers, Thakran said.

Jean-Marc Guillod, area sales manager, Tissot, said, ''To deepen Tissot's association with cricket, we have appointed Mohammed Azharuddin as brand ambassador. His huge popularity, elegant style and precise timing complement Tissot's core brand values and commitment to excellence. It also adds a new dimension to Tissot's abiding commitment to world class sporting activities as diverse as cycling world championships, ice hockey world championships, car racing and cricket.''

Tissot along with other 14 watch brands such as Blancpain, Omega, Rado, Longines, Calvin Klein, Swatch and others. Each of these brands is clearly targeted at different segments of the watch market.

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