Vicenzaoro Vintage: Redefining Second-Wrist Watches for a New Generation
Young people like “second-wrist” watches, says IEG’s Vicenzaoro Vintage. The sixth edition of the Vicenzaoro Vintage open to watch and jewellery collectors, enthusiasts and the curious, closed yesterday, Monday 20th January, redrawing the identikit of the vintage watch buyer, the protagonist of original choices linked to everyday wearability.
Authenticity Over Investment in Vintage Watches
Vicenzaoro Vintage provides a snapshot of collecting, which aims at authenticity rather than pure investment, as emerged in the talk between Dody Giussani, editor of the monthly magazine L’Orologio, and Francesco Magnoni, vintage expert and business coordinator at the Antiquorum Italia auction house. The most famous cases of this typically Italian phenomenon include the success of the Royal Oak Audemars Piguet.
Insights from Industry Experts on Trends and Market Dynamics
Market, trends and consumer and collector expectations featured in the talks with industry experts, key players and direct witnesses of Italian watch history.
A Focus on Italian Watchmaking and Iconic Brands
Two of them above all: Ugo Pancani, professor at the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, who chose Vicenzaoro Vintage to present his new book on the “History of Italian Watchmaking” published by the Bolognese publishing house, Scripta Maneant, and a veritable icon of Italian watchmaking: Panerai.
The Evolution of Panerai and Exhibitions for Collectors
Its evolution from military secrecy to the Officine’s acquisition in 1997 by the Vendôme Luxury Group, now the Richemont Group, was described in a tale full of anecdotes by Mario Paci, who joined Officine Panerai in 1982 as a test engineer and Carlo Maria Ceppi, curator of Heritage Panerai, to which an exhibition was dedicated with historical pieces, much coveted by collectors from all over the world.
Locman’s Tribute to Aerobatic Excellence
And Locman too, which, in Vicenza, presented its tribute to the national aerobatic unit: the Aviator Frecce Tricolori. In fact, the Italian pilots of the world’s most famous aerobatic unit will be wearing the Tuscan company’s new timepiece on their wrists, whose design pays homage to the technical style of the 1940s.
Special Guests and Expert Dialogues at Vicenzaoro Vintage
The event’s guests included General Urbano Floreani, one of the unit’s former pilots, in video link from the Air Force General Staff, Ugo Pancani, Benedetto Perrotta, sole director of OISA 1937, Colonel Mariassunta Morello and Marco Mantovani, Locman president.
Among the many guests, the expertise and passion of Andrea Foffi and Tony Musumeci in dialogue with Michele Mengoli, Jacopo Giudici, respectively editor and publisher of Watch Insanity, and Giorgione, who are now perfectly at home at VO Vintage and have become a point of attraction for the entire expert community or for those who choose to approach the watch world for the first time.
Federpreziosi Confcommercio, New Industry Research: Online is Growing in the Shopping Experience
New technologies and artificial intelligence are becoming more and more involved in creating personalized experiences and optimizing sales. Consumers are increasingly attracted to online shopping, even if the traditional sales channel, where the trusted relationship with the jeweller, the value of the service and quality of experience, is complicit, is continuing to resist.
Research Insights on the Retail Jewellery Sector in Italy
These are just some of the significant topics of the research, conducted by Format Research for Federpreziosi’s Observatory, presented Monday, 20th January, at Vicenzaoro 2025 by Federpreziosi Confcommercio-Imprese for Italy in collaboration with Italian Exhibition Group.
Trends Highlighting Growth in Online Sales
The study explored the present and future of the retail jewellery sector in Italy. Special focus was placed on photography, the sector’s progress and the role of the consumer in the shopping experience evolution.
E-Commerce Growth and Its Integration with Traditional Channels
A significant trend emerged from the data: the growing weight of online sales in the jewellery sector. In 2024, the industry’s total turnover reached 6.8 billion euros, of which about 1.08 billion came from e-commerce on jewellery store sites, registering a 19% increase compared to 2023. This figure highlights an increasing integration between traditional and digital sales channels.
The Role of Online Presence for Jewellery Stores
According to Federpreziosi’s Observatory, 88.2% of Italian jewellery stores have an online presence, and nearly 62% combine a website with active social media profiles.
Consumer Preferences in Jewellery Purchases
Analysing the channels and methods of purchase shows that 71.8% of consumers have purchased at least one piece of jewellery in the last three years. In the more recent two-year period, 72.3% chose to go to a physical jewellery store, while 9.5% used both offline and online channels. In contrast, 18.35% of consumers preferred to buy exclusively through the web, registering a 7.9% increase compared to 2023.
Presentation of the Study and Key Discussions
The study was presented by Pierluigi Ascani, president of Format Research at the meeting entitled “Change is inevitable – Growing is a choice” moderated by Steven Tranquilli, director of Federpreziosi Confcommercio.
Participants included a number of Italian jewellers, in addition to the president of Federpreziosi Confcommercio, Stefano Andreis: Manuel Aucella, Aucella in Torre del Greco; Dino Bracci, Bracci Jewellery in Viterbo; Agostino Gazzo, Magnone Jewellery in Genoa, and Giuliano Gori, Gori Jewellery in Rome.
