Bruno Milano Raises Rs 7.5 Crore to Expand Affordable Contemporary Watches
D2C watch brand Bruno Milano has raised Rs 7.5 crore in a funding round led by Sauce VC. The round saw participation from Titan Capital and angel investors including Arjun Purkayastha, Unacademy co-founder Roman Saini and Kitty Agarwal.
The company plans to use the capital to expand its presence across India, accelerate the launch of new watch collections and designs, and strengthen availability on major ecommerce and quick commerce platforms.
A New Entrant in Affordable Watches
Founded in 2024 by Rachit Jain and Saurabh Agarwal, Bruno Milano is a Noida-based D2C brand focused on affordable contemporary timepieces. Its watches are generally priced between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000, placing the brand in a segment that sits above basic mass-market options while remaining accessible to a wide urban audience.
The brand offers hand-finished quartz and chronograph watches. Its collections include Vittorio Chrono, Ambrosiana Chic and Duomo Heritage. In addition to individual retail sales, Bruno Milano also provides customised corporate gifting solutions, giving it an additional business line beyond direct consumer purchases.
Design Positioning
Bruno Milano describes its products as combining classic aesthetics with modern design elements. The naming of collections such as Vittorio, Ambrosiana and Duomo suggests an inspiration drawn from European heritage and architecture, while the pricing and distribution model keep the brand firmly in the accessible contemporary category rather than premium or luxury.
In the Indian watch market, this positioning targets consumers who want better design and finish than entry-level watches but are not yet ready to spend at luxury or high-premium price points. The Rs 2,000–5,000 range has attracted several newer brands seeking to capture fashion-conscious buyers through digital channels.
Distribution Across Digital Channels
Bruno Milano sells through its official website as well as ecommerce marketplaces and quick commerce platforms. This multi-channel approach reflects current consumer behaviour, where discovery and purchase of lifestyle products increasingly happen online, often with an expectation of fast delivery.
Strengthening presence on major ecommerce and quick commerce platforms is one of the stated uses of the fresh funding. Broader availability can improve visibility, support faster delivery in key cities and help the brand reach customers who prefer shopping within existing super-apps or marketplace ecosystems.
Competitive Landscape
The affordable and contemporary watch segment in India has become more active, with several startups targeting different niches. Bruno Milano competes with brands such as Rotoris, Argos Watches, Jaipur Watch Company and Bangalore Watch Company. These players span a spectrum that includes affordable luxury, mechanical watches, heritage-inspired designs and premium timepieces.
Recent funding activity in the space highlights investor interest. Rotoris raised $3 million (around Rs 27 crore) in a seed round in December 2025 from investors including Nikhil Kamath, Venture Catalysts, 100Unicorns and Vivek Oberoi. Argos Watches raised Rs 6.5 crore in an angel round in 2025 to support product development and digital expansion. Jaipur Watch Company earlier raised Rs 2.4 crore in an angel funding round.
This activity suggests that multiple brands are attempting to build differentiated positions in a category long dominated by established mass and premium players.
Use of Funds and Growth Priorities
With the Rs 7.5 crore raise, Bruno Milano has outlined three main priorities: expanding market presence across India, rolling out new collections and designs more quickly, and improving availability across ecommerce and quick commerce channels.
For a young D2C brand, these priorities are closely linked. New designs help maintain freshness and encourage repeat purchases. Wider distribution increases the chances of discovery and conversion. Geographic expansion, even if primarily digital, requires marketing investment, inventory planning and operational coordination with platform partners.
Corporate gifting offers an additional growth avenue. Customised watches for companies can generate bulk orders and introduce the brand to new customers through workplace channels.
Challenges in the Watch Category
Building a watch brand involves more than design and online listings. Product quality, after-sales service, perceived durability and brand storytelling all influence long-term success. In a category where trust and aesthetics both matter, consistency in finish, packaging and customer experience becomes important.
Competition is also intensifying. Established brands retain strong distribution and brand recall, while newer D2C players compete aggressively on design, pricing and digital marketing. Standing out requires a clear point of view on style, reliable product quality and efficient customer acquisition.
Looking Ahead
Bruno Milano remains an early-stage brand, founded only in 2024. The latest funding provides resources to test whether its combination of accessible pricing, contemporary design and multi-channel digital distribution can gain meaningful traction.
As it expands collections and platform availability, the brand will need to balance growth with operational discipline—managing inventory, maintaining quality and building recognition in a crowded market. The participation of Sauce VC, Titan Capital and notable angel investors offers both capital and validation as the company moves into its next phase.
For now, Bruno Milano’s bet is clear: there is room in the Indian market for well-designed watches priced between mass and premium, delivered primarily through digital and quick commerce channels. The coming months will show how effectively the brand can convert that positioning into sustained customer demand.