U-Boat by Italo Fontana

What is the secret of Italian watch design?

In style-loving Italy, it's a must to strike a striking figure with a smile. A wristwatch is therefore never a mere timepiece, but rather an expression of a pronounced sense of style and fashion trendsetter. Even in ancient times, Rome established a lifestyle and fashions that the entire ancient world adopted. How could it be any different today when it comes to the design of unusual luxury watches? A certain desire for experimentation and rebellion, extravagance, and ironic twists are also rooted in the relaxed Italian lifestyle, which we northerners ardently envy.

Watches from the Italian brand U-BOAT are a powerful piece of pure Italianità

U-BOAT watches from the Florentine house of Italo Fontana , in which a Swiss movement performs its work with the usual reliable high precision, are among the chronographs with the highest recognition values ​​in the world. Unique design and unmistakable appearance are aimed at strong individualists. A U-BOAT luxury watch already marks its territory with its unusual size of between 4.3 (for ladies' wristwatches) and 5.5 centimeters. Self-confidently, it occupies a distinctive appearance with a left-sided laser-cut bezel, extra-high case and glass case back. Its characteristics of energy, masculine power and daring suit extroverted people who are fully conscious of their external appearance. These rather aggressive qualities are balanced by the use of fine materials and perfect technology. While U-BOAT watches may appear stylish, trendy and very sophisticated at first glance, they are not fashionable in the sense of being fleeting. “ The future belongs to the brave” could be its core message – timeless and universal.

Rebirth from a lost time

It all began in 1942, in a turbulent era. The Italian government approached the respected, traditional Fontana watch workshops in Lucca. They were tasked with designing a timepiece for the Air Force and Navy: robust, durable, shockproof, and waterproof, fitting and running accurately in all weather and challenging lighting conditions, superb in functionality, superb in comfort, and, at 6.5 centimeters in diameter, quite an impressive sight. No easy task! Nonno Livo Fontana designed this small marvel for the officers of the Italian submarines. It met all the requirements and was met with enthusiasm by the clients. Why it never went into production? We don't know what circumstance prevented this during the turmoil of the war years, but the fact that the carefully guarded original records ignited a fire in grandson Italo Fontana five decades later, leading to the revival of his grandfather's watchmaking creation, was more than a stroke of luck. Meaningful innovation always finds its era. Italo Fontana took seven years to create them. A masterpiece was then perfected, which quickly became a cult object after its launch in 2000. Still oversized with diameters of 4.3 centimeters (ladies' watch) to 5.5 centimeters, the U-BOAT model series, ranging from " Chimera " to "U-1001," finds fans in the elegant displays of the world's most exclusive jewelers who want to powerfully express the quality of time.

U-BOAT watches – every model series is a high-flyer

All models are limited, with prices ranging from €2,000 to €50,000. It's no surprise, then, that they are favored by stars such as David Beckham and his wife Victoria, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Nicolas Cage, and Robert de Niro, as well as fashion designers such as Giorgio Armani. Crafted with intricate handcrafted details, all models are comfortable to wear despite their oversized size. Inside the steel case beats the heart of a Swiss ETA movement with automatic transmission and manual winding. Clear colors, a straightforward design language, and a reduced dial are all testament to Italo Fontana's signature. "Chimera," in captivating bronze, captivates with its sporty charm, the U-42 ​​collection evokes ship portholes, and the sophisticated " Classico " is presented in gold, titanium, or set with diamonds and crystals in varying colors. With the “U-42” you can dive to a depth of 300 meters and from the “Flightdeck” you might even launch into a new galaxy – who knows?

HORANDO or the love of the wristwatch

As an online shop for luxury watches, HORANDO has built a strong reputation over the past few years. Trust and customer satisfaction are the parameters for excellent business relationships. Therefore, no compromises are made in the luxury segment of the finest brands. As an official U-BOAT dealer and exclusive authorized retailer, HORANDO complements its online business with an exclusive showroom in a prime downtown location at Lange Straße 37, at the company headquarters in Bamberg. In the former business premises of the ROLEX dealer Schmitt, where a discerning clientele has been making their exquisite selection of watches for four and a half decades, exclusive watches and many other exclusive dream objects can now be viewed in person and up close.

This post is also available in: English