Anita Khatri’s ‘A Sense of Time’ Is A Love Letter to Horology

For most people, watches are accessories — silent companions, and all they do is mark the rhythm of their daily lives. For Anita Khatri, however, watches are so much more.

With over three decades spent at the intersection of luxury, media, and horology, Khatri has long been one of India’s foremost authorities on timepieces — curating conversations around brands long before “watch culture” became an online phenomenon. Now, she’s distilled that lifelong passion into something tactile: a coffee table book titled A Sense of Time.

Launched in Mumbai at an intimate evening attended by Bollywood actor, entrepreneur, and watch aficionado Shilpa Shetty, along with collectors and industry insiders, the book marks the first in what will be an annual series dedicated to the art of watchmaking. Limited to just 1,000 copies and priced at ₹18,000, A Sense of Time: Edition One dives into one of horology’s most fascinating complications — the chronograph. Through lush visuals, technical storytelling, and essays that bridge art and engineering, it captures what makes the chronograph not just a feature, but a form of poetry in motion.

“This book is more than just a compilation of stories or images — it’s a reflection of three decades of my passion for watches and storytelling,” said Khatri. “Each page captures the essence of what makes horology so captivating — design, craftsmanship, and the human connection we build with time itself.”

That sentiment defines both Khatri’s career and her curatorial philosophy. From founding luxury consultancy Anita Khatri Media Worldwide to pioneering horology-focused experiences and partnerships in India, she’s built her reputation on bridging worlds — of collectors and creators, tradition and innovation.

Shilpa Shetty, who graced the event, shared a sentiment that mirrors Khatri’s own: “Time has always fascinated me, not just as something we measure but as something we live through, moment by moment. What Anita has created with A Sense of Time is remarkable; she’s turned decades of passion and knowledge into something tangible and beautiful. It’s more than a book — it’s a reminder that watches are not only about luxury or precision but about emotion, memory, and even the future.”

As A Sense of Time begins its journey into the hands of collectors, it also marks a new chapter for Indian voices in global luxury publishing — one that’s rooted in expertise, reverence, and storytelling. For Khatri, it’s only the beginning. Each forthcoming edition, she says, will explore a new facet of fine watchmaking — a chronicle of the world of time.