Interview with Dr. Morelli Alessandro, Co-Founder and COO of Meccaniche Veneziane

Fashion - Interview

by Mehmet Kaplan

Watches are not only accessories that we use to see how the time flows, but we also want the watches we use to represent some values. To ensure that, the watchmakers who create these watches should use all their creativity and skills. Dr. When Morelli Alessandro and his brother Alberto decided to create the brand Meccaniche Veneziane, they began with the idea of making their brand a representative of Venice and its culture. As you can see in every work in Venice, the details are everything. They took care of the details that reflected the Venetian culture, and Meccaniche Veneziane was born. I talked with Dr. Morelli Alessandro, Co-Founder and COO of Meccaniche Veneziane, about Venetian inspired Meccaniche Veneziane watches

Venice - Photo by Dr. Morelli Alessandro

Morelli, how did The Clock Tower in Venice change your life? Could you tell us about the story of Meccaniche Veneziane?

The Clock Tower and the city of Venice undoubtedly played a fundamental role in the development of Meccaniche Veneziane. In fact, the brand was deeply inspired by the peerless heritage the floating city constantly offers us with its mesmerizing views, glorious artworks, and immortal history. Not only is the Clock Tower regarded as one of the most enthralling cradles of time, but it also symbolizes the beginning of our adventure, the place that made us realize the charm of a field in which Venice used to excel. Its mechanism’s complexity and undeniable beauty allowed my brother Alberto and me to give birth to a project that aims at the rediscovery of a lost, illustrious tradition and at its renovation, according to our century’s tastes.

Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT

Could you tell us about yourself? Who is Dr. Morelli Alessandro?

I’m a young entrepreneur, a student of Economics and Marketing at Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, but most of all I’m a timepieces enthusiast constantly working to make a great dream come true. What I’m currently focusing on, is trying to take advantage from my experiences and what I’ve learned to help reinforce the bone structure of a new reality that is growing day by day.

What is the most special aspect of watches for you?

Details, for sure. Not only is Meccaniche Veneziane trying to deliver products that will be useful and effective, but also to give birth to timepieces which concept can be easily recognized by only looking at their design. In order to achieve this goal, we need to make sure that every single feature reflects our vision and that the watch boasts a certain harmony. Details are what can make the difference between what is simply pleasing and actual artwork.

Meccaniche Veneziane Redentore 3.0

Could you tell us about Meccaniche Veneziane?

Meccaniche Veneziane is an Italian timepieces brand born in 2017 thanks to two successful Kickstarter campaigns that later allowed it to develop its own identity and keep growing, significantly supported by the unconditional warmth it managed to gather around itself. The project finds its roots in the idea my brother and I had while exploring the beautiful Venice, craving for discovering its wonders, in order to draw inspiration from them.

Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT

What have you paid attention to the most in the design and development process of Meccaniche Veneziane watches?

As previously mentioned, Meccaniche Veneziane intends to focus on every detail, in order to get the most complete and harmonious result, according to the classical ideal of beauty. We’ve been recently working on our timepieces’ cases, in order to make their design always more recognizable and to firmly portray the brand’s identity through their features.

Could you tell us about your design & production philosophy? What are the design details of Meccaniche Veneziane watches?

Our design and production philosophy is based on the idea of being born to renovate. The love for our territory’s art and incredible legacy taught us the importance of the marriage between practicality and aesthetic. The brand is willing to give new life to Venice’s most distinctive peculiarities through our watches’ lines and details, such as case, dial and the choice of colors and materials.

Meccaniche Veneziane Redentore 3.0

Meccaniche Veneziane has four different collections. Could you tell us about your collections and Meccaniche Veneziane watches?

Redentore might be the most elegant collection among the four. It is inspired in name and design by Andrea Palladio’s monumental Basilica del Redentore, one of the most renowned examples of neoclassical architecture. Nereide, characterized by more energic and lively lines, owes its name to the Venetian submarine built in the Royal Arsenale in 1913. Nereide was the model we took inspiration from in order to give birth to Nereide GMT, a watch characterized by bright colors and today’s globetrotter favorite function. Arsenale surely has to be the timepiece with the most peculiar design: its vigorous case and unmistakable features are what makes this watch undeniably special.

Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT

Which materials and movement do you prefer to use on Meccaniche Veneziane watches? How did you decide the right movement for your timepieces?

There are some trustworthy materials by which we can bet we’ll be never disappointed, such as the matchlessly resistant sapphire glass or the soft Italian leather. As far as movements are concerned, we’ve lately been trying out new things and exploring the interesting world of calibers, so we can’t wait to see where this path will lead us.

Meccaniche Veneziane Wooden Box

Your straps and wooden boxes are another artworks of artisans. Could you briefly tell us about their material selection and production processes?

All the types of leather used are from Tuscany, a well-known Italian tannery district that vaunts a long, eminent heritage. Thanks to the expertise of local skilled artisans, we provide straps marked by an exceptional softness and an unquestionable resistance to torsion. Our packaging represents the long artisan tradition of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a famous Italian district associated with the art of woodworking. We always make sure that the wood is solid and matches the style and concept of our brand, so as to deliver products able to stand out also on the outside.

Meccaniche Veneziane Handmade Leather Strap

In watchmaking, there is a lot of different processes. How do you ensure the sustainability of your watch quality?

All our watches undergo strict quality controls. As already mentioned, our heart is Italian, but our mindset is Swiss: we make sure not to miss any detail and to always check our watches’ technical reliability, in order to respect the exact procedures associated to the label Swiss Made.

Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT

How often do you add a new design to your collection?

Being a young reality, Meccaniche Veneziane is obviously looking for new things to discover and new designs to try out, but we don’t usually plan their formulation. We certainly are into experimenting and playing with our creativity, so as to be able to constantly give birth to new ideas on which we can furtherly work to improve ourselves and develop the firm’s concept. It is only when we feel deeply inspired and sufficiently confident that we actually take our time to properly identify models that are original and unforeseen.

Meccaniche Veneziane Redentore 3.0

What do you enjoy most about using Meccaniche Veneziane watches in your daily life?

Something I undoubtedly like about our watches is the fact that not only do they vaunt qualities typically linked to the idea of “Swiss Made” such as durability and trustworthiness, but also the fact that their design and features carry a fundamental message for us all. Their lines and colors recall the eminent Venetian legacy we intend to renew and rediscover through our products. These timepieces are what allows me to always carry a piece of the floating city with me, wherever I go.

The market share of smartwatches is growing day by day. What could you say about the future of this competition?

The secret is finding your own identity. We’re undeniably talking about a field of production constantly growing and fascinating young entrepreneurs all over the world, but the real challenge is to be able to distinguish ourselves and trace a well-recognizable path made of experience, creativity, courage to dare and careful observation.

Meccaniche Veneziane Redentore 3.0

Social media platform are new showcases for designer brands. What do you think about the power of social media on buyers' decisions?

Social media are a universal stage that not only allows the world to see, but also allows you to be seen, and when your show is worth being displayed, it certainly represents a great opportunity for emerging realities. Social media can be considered as a double-edged weapon: it forces brands to always make sure to be at their best in order to please the crowd’s eyes, but that also implicates a consequential will to improve and actually make sure every detail is perfect.

How can our readers follow Meccaniche Veneziane?

Keeping in contact with our public is one of the most important things to us. That’s why we can be found both on our website and social media, that is Instagram (@meccaniche.veneziane) and Facebook (@meccanicheveneziane).

Meccaniche Veneziane

How can our readers buy Meccaniche Veneziane watches?

Our watches are sold both on our website and by our retailers all over the world.

What is next for you?

The new year has just begun, and we can’t wait to see what surprises it’ll reserve us. We’re already working on new projects and combining the things we’ve learned throughout the last year with our limitless will to improve and play with our imagination in order to give birth to new models able to synthesize a concept that is evolving with us.

Thank you Dr. Morelli for your time.

For more information, please click here to visit the website of Meccaniche Veneziane

Friday, February 15, 2019.

All photos are the property of their respective owners.