A Personal Blog
Trust me: after thirty plus years breathing vintage watches all day, every day, I have stories to tell and some solid opinions based on personal experience, not hearsay. Like all personal opinions, these reflect my ideas, my passion, my education and my occasionally pretty radical points of view. Prepare yourself to learn some things that many out there don’t want anyone to know, others don’t want you to know and that maybe even you wouldn’t have wanted to know yourself! Everyone’s welcome and I appreciate all feedback: however, you best come with an open mind, a respectful attitude towards views possibly different from your own and an impartial interest for the opinion of others. Should this not be the case, this is probably not the right place for you.
Alessandro Ciani’s View
My Take
Use caution when reading. These are the opinions and takes of Alessandro Ciani.
Is the Vintage Watch Market Plummeting and why I Welcome That
The recent auction results seem to have raised concerns around dealers and collectors alike, showing a downward trend of trading prices for the first time in about thirty years. At the same time, sales appear to be slower than what we had gotten used to and the demand...
Watchessentially
The Base of All My Decisions For a change, I will not write about watch restoration and the ways in which this affects, mainly in the wrong way, both the value and the market of a vintage watch. I would like, instead, to debate the assessment process through which we...
The importance of Luxury Vintage Watch Investments during the Coronavirus
If you are looking at purchasing a brand new luxury watch, then I would probably recommend (with an unbiased opinion of course) to look at luxury vintage watches. Before we go into why, let’s look at what happened in Switzerland this past month. Among the...
What does Vintage mean?
We always hear about the word vintage. In fact, it is plastered all over this website. But what does it exactly mean? Are we even using the word correctly? Let’s read further and take a look at the history behind the word “vintage.” History of the...
Panerai and the Italian Special Forces
When you think special forces, what immediately comes to mind? If you thought of the United States Special Operation Forces, then you are most likely in the same mindset of anyone else reading this. Though, there are other countries out there that have some of the...
What makes a Rolex so special?
Out of all the watch brands out there (e.g. Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, Tag Heuer, Hublot, etc.), Rolex stands out distinctively as having a very special, yet specific aesthetic. Not only are they elegant and world renown in its class, they are sporty, active and...
What We Have Learned From The Geneva Auctions
The aftermath of the Geneva auctions week gets definitely the attention of most dealers and collectors alike. Of course, I reckoned I’d have to write something about it to update my blog with something new. But as the days passed by, I got also really intrigued by...
That Question, Again!
One question that prospect clients invariably ask me nowadays, whilst going through the process of assessing if a watch is worth buying or not, is: “is the case polished”? This question is legitimate, since the market demands higher prices for untouched watches so...
That question, again! (Part II)
The old fashioned way – almost abandoned, today – to rebuff scratched up cases or remove dents or nicks from beat up watches was an invasive procedure that could literally deform the original shape of a watch case, or at best remove forever that particular...
That question, again! (Part III)
What do we do, now? Keep paying a “never touched” premium to dealers who have learned the way to have their watches perfectly restored for a fraction of that? Or finally learn our own standards and go by those? Is it worth paying other people who will charge us money...
Press Cut
Credito Cooperativo DI ROMA Gruppo Cassa Rurale Ed Artigiana DI Roma Trimestrale Anno XVII – N. 3 Settembre 2002
Credito Cooperativo
Assessing the Magic
Today I will not write about watch restoration and the ways in which this affects – mainly in the wrong way – both the value and the market of a vintage watch. I would like, instead, to debate the assessment process through which we could – or...
Article from OM December 2019
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Patina: Si o No? Article from Handmade
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Article from OM November 2019
When Francesca and Fabiana asked me to write something for this issue, they also mentioned that the magazine’s cover would feature Phillips in association with Bacs and Russo. So, the first thing I could think of was to share a couple of thoughts regarding auction...
The importance of a vintage watch; and its connection between Father and Son
Whether you’re living through a multiple decade tradition… or even starting one yourself, this type of heirloom is symbolic of the legacy a family tree creates. If you’re starting the tradition in your own household, pick a watch that’s...
The Watch Hunter of Africa
“Roni Madhvani, a Ugandan of Indian origin, has the rarest collection of Patek Philippe’s vintage watches. In fact, his stock of the Gilbert Albert watches is probably second only to the brand itself. WatchTime India brings you a rare peek into the revered...
Alessandro Ciani Interview – MondaniWeb
We are extremely happy to share with you an interview to Alessandro Ciani. Alessandro is not only a friend and a partner of Mondani Web, but he is one of the world’s most important, reliable and honest watch dealer. Alessandro Ciani is a major player on the...
James Gandolfini’s Stolen Rolex is “Undervalued”, Say Watch Experts – The Hollywood Reporter
Three years after the ‘Sopranos’ star’s death, one of the paramedics who treated him is headed to trial for allegedly stealing the late actor’s Rolex Submariner Date timepiece, which has been valued at $3,000. Poignant anecdotes dominated the...
Alessandro Ciani Video Interview – Pucci Papaleo
How does social media impact on vintage and contemporary watch markets? Who are the new collectors? Are there any new horology icons around? What lies ahead in the future of watch auctions? Watch this Interview on Pucci Papaleo to find out:...
How a Vintage Rolex Obsession Can Drive You Crazy – The Hollywood Reporter
The vintage collector is a radically different beast than the average timepiece lover, pining over objects that are rare, quite often unobtainable and wildly expensive. And when it comes to Rolex — where modest variations in coloring, fonts and serial numbers...
Interview with Alessandro Ciani “The Watch Therapist” – OM Magazine Issue 32
For those who are involved in vintage high-end watchmaking, the name of Alessandro Ciani is more than familiar. Alessandro Alex Ciani approached the world’s high-level trade in the late ’80s, in the beautiful setting of city of Rome, where opulent Yuppies...
The Purist – The Patek Philippe Collector – OM Magazine Issue 27
A few weeks ago, the department of PP that manages the historical archive and releases extracts, has included four photographs of the mentioned watch among the information required for granting it. In principle it is good news, an indicative that will give more...
Clash of the Titans – Patek Philippe Vs. Rolex – OM Magazine Issue 26
One of the recurring themes with customers, colleagues and collectors has always been the confrontation between Rolex and Patek Philippe markets. Almost like when I was a boy and humanity seemed to be split between the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the world...
USA Today – Collector World – OM Magazine Issue 24
I am reading my own take on Pucci Papaleo’s book “the ultimate Rolex Daytona” and I cas hardly understand what I wanted to say. What was I thinking? But also the other comments, most of them more illustrious then mine, appear just as vague. Tiny literary compositions...
USA Today – Collector World – OM Magazine Issue 23
It is hard to keep impassive in front of the results in Geneva, or maybe I should say “The last auction in Geneva” In fact referring to extraordinary events there has been only one. In my opinion the only sale that can be considered ‘ game changer’ has been carried...
Views From The Far West – OM Magazine Issue 21
One year from the first day of this project, I can say that the experiment of exploring new territories in which to test my knowledge and professional skills developed in Italy is finally is finally showing interesting results. The creation of a new network of...
American Dream – OM Magazine Issue 16
…So Alex, you have decided to move to the US, near LA in California. Why, and for how long? And what will happen to your business activity in Rome? Yes, it is absolutely true. I have not worked out the final details yet, but the project I intend to complete at the...
Insights on the Patek Philippe Ref. 1463 – OM Magazine Issue 14
BALANCE In my opinion the finest chronograph wristwatch of all times. I initially thought to collect several images that represent the round pushers in different metals or with the most interesting dials. In the end I decided to focus your attention primarily...
Luxury Techniques – Cloisonné Dials – OM Magazine Issue 12
Since my debut in the world of vintage watches as a passionate collector even before that as a professional, enamel decorated dials have always exerted an irresistible charm on me, which promptly turned into a real passion. I’ve collected a fair amount of these...
Solo Rolex – OM Magazine Issue 11
It is nowadays impossible not to perceive the increasing importance on niche collecting, and I think it’s about time to carefully evaluate the phenomenon from both an historical and economical perspective. Objects that until recent times were part of general interest...
Passion
My appreciation for the Jeep Wrangler Willys
Looking at the Jeep on my site, I could not fathom not understanding the beauty of its history. The appreciation for its history. Back in November of 1940, the Jeep legend began. This would be the very early days of the second World War, one year before the United...
More of my appreciation for the Jeep Wrangler Willys
Did you know? The first ¼ ton, four-wheel power reconnaissance truck “pilot model” produced for the U.S. Army became built through the American Bantam Car Company of Butler, Pa. It become added for testing to Camp Holabird in Baltimore on Sept. 23, 1940....
Why the Ferrari 550 Maranello is so valuable
As a V12 powered, front-engine beauty, most people would store this wide and long-nosed model inside a climate controlled facility. Why? Is there a reason why someone would put so much attention towards a car, unless it would have the potential in rising in value as...
The Glorious History of the Wrist Watch
Back in the day, a long, long time ago, watches were not always worn on the wrist. A lot of the times, as you would see in the movies, these beautiful pieces of art would be carried inside of a pocket or linked to a chain. Today, we have just one type of wristwatch...
A Man’s Cave
Looking at vintage watches from his very personal perspective, Alessandro Ciani focuses mainly on the “perfect balance” of their components in terms of aging, patina, preservation and even at the accessories that complement them, in order to come up with a...