Today we spoke to Daniele Dipace from La Clessidra Orologi, a watch dealer focused on modern but also vintage watches in the north of Milan. He talked about his background and the sector and also about how he operates today. Click here to read the Italian version of the interview.
Daniele Dipace
Andres Ibarguen: Your store was founded in 1997, how and by who was it founded?
Daniele Dipace: Yes, my store, La Clessidra Orologi, was founded by myself and my father in the late 1990s.
AI: Before starting the business, were you already involved in the watch industry?
DD: No, I worked in IT/electronic assistance for computers.
AI: When did your passion for watches begin? Did you always want to work in the field?
DD: My passion for watches started in the early 1990s, when I was about 20 years old.
It was passed down to me by my father, who was a collector since I was young, a collector of wristwatches, pocket watches, and pendulum clocks. One day my dad was repairing a pendulum clock and I became curious and started observing and asking him a ton of questions. My passion took off that day.
The working aspect of this came from following my dad and in the watch exhibitions, first just as visitors but then since 1995 with our own stand, and eventually in 1997 we opened a small store in Viale Monza in Milan.
A CWC Royal Navy-Issued Chronograph sold by La Clessidra
AI: What interested or interests you that attracted you to the watch industry?
DD: I was initially fascinated by the mechanics of the watch and the evolution of the movements from bell towers to the more complicated wristwatches.
AI: Was your new location in Porta Venezia chosen on purpose?
DD: We moved to Porta Venezia in 2015 because the neighbourhood is central in Milan, but also easily reachable by car and by public transport.
AI: What kinds of clients do you see most often? Tourists? Milanese?
DD: In our store we mostly get the same clients who we know for some time, even if we sell a lot online.
AI: Are the people who buy watches from your mostly collectors or do they have other motives?
DD: In the last few years our clientele has changed quite a bit in terms of buying watches for investment instead of passion. So, ‘other motives’.
AI: Between used and vintage watches, do you have a particular focus?
DD: Yes, right now we focus more on modern watches.
AI: What do you look for when someone offers you a vintage watch for sale?
DD: For us being in good condition and having all of its original components is fundamental. In this regard we are very selective.
A Rolex Submariner ref. 5513 with box and papers sold by La Clessidra
AI: You’re an authorized Seiko dealer, why did you choose Seiko in particular?
DD: The choice of Seiko was made because it is a brand with a noble story, with high level mechanical capabilities, and excellent bang for your buck!
AI: How do you confront the develop of new technologies in the watch sector? Is there any aspect of this that you see as most promising?
DD: Today it’s important to stay on top of new technological developments. E-commerce, even in our sector, is in continual expansion.
AI: And with these technological changes, have you perceived a change in how your relate with your clients?
DD: Certainly, e-commerce has changed our relationship with clients. There’s no more meeting face to face, no more of the pleasure of small talk and sharing opinions on different aspects of the sector with one’s clients.
AI: The internet has allowed anyone to have so much information at their fingertips in just seconds, including information on watches. Are there effects that are positive or negative that you perceive of this dispersion of information?
DD: Surely the internet is a useful fountain of information but sometimes people, especially those with less experience in the sector, can take certain information to mean the wrong things.