Nereo Ferro, the story of the man who created Ferro Jewels
The Euganean Hills and lush countryside, ever-growing small villages, dirt roads, and all the hope for the future that the postwar period brought with it: this is the setting in which Mr. Nereo Ferro founded the eponymous jeweller’s shop in 1954. Straight towards a goal, turning passion and perseverance into a story spanning three generations.
Becoming a watchmaker: a lifelong goal
- From Sant’Urbano to Monselice - the road Nereo Ferro travelled every Monday to learn the “watchmaker’s craft,” then staying the whole week as a guest of master Antonio.
At the time, Antonio, already very old, was undoubtedly the best to entrust for learning a craft with an ancient charm, which at that time offered new opportunities for the future.
Where our passion was born
These were the years straddling the end of the War and the beginning of the Reconstruction. Years when the despair over the loss of loved ones mingled with the enthusiasm for the new life that was emerging.
Nereo Ferro, pedalling on his creaky bicycle, prepared for the profession he had embraced since childhood, curiously taking apart and reassembling the only precious alarm clock he had at home. It was a Veglia brand model, made of chromed iron, with a printed cardboard dial. It had large numbers marking the hours and, when it rang, it seemed alive with all its movement! Today it would be considered a valuable antique piece, but its priceless value is sentimental.
Step-by-step evolution
The young Nereo Ferro’s passion for watch mechanics led him to repair alarm clocks with large gears to pocket watches that only allowed reading the hours. As he learned the art of watchmaking, he moved on to wristwatches equipped with date displays, almost all mechanical with manual winding. Automatic watches were still few at that time: they were the most expensive and all strictly Swiss.
Timepieces of the past
The mechanical watches of that time were true objects of reverence: owning a pocket or wristwatch was an elite symbol not for everyone. Their particularly high price was mainly due to the case made of chromed metal or gold-plated. Very few were made of pure gold, which at that time was only yellow in colour. Wristwatches had plexiglass crystals—a very flexible plastic resin that allows polishing the glass many times before replacing it.
The watch as a gift
Watches were among the most coveted gifts for young people of the time. They were often given by grandparents to grandchildren, or by relatives and family friends. The watch was indeed the ideal gift to mark great occasions such as First Communion or Confirmation. Needless to say, each watch was then passed down from father to son, acquiring not only fundamental sentimental value but also economic worth.
The man who gave life to Ferro Jewellers as a small watchmaking workshop grew up in an era when repairing, restoring, and passing down a timepiece was a true symbol of affection and love.
The brands of the time were few, but they undoubtedly wrote a very important page of our history. We will talk about them soon.
In the meantime, do not forget to visit us at Ferro Jewellers. The very same watchmaking workshop opened by Nereo Ferro in 1954 is today a great family enterprise in Este and the entire province of Padua. A point of reference for those seeking elegant and unique jewellery and watches, but who also want to restore value to an old precious item left in a drawer.
