Magnus Carlsen banging the table is not something chess fans ever expected to see. That single, unguarded gesture at Norway Chess in June 2025 captured the shift better than any headline could. Across the board sat Gukesh Dommaraju, 19 years old, calm, precise, and utterly unshaken. He dismantled the greatest player of the modern era in a classical game, forcing a moment of raw frustration from a man famous for psychological control. The brief tap on the table, followed by a respectful pat on the back, felt like a silent acknowledgment that the hierarchy had changed for good.
Titan noticed. The Indian watchmaker’s Titan of the Year platform is built around turning defining cultural moments into objects meant to last, and for 2026 the choice was obvious. Gukesh was not just winning games, he was redefining what modern chess dominance looks like. The result of that attention is the Grandmaster X Gukesh Dommaraju Special Edition, a strictly limited run of 500 pieces that translates the logic, tension, and elegance of chess into one of the most considered watch designs to come out of India in recent years.
The dial is where Titan’s intent becomes unmistakable. Instead of relying on a printed motif or an abstract reference, the design team committed to a hand-crafted stone marquetry surface made from tiger eye and black agate. The pairing is inspired. Tiger eye brings warmth, depth, and subtle movement, while black agate anchors the composition with restraint and contrast. Together they recreate the visual rhythm of a wooden chessboard, not as a graphic symbol but as a material experience. Like a strong endgame position, the dial rewards time spent studying it, revealing nuance rather than shouting for attention.
The hour markers reinforce that philosophy. Each index is shaped as a chess piece, placed with deliberate intent. The Queen commands 12 o’clock, the Rook holds 9, the Bishop guards 3, and the King anchors 6. The remaining positions are marked by pawns, understated but essential. A red seconds hand carries a Knight-shaped counterpoise, a direct nod to Gukesh’s favorite piece and his tactical style. Timekeeping becomes secondary to storytelling, yet never at the expense of clarity.
In low light, the watch shifts character entirely. The sculpted rose-gold indices are filled with lume that ignites into a vivid green glow, standing out sharply against the dark, textured chapter ring. The hands mirror this treatment through open-worked cutouts that hold the same luminous charge. The effect is bold without crossing into spectacle, dramatic in the way a perfectly timed sacrifice is dramatic.
The case is executed in 316L stainless steel with a rose-gold finish, warm and contemporary, avoiding unnecessary flash. A sapphire crystal protects the dial, and the watch is paired with a calf leather strap secured by a butterfly clasp. Turning the watch over reveals the detail collectors will linger on. The automatic rotor is embossed with a Grandmaster Knight motif and signed by Gukesh himself. Alongside it sits the inscription marking his achievement as the youngest World Chess Champion, a quiet but permanent record of a historic milestone.
Powering the watch is Titan’s in-house calibre 7A20 automatic movement. With 22 jewels and a 40-hour power reserve, it may not chase extreme specifications, but its significance lies elsewhere. The movement is fully developed and assembled in-house, without outsourcing the mechanical core. For Titan, this is a statement of technical independence that mirrors the confidence of the player it celebrates.
Each watch is individually numbered and delivered in specially designed packaging that includes a personal note from Gukesh. Priced at Rs. 69,995, roughly 840 US dollars, the Grandmaster X Gukesh Dommaraju Special Edition sits at a rare intersection. It captures a precise cultural moment, honors a generational shift in chess, and delivers it through materials and design choices that invite long, thoughtful engagement. Like a great game, it does not rely on noise or excess. It plays quietly, patiently, and with absolute conviction.
