Why Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan wear two watches: The emotional tradition the Bachchans still follow

When Abhishek Bachchan recently stepped out for a promotional event in Mumbai, it wasn’t just his sharp suit or easy charm that caught attention, it was what sat gleaming on his wrists. Not one, but two luxury watches. And instantly, social media was buzzing: was this a quirky fashion statement, a symbol of wealth, or something more sentimental?

Turns out, there’s a story behind it, one that’s as personal as it is stylish.

While most people see a watch as a timekeeping essential (or a status symbol), the Bachchans have long treated it as something deeper. Abhishek and his father, Amitabh Bachchan, have been photographed over the years wearing two, sometimes even three, watches at once.

This isn’t a new stunt for attention or a red-carpet experiment. It’s a quiet family tradition with an emotional origin.

As Abhishek once revealed in an interview, the story dates back to his childhood, to a mother’s tender way of bridging distance across time zones.

“The trend of wearing two watches was started by my mom,” Abhishek had once explained. “Since I used to stay in a boarding school in Europe, she would wear two watches to keep track of both time zones. Later, dad followed the tradition, and it became a habit for our family.”

There’s something so beautifully human about that, a mother glancing at her wrist not just to check the time, but to feel closer to her child thousands of miles away. Over the years, that small gesture of love turned into a symbolic family custom.

For Amitabh Bachchan, this tradition eventually evolved into a trademark style move. During the promotions of his 2011 film Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap, the megastar proudly flaunted multiple watches, sparking countless headlines and conversations.

What could have easily been dismissed as eccentricity suddenly became a lesson in personal fashion, how meaning makes style memorable. The watches weren’t just accessories; they were conversation starters, emotional anchors, and quiet reminders of family.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the tradition lives on. Earlier this year, during a post-match birthday celebration at Mumbai’s Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, both father and son were seen once again wearing their double watches, a subtle but powerful nod to their shared past.

In a world where celebrity style often feels calculated, the Bachchans’ double-watch habit stands apart. It’s spontaneous, sentimental, and deeply personal, a family heirloom in motion rather than metal.

There’s a poetic irony in it too - watches, after all, measure time. But for the Bachchans, they also measure memory. Each tick is a reminder of love across distances, of the kind of connection that outlasts trends.

What began as a mother’s simple act of care in the 1980s has now become an enduring legacy one that combines heritage, emotion, and timeless style. And if there’s one thing this story proves, it’s that true fashion isn’t just about what you wear. It’s about why you wear it.