A new luxury watch themed around a private zoo run by the family of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani has been unveiled in India – complete with a hand-painted figurine of the tycoon’s youngest son, Anant, at the centre.
Designed by luxury watchmaker Jacob & Co, the bejeweled watch has carved figures of a lion and a Bengal tiger placed around a statue of Anant seated on a chair.
While the watchmaker did not disclose the price, industry collective Watchopea estimated its value at $1.5m (£1.1m, 137m rupees).
The center – branded as a private wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center – is home to more than 2,000 species, including lions, elephants and tigers, and is spread over 3,500 hectares.
The zoo, which is owned by Anant and is not open to the public, hit the headlines last year after allegations of illegal taking and mistreatment of animals, but a Supreme Court-appointed team later found it. there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
It is located in Jamnagar in the western state of Gujarat, not far from Mukesh Ambani’s oil refinery – which is the largest in the world.
Vantara was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March last year.
It is also one of the venues for Anant Ambani’s 2024 pre-wedding events that have made global headlines.
The wedding and other events were attended by all the top Indian Bollywood stars and world celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna.
Also in attendance were business leaders such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, former British prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson, and the US president’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
In their social media post unveiling the watch, Jacob & Co said their new luxury timepiece is “a tribute to Vantara” and the figurine of Anant at the center of the dial “symbolizes stewardship and responsibility”.
It says the watch is made up of 397 precious stones, including diamonds, green sapphires, garnets and other gems.
An executive associated with Indian retail partner Ethos Watches told the BBC that the company did not disclose the price of the watch. He said that it is not yet available in stores.
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