A new luxury watch themed on 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, in the centre.
Designed by luxury watchmaker Jacob & Co, the bejewelled timepiece has sculpted figures of a lion and a Bengal tiger placed around Anant’s statue seated on a chair.
While the watchmaker has not disclosed the price, industry collective Watchopea estimates its value at $1.5m (£1.1m, 137m rupees).
The centre – branded as a private wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre – is home to more than 2,000 species, including lions, elephants and tigers, and is spread over 3,500 acres.
The zoo, which is owned by Anant and is not open to the public, hit the headlines last year after allegations of unlawfully acquiring and mistreating animals, but a Supreme Court-appointed team later found 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 was also one of the venues for Anant Ambani’s lavish 2024 pre-wedding events that made global headlines.
The wedding and other events were attended by all of India’s top Bollywood stars and global celebrities such as 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 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 was “a tribute to Vantara” and Anant’s figurine at the centre of the dial “symbolised stewardship and responsibility”.
It said the watch was made up of 397 precious stones, including diamonds, green sapphires, garnets and other gems.
An executive associated with the brand’s India retail partner Ethos Watches told the BBC that the company has not disclosed the price of the watch. He also said that it is not available in the stores yet.
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