Sunny Bhathela was looking for a new watch to add to his collection. He considered buying a Swiss watch but stopped short when he realized that the timepiece would represent nothing more to him than the price he paid for it. Drawing on his Indian heritage, he looked for a company that would represent his background—but he came up empty.
So, he designed his own. A year and a half of prototyping later, NC State alum Bhathela launched Cary-based VIANI, a solar-powered watch startup that uses Hindi numerals.
“It provides representation,” Bhathela said. “It hits close to home for anyone in the South Asian world, and also sheds light on the history of the numerals.”
Today’s traditional numeral system is called the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, a solution created in the year 600 C.E. when Roman numerals proved impractical for mathematics. Hindu numerals introduced the idea of zero as a digit, turning C divided by X into 100 divided by 10.
“We’re all building on each other’s knowledge,” Bhathela said.
Bhathela said the watches are marketed as unisex and meant for a wide audience beyond the South Asian community. VIANI uses all solar power, and two minutes of direct or indirect light can charge the watch for the day. Six hours of light can charge the watch for six months.
Thirty percent of light transmits through the dial face, where it hits a solar panel and gets converted into solar energy. Bhathela sources materials from Japan for the solar panel.
There are eight models currently available at the VIANI site priced from $300-340.
To make the prototype, Bhathela used a CNC (computer numerical control) machine and a laser printer. Now, he uses a Swiss manufacturer.
“I designed the watches from the ground up,” he said.
Bhathela learned to use Photoshop when he was in second grade, and since has found a passion for design, he said. While working towards a degree in biochemistry at NC State, he held various positions as a graphic designer. (NC State’s Entrepreneurship department also profiled Bhathela and VIANI last month.)
The numerals on the watches are raised above the dial face and made of stainless steel so they “pop.” Bhathela described VIANI’s watches as “design-focused” that have influence on the South Asian world, and he said he intends to design different sizes as well.
Once he started wearing his prototype, he said many of his relatives asked him where he bought it, giving him the confidence to pursue the design professionally.
Since the startup’s launch in November, Bhathela—who is working on VIANI fulltime—said sales have mostly been through word of mouth and trade shows. He said he is working toward launching his product in stores.
The name VIANI comes from the Hindi word “divani,” which Bhathela translates to “madly in love.”
“The idea behind this watch really was a work of love or a work of passion,” he said. “I really feel like this came out of me being super-interested, loving the details, loving the process and loving the history behind this.”
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