Every single watch enthusiast knows that when it comes to creating the best mechanical timepieces, the made in Switzerland stamp is the gold standard. The country has a rich history of watchmaking – from Patek’s first wristwatch to the Rolexes of today. In Europe, only Germany and Italy have at least a decent watchmaking industry.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the best watches Italy has to offer. The country is not only known as the pasta capital of the world, but it also is a haven of luxury goods manufacturers. Italian leather is a classic watch material that’s used the world over, so expect the straps from this list of watches to be top-notch. Here are the best Italian watches you can buy today:
Panerai Radiomir
When we talk about Italian watches, Panerai is definitely top of the list. Alongside Bvlgari, Panerai started the Italian watchmaking revolution. It was the official watchmaker of the Italian military for quite some time, although today it’s more of a luxury watch manufacturer. The Radiomir is the brand’s shining star, outfitted with the best of features and made from quality materials.
The Radiomir still has the iconic case design from the olden days. It got its name from the substance proprietary produced by the company to make it easier for military men to see their watches in the dark. With oversized Arabic numerals on the case, the Radiomir looks and feels every bit of a watch that has seen a lot. In its latest iteration, the models are streamlined to have more fluid lines and aesthetic continuity.
Filippo Loreti Venice Automatic
Filippo Loreti is a newcomer to the game, but the crowdsourced company has since disrupted how the watch industry works. It has touted itself as a luxury watch killer, with a business model that cuts out the middlemen and retailers, keeping the costs of the watches as low as possible. The result is an affordable, if not mid-range pricing for its quality timepieces.
The Venice Automatic line, in particular, is not only great-looking, but it’s outfitted with an automatic Miyota movement with a power reserve indicator in the dial, date of the month as well as a month indicator, and a date indicator at the 4th hour. To top it all off, a carefully-styled Day and Night indicator to make the dial a pretty sweet deal.
Bvlgari Serpenti
A classic among watch enthusiasts and jewelry watches avid fans, the Serpenti has had many faces in its lifetime, but one thing remains the same – the aesthetic choices for the line still is grounded to how the serpent is the watch’s muse. In its latest iteration, the Serpenti watch is wrapped around your wrist with its head serving as the watch’s dial. Pretty cool, huh?
U-Boat Capsoil Chrono
The U-Boat Capsoil Chrono is a unique watch through and through. The case is entirely dipped in a proprietary oil that emphasizes the glowing, too legible dial. The glass is a curved sapphire crystal, with the back a fume mineral glass. At 45mm, it’s a large watch, but the handmade and hand-finished calf leather Italian leather makes up for its proportions.
Under the hood, the movement powering this beast is a Swiss electro-mechanical movement, which is also treated on the same oil bath as the dial. There’s a chronograph complication, alongside the hours, minutes, and second hands. To say that this is an interesting watch is an understatement, so if you’re looking to procure one, we recommend that you see it for yourself first.
Visconti Opera
Make no mistake – the Visconti Opera is a stunning watch to behold. But is it a watch that you can use every day? Sure, if you’re the type to create waves wherever you go. The Opera line from Visconti puts front and center the power of a dial that harkens back to the olden days of stopwatches. The result? A dial that’s surely a conversation starter.
Takeaway
Italian watchmaking may not be as prestigious as its neighboring Swiss companies, but the heritage, as well as history, is certainly in there. Italian wristwatches always exude a different kind of charm, one that’s entirely identifiable from the barrage of Japanese and Swiss timepieces. So if you want a truly astounding piece of Italian watchmaking sensibilities, then get yourself one of the watches listed above.