History of Italian Watchmaking - by Ugo Pancani (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

History of Italian Watchmaking highlights the all-Italian DNA created over centuries that has powered the rebirth of the Made in Italy High-End Watch style in the 21st century, with most of watch components, including those for clock movements, made in Italy.

History of Italian Watchmaking takes readers on a centuries-long journey that begins with the marking and measuring of time in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the apex of modern watchmaking revived by 'Made in Italy' stylistic trends and precision craftsmanship. Italy's peninsula occupies only 0.5% of the world's surface but has given birth to 70% of the world's art. Italy's pursuit of art, beauty, and elegance is a defining trait of Italian watchmaking. Italians have always been voyagers to far away lands, from Marco Polo on, poets, artists, and creators of iconic fashion brands and car design. It is not surprising that this genius has been applied to clocks and watches as well. Hourglasses, sundials, and church bells marked time over many centuries. Illustrious geniuses such as Dante Alighieri, Galileo Galilei, Giorgio Vasari, Filippo Brunelleschi, and Leonardo da Vinci were intensely interested in the measuring of time passing.

About the Author

Ugo Pancani was a lecturer from 1978 to 2012 at the Istituto Statale di Istruzione Superiore Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, chairing the Professional Technique in Micromechanics and Mechanical and Electronic Watchmaking. Pancani also coordinated and taught professional training courses organized by the Istituto di Istruzione Superiore Leonardo da Vinci on 'Restoration and Repair of Vintage Watches'. Since 1994, he has been a lecturer and consultant in the watchmaking sector for the Vendôme Group, with whom he collaborated on the acquisition of Officine Panerai, and for the Richemont Group for Italy. He serves on Panerai's Heritage Committee with responsibility for historical research and the fight against counterfeiting. In 2004, he contributed to the creation of the Study Centre for the Valorization and Restoration of Clocks and Scientific Instruments of the ISIS Leonardo da Vinci in Florence, holding the role of scientific co-responsible and carrying out several major restorations including, in 2014, the led restoration of the Clock of the Florence Cathedral with the dial by Paolo Uccello. Since 2015, he has been FHH Certified Freelance Trainer of the Fondation Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, mainly engaged in FHH training courses and certifications. Since 2019, he has been a Member of the Academy G.P.H.G (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genéve). He has collaborated with various magazines in the field. He promotes with conferences and cultural evenings the knowledge of Haute Horlogerie in Italy and Switzerland.