Nereo Ferro, the story of the man who created Ferro Gioielli

Euganean Hills and lush countryside, ever-growing villages, dirt roads and all the hope for the future that the post-war period brought with it: this is the setting in which Mr. Nereo Ferro founded the jewelry store of the same name in 1954. Straight towards a goal, transforming passion and tenacity into a story spanning three generations.

Becoming a Watchmaker: A Lifetime Goal

- From Sant'Urbano to Monselice - the road that Nereo Ferro traveled every Monday to learn the “watchmaker's trade”, then remaining the whole week as a guest of the master Antonio.

At the time, Antonio, already very old, was undoubtedly the best person to turn to in order to learn a trade with an archaic charm, which at that time offered new opportunities for the future.

Where our passion comes from

Those were the years between the end of the War and the beginning of Reconstruction. Years in which despair for the loss of loved ones mixed with enthusiasm for the new life that was being born.

Nereo Ferro, pedaling his creaky bicycle, was preparing for the profession he had embraced since he was a child, curiously dismantling and reassembling the only precious alarm clock he had at home. It was a Veglia brand model, in chromed iron, with a printed cardboard dial. It had large numbers that marked the hours and, when it rang, it seemed animated by how much it moved! Today it would represent a highly valuable antique, but its inestimable value is sentimental.

The evolution step by step

The young Nereo Ferro's passion for clock mechanics led him to repair everything from alarm clocks with large gears to pocket watches that only allowed the reading of the hours. As he learned the art of watchmaking, he moved on to wristwatches with a date display, almost all of which were mechanical and manually wound. Automatic watches were still few at that time: they were the most expensive and all strictly Swiss .

Timepieces of the past

Mechanical watches of that time were true cult objects: owning a pocket watch or wristwatch was an elitist symbol not for everyone. Their particularly high price was mainly due to the case in chromed metal or gold-plated. Very few were in pure gold, which at that time was only yellow in color. Wristwatches had plexiglass glass - a very flexible plastic resin that allows the glass to be polished over and over again before replacing it.

The watch as a gift

Watches were one of the most sought-after gifts for young people at the time. They were often given by grandparents to grandchildren, or by relatives and family friends. In fact, a watch was the ideal gift in honor of important occasions such as First Communion or Confirmation. Needless to say, each watch was then passed down from father to son, acquiring a fundamental sentimental value, in addition to the economic one.

The man who started Ferro Gioielli as a small watchmaking shop grew up in an era when repairing, restoring and passing on a timepiece was a true symbol of affection and love.

There weren't many brands at the time, but they undoubtedly wrote a very important page in our history. We'll talk about it soon.

In the meantime, don't forget to come visit us at Ferro Gioielli . The same watchmaking shop opened by Nereo Ferro in 1954, today is a large family business in Este and the entire province of Padua. A point of reference for those who are looking for elegant and unique jewelry and watches, but who also want to give value to an old precious item left in a drawer.