About us

VISION

An authentic designer and an artist, a formidable master of the art of Haute Horlogerie, Riccardo Zannetti is an Italian watchmaker par excellance. The history of the brand Zannetti begins in 1982 when Riccardo Zannetti, its founder and CEO, creates his first original timepieces that become a revelation for the world of fine watchmaking.

Being a demanding technician, Zannetti designs and innovates only exclusive mechanisms, or in any case belonging to the highest historical tradition. Each single model made by Zannetti follows the tradition of Haute Horlogerie and can be considered a unique piece, and as such is numbered and registered.

The customization made by Zannetti does not concern only the aesthetic part, therefore the case, the dial or the hands, or exclusively the mechanical one, the movement, as it often happens for this type of watch.

Zannetti reinterprets a watch in its entirety, creating unique, impossible to copy, timepieces, perfectly finished in their technical parts. Prestigious writing instruments, cufflinks and precious jewels, all rigorously Made in Italy, complete the production range of Zannetti.

Rome remains the hometown of the brand, and it is in Rome, in the historic via di Mone d’Oro 23, that the flagship boutique of the brand is located. However, with a selected network of dealers and boutiques, Zannetti can be found in Europe, Asia, in the Middle East and in the USA.

HISTORY

The passion for fine watchmaking in the Zannetti family begins with Carmine Zannetti, a master goldsmith and a great watch enthusiast. Mario Zannetti, a design professor and an international artist, succeeded Carmine and continued to enrich the family collection. His passion for geometrical lines and intricate mechanical workings still influence the current production of Zannetti. Thanks to our partners, you can find online to suit every preference and budget, from budget to top-of-the-range super stylish models.

Riccardo Zannetti has inherited an important cultural commitment of his ancestors, to which he has united the skills of a great watchmaker and an artistic talent. Zannetti workshop is actually a modern design laboratory and Riccardo Zannetti is one of the few artisans still carrying on a tradition that began 500 years ago, with an aim to spread Italian creativity all over the world.

DRAWING

Designing a watch is always a difficult, yet fascinating challenge. The first thing to consider is its functionality. It would have no sense to produce a beautiful watch if on a practical level it does not fulfil its function – to provide the time of day.

Another thing that must always be considered is the mechanics of a watch, since these need specific technical requirements. The design therefore must find a balance between all the specific constructional demands, integrating creativity and a good taste.

Every watch created by Zannetti is always designed and drawn exclusively by hand. Each Zannetti timepiece starts with a sketch made with a pencil, a carbon and pastels. Thus, the idea takes form and from this the magic of creating a Zannetti watch begins.

Cronology

2023

Revisitation of the Regent case, the release of the new Regent collection with the original Zannetti mechanical movement, Made in Italy

2022

40th Anniversary of the Zannetti brand. The release of the Regent Anniversary watch collection

2020

Creation of the original Zannetti Made in Italy movement

2017

The “Discobolo” collection found it’s final consecration during Baselworld 2017: the possibilities to customize the dials and the cases are endless, and the case is available in two sizes. On the same year, Hi-tech ceramics make it’s first appearance in Zannetti’s production and the first model proposed is the new “Piranha Mid-Size”, also made in steel, black PVD steel and bronze.

2016

This year the “Scuba Piranha” reached the international markets and was produced in the new GMT version; the new “Discobolo” case was launched and started being ready to be customised in many several ways. A new “Jewel Watch” collection with gold case and diamonds and a “Half Hunter” version of the “Regent” case were presented meanwhile was introduced a new smaller version of the “Gladiator” for ladies. From now on, some of the collections are available with bronze cases.

2015

The “Gladiator” collection launched a new chronograph model, produced in steel and gold and where the dials features precious materials and details. Meanwhile, new unique-pieces called “Animalier Watches” are produced and presented featuring diamonds and rubies. Was also launched a new case for the “Regent” collection with new details and crown.

2014

A new “Art” collection of watches in which each one has sophisticated hand-made dials was created. This year the “Scuba” collection reached it’s maturity displaying dials in various materials, like ebony wood and mother of pearl.

2013

Comes the year of the Sport watches, legitimated by the professional “Piranha Scuba” that’s characterized by water resistance of 50 atmospheres, unique and extremely original dials and hand-made champlevés with enamels applied on mother of pearl and vegetable ivory.

2012

The Art of Watchmaking always plays a central role for Zannetti and in the Geneva Exhibition of January, he presented the new collection: “Magnificum” with hand- engraved and enamel dials and then at Baselworld introduced the “Gladiator Chrono”, created with steel or pink gold case and an automatic movement.

2011

When high Jewellery meets high Watchmaking the result is the “Regent Dragon”, a spectacular timepiece that features a gold bass-relief placed on the dial; always in this year, among his creations Zannetti displays a gorgeous pendant named “One Million Dollar Snake”.

2010

Once again the Art superbly blends with the Zannetti creations, in fact new models were released featuring polychrome Champlevé enamelled handcrafted dials and, moreover, with mother of pearl dials endowed of extraordinary light games.

2009

This year started with the presentation of the “Rosa Ventorum”, who features a bone dial. Furthermore, Zannetti began to experiment the PVD treatment on his watches cases and the first model to display this technique was the “TOD Racing Edition – Full Black” chronograph and subsequently, many other different models featured this treatment, such the stainless steel and rose gold versions.

2008

A modern self-winding GMT was released: the “Dual Time”. This timepiece showed off different dials, both traditional and enamelled. On the same time, a new skill thrilled Zannetti: the bone engraving. The first creation to exhibit such amazing feature was the “Full Sky”, which was part of the “Regent” line. A new “Regent Lady” collection was then unveiled, displaying many different dials and including models with gold embossed figures.

2007

On this year Zannetti have completely renewed the “Time of Drivers” collection, making it available in steel and gold. The brand also presented one line’s model with special applied enamelled digits, three Chronographs and three levels dials, meanwhile the “Racing Edition” had two counters and a pearled dial; new cases and dials were created for the “Squelette”, the “Automatic” and the steel “Impero”.

2006

With the automatic chronograph, the “Impero” collection increased it’s dimensions and aggressiveness and the new chronograph version belonging to the “Regent” line was declined into different dial’s subjects. Zannetti reaffirmed his own independence supporting and defending the Made in Italy products.

2005

The first squared watch, the “Palatino”, is presented in the versions with three hands and chronograph. On the same year, a new version of the “Repeater” was born while producing new and more engineered dials for the “Impero” case and Zannetti received his first official honours in Japan, China and Korea.

1982

Riccardo Zannetti, founder and inventor of the brand, started his activity. He created the first original models.

2004

A new “Regent Collection” with manually engraved dials and with different drawings was created; on the same year, the “Time of Drivers” and “Frog Watch Jewels” collections were born.

2003

Origin of a new actual but suitable “Steel” collection featured with the brand character.

2002

A new “Jewel Watches” line with precious stones was created.

2001

Origin of “Time of Drivers” collection who started with the first two prototypes: “Ascari” and “Fangio”.

2000

The “Squelette” arrived, and was the first Zannetti Skeleton watch: among the distinctive characteristic you find, this is the first blue PVD treatment on a Skeleton movement worldwide.

1999

“The Montgolfier” a very prestigious GMT, characterized by an original embossed gold rotor and a relief dial was presented.

1996

This is the “Technique Year”, since new movements were worked out while selling the prestigious “Repeater”, with five minutes repetition.

1995

Origin of a new important collection, destined to a long success: “The Frog Collection”, better known as “The Frog Watch”. During the following years since this collection was created, this model has been declined into different versions, such as the exclusive “Jewel Case Lock” on the watch dial, decorated with precious diamonds, rubies and emeralds pave’.

1992

“The Daphne”, a watch dedicated to women was created and were realized the first personalized “Jewel Watches” for special clients.

1990

The first Zannetti boutique in Rome opened.

1989

The Zannetti style started to being known with the “Impero” Collection; meanwhile, creations for many clients in Europe proceeded and started a regular production and distribution of watches in Italy.

1986

In this year started the collaboration with some of the biggest and famous contemporary watches brands and he created exclusive models for the first very important private Italian customers.