Stories Of Italy

The story behind Hamilton watches goes back to the late 19th century. As railroad tracks were laid across the United States and steam locomotives began traversing vast distances, the American railroad system ran into a problem. Time was not standardized across the country.

Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. However, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly railroad accidents. Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch to keep on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — especially pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton — benefitted. The company’s timepieces eventually earned the moniker “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.”

Hamilton transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches in 1914, as it supplied timepieces to American troops fighting in World War I. The new style of watch also appealed to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, particularly those flying for the new U.S. Airmail service.

The general public’s interest in Hamilton watches grew rapidly in the 1920s. Legendary polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd timed his historic flights over glaciers and chunks of sea ice with a Hamilton pocket watch in the late 1920s. Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco-inspired design featuring elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, debuted in 1928 and was gifted to the New York Yankees to celebrate their World Series win that year. The model was also featured in the film Shanghai Express alongside the brand’s Flintridge watch, further expanding Hamilton’s popularity. (Hamilton watches can also be seen in the films The Frogmen, Blue Hawaii, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Men in Black.) In the second half of the 20th century, Hamilton became well known for several innovations: It developed the first-ever battery-operated electric watch, the Ventura, in 1957, as well as the first-ever digital wristwatch, the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer, in 1970. Three years later, superspy James Bond donned a Pulsar in Live and Let Die.

Today, the company is part of the Swatch Group, and its headquarters and production facilities relocated from Pennsylvania to Switzerland in 2003.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Hamilton watches.

The story behind Louis Vuitton is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture. The company's modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton, left his provincial French city of Anchay in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. When he arrived, he toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company with a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: "Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions." Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren't ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel's popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton's trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships; upright trunks offered hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased, and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton. In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company's flagship. Today, the fashion house remains one of the most iconic producers of leather goods in the world. Find a diverse assortment of Louis Vuitton bags on 1stDibs.

The real story of the Mona Lisa may never be known for certain. However, most art historians believe that Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, posed for the painting. Biographies of Leonardo da Vinci and other historical documents from the Italian Renaissance suggest that the del Giocondos commissioned the work to hang in their new home and to mark the occasion of the birth of their son. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of fine art.

The real story behind Big Eyes is the life of artist Margaret Keane. She was born Peggy Doris Hawkins on September 15, 1927, in Nashville, Tennessee. When she was two years old, her eardrum was permanently damaged during a mastoid operation. Keane learned to watch the eyes of the person talking to her to understand them, influencing the drawings he began creating as a child. At age 10, she took classes at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. At age 18, she attended the Traphagen School of Design in New York City for a year. She initially earned money by painting clothing and baby cribs in the 1950s until she began painting portraits. Early on, Keane experimented with kitsch. She began painting her signature "Keane eyes" when she started to create portraits of children. Keane's works are now in collections all over the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo and the Memphis Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Margaret Keane art.

In Italy, mosaics are in a number of Byzantine churches. The Church of Santa Cecilia in Rome, the Basilica of Saint Mark in Venice and the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna are all home to well-known mosaics. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of mosaics.

Chanel is from France. Coco Chanel opened her original boutique on the rue Cambon in Paris, France, in 1910. However, some Chanel shoes and bags are made at factories located in Italy. Find a collection of Chanel pieces from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

In Italy, alabaster decorative objects are largely made in Volterra, a village located in Tuscany to the southwest of the city of Florence. The town became a center for alabaster carving due to its proximity to stone quarries. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of alabaster art, decorative objects and lighting.

Whether Gucci is made in Italy depends on the piece. The vast majority of the luxury fashion house's clothing, bags and accessories do come from workshops in Italy. However, Gucci manufactures its watches in Switzerland and some of its eyewear in Japan. Find a variety of Gucci apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.

Prada is from Italy, not France. Mario Prada founded the luxury fashion house in Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in 1913. His original shop remains to this day, but the company now operates from its headquarters in a repurposed industrial space between Via Bergamo and Via Fogazzaro in Milan. On 1stDibs, explore a variety of Prada apparel, bags and accessories.

Many watch lovers believe that Italy has good watches. While perhaps not as famous a country for watch manufacturers as Switzerland, Italy is home to many distinguished luxury watchmakers. Among them are Bulgari, Emporio Armani, Gucci, Panerai and Salvatore Ferragamo. On 1stDibs, shop a range of Italian watches.

No, Cazal sunglasses are not made in Italy. Created by Austrian-born designer Cari Zalloni, the statement-making pieces are actually made in Germany. On 1stDibs, you can shop a collection of authentic Cazal sunglasses from some of the world’s top sellers.

No, but most are. Versace’s menswear, womenswear, kidswear, footwear, and accessories are made exclusively in Italy, but its perfumes are generally made in France and its watches are generally made in Switzerland. Shop authentic Versace clothes, accessories and more from trusted sellers on 1stDibs.

Some are. In general, Balenciaga’s most expensive, top-shelf bags are made in Italy, while its less-expensive offerings are typically made in China. You can find the origin of a Balenciaga bag on the brand’s website. On 1stDibs, you can find a collection of Balenciaga pieces from top sellers worldwide.

Whether or not Natuzzi sofas are made in Italy depends on the piece. Some sofas do come from Italian factories. However, others originate from manufacturing facilities in Brazil, China and Romania. On 1stDibs, you can shop a range of Natuzzi sofas.

Whether Prada is made in China or Italy varies. The Italian luxury fashion house does have 18 company-owned factories in Italy, but it outsources a small percentage of its production to facilities in China. In addition, Prada has workshops in the UK, France and Romania. Shop a diverse assortment of Prada apparel and accessories on 1stDibs.