A Shift in Direction
For years, the path was always the same. We would leave Italy to present our watches overseas, heading toward a market that felt distant, yet ultimately very close to the way we see watchmaking. New York, Chicago, San Francisco. Along the way, Worn & Wound has always been a constant presence, a key reference point for the enthusiast community and for independent watchmaking, also through the Windup Watch Fair, the leading watch fair circuit in the United States, founded over a decade ago.
This time, though, things were different. For the first time, the Worn & Wound team came to Italy. Not for a fair, but to see our world from the inside: the atelier, the process, and where our watches really take shape.
Picking Up the Conversation
We met James, COO of Worn & Wound, together with his wife Megan and Evan, account manager. Ours is a relationship built over time, shaped by many meetings and conversations. The atmosphere was immediately relaxed. No formalities, just a coffee to get started.
From there, the conversation naturally turned to our latest releases. We discussed the models, the design choices, and the development process behind them. Their response was very positive, particularly to some of the more recent pieces, which seemed to resonate straight away.
Being here together gave us the time to speak openly and with clarity, away from the usual pace and pressure of trade shows.
Inside the Atelier
The Worn & Wound team has followed our work for a long time, but seeing everything in person is different. What they found was not a typical corporate headquarters, but a restored historic building, with a clear identity and a strong sense of place. Inside, watchmakers at work, components laid out, and a team of over 20 people focused on different parts of the process.
It's the kind of perception that you can't fully communicate online. You understand it when you are there, when you see how things are actually done, and how much attention goes into each phase.
Exchanging Views on the Industry
Once inside the atelier, the conversation naturally moved beyond the product. We discussed how the market is evolving, how the enthusiast community is changing, and what collectors are really looking for today. Different viewpoints, shaped by different roles, but often leading to the same conclusions.
It was a chance to get to know each other better, discovering new aspects and how much we actually had in common.
The First Project Together
This is where things started to get really interesting.
We picked up a conversation that had been going on for months, through calls and early exchanges, and finally got into the details. We reviewed the first prototypes and sample pieces, turning something that had been mostly theoretical into something much more tangible.
The idea for a joint project had been there for a while, built around a shared concept. But it was during these days that we defined the key elements of the model. It's a project we feel strongly connected to, and one we believe will resonate with our American friends and their community.
More details will be revealed in the coming months.
We'll Meet Again Soon
As always, the hardest part is saying goodbye. The time went by quickly, almost without noticing. When the exchange is genuine and the passion is shared, everything just flows.
Moments like this remind you of something simple: beyond language and cultural differences, when the passion is the same, distance doesn't really matter.
Luckily, we'll have many more chances to see each other throughout the year and continue building on what we've started.
