HMT Jawan and Variants

 

The slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" was given to the country by Lal Bahadur Shastri. What is special about this is the fact that it hails and cheers two the most important occupations in India at that time. The Jawan points to the soldiers, who play an important role in the protection of the country. The Kisaan signifies the farmer which was the primary occupation of the majority of India.

HMT did come out with the Jawan series of watches that is being exemplified in this blog. It is a known fact that Bangalore is the first HMT factory setup for the production of watches thus the Jawan produced in the mid 70's are the first that is discussed. 

The first generation Jawan was produced the Bangalore factory in the mid 70's. The dial had a powder matt finish and typical to the era the dauphine hands and the doom crown. The lume was hand applied and was in continuation to the pilot series calligraphy. Small font size continued. 

Pic Courtesy Ponnappa

The next edition of the Jawan was from the same factory but it had lumed sword hands instead of the dauphine hands. In my opinion this is the only HMT watch that has a lumed sword hands with cavity. HMT also released the same version with Big Fonts too during the same era. 

Pic Courtesy Suhan

Further, HMT has plans for the release of full arabic numerals lumed Jawan in both the hand variants. 

Pic Courtesy Biju

There is also a story stating that these were issued to the GC (Gentleman Cadet) in the Indian Army. I would refrain myself into giving opinion on that. But the case back etching seems to be consistent with the year of manufacture.

One more version of the Jawan was released in the 1980s (unable to share the pic due to copyright issue). The difference being the colour of the print which was green.

Then there was a lull until HMT Ranibhag reissued the Jawan in 2011-12 producing 500 odd dials. 

Pic Courtesy Ponnappa

These watches had some change in calligraphy fully hand lumed and was difficult to get one initially. These watches cane with a press fit case back that was manufactured in Ranibhag for its Pilots and Janata range. I too was after this variant and was happy to pick one.

The final nail in the Jawan variant was when HMT re-issused in 2020 the full lume and half lume variants in all types of case and hand variants.

Pic Courtesy Ponnappa

This was the end of an era that replaced the iconic dauphine hands with chickpete (aftermarket) hands, poor case quality, hand lume replaced by screen print dials.

There was other Jawan that was posted in one of the facebook groups that had unique features. The indices were lumed. This is the only variant that has been seen till date that is different from the original dial design.

 

Pic Courtesy Bipin

  I hope HMT brings back the old designs and we get to see some good old watches.

 

Dedicated to the great nation Bharat. A vedic national anthem

आ ब्रह्मन् ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चसी जायतामा राष्ट्रे राजन्यः
शूर इषवयोऽअतिव्याधी महारथो जायतां दोग्ध्री धेनुर्वाढानड्वानाशुः
सप्तिः पुरन्धिर्योषा जिष्णू रथेष्ठाः सभेयो युवास्य यजमानस्य वीरो जायतां निकामे निकामे नः
पर्जन्यो वर्षतु फलवत्यो न आषधयः पच्यन्तां योगक्षेमो नः कल्पताम् ॥