Vicenzaoro Highlights, January 2023: The Rebirth of Watchmaking Made in Italy

As a trainer at the Fondation de l'Haute Horlogerie Academy in Geneva, I have access to teaching material that is always up-to-date with the entire watch industry’s latest developments. While studying some documents about new materials used to make cases, I was amazed to discover that the first carbon case was made in Italy in 2003. The use of this innovative material stimulated further development in the watchmaking sector and the company that holds this primacy is Locman, an Italian company based on the Isle of Elba, that has become a reference for the entire watchmaking industry. In recent years, Vicenzaoro has dedicated increasingly more space to the watchmaking world with a sector specifically for vintage and another for innovations. Visiting the stands, I was surprised by the preview presentation of a watch with a mechanical movement with high-end features but a Made in Italy hallmark. Ever since I started studying watchmaking, it has always been a great desire of mine to be able to witness the rebirth of high-end, mechanical movement production in Italy. Now I can fulfil my wish thanks to Manufattura Oisa, the maker of this movement. A brand whose history dates back to 1937 and which has since made millions of watches and developed 10 calibers. It recently resumed production thanks to this new project, centered on a mechanical high-end movement built in Italy. My presentation entitled “Italian watchmaking and its secrets”, aims to develop these topics with some recently unearthed documents. On Sunday 22nd January at 4 p.m., I am planning a conference on the world of vintage watch auctions. The program includes the development of specific topics, starting with the pros and cons for both seller and buyer, what is essential to know, the current situation of the vintage market and emerging brands.