FROM THE EDITORS Letters + Events
The new Gucci Grip, in
steel (pictured) or
yellow gold PVD.
Nancy Olson
THE GUCCI GARDEN
M
Managing Editor | [email protected]
y recent visit to the Gucci Garden in Florence was an experience to remember, from the exquisite architecture of the building
that houses it to the archival exhibitions and one-of-a-kind Gucci products so creatively revealed. Opened less than two years
ago, the Garden was conceived by Alessandro Michele, Gucci creative director since 2015, who wished to present the various
facets of the brand in this full-immersion environment.
THE GUCCI GARDEN IS HOUSED IN THE SPECTACULAR PALAZZO DELLA once retro, modern-classic and even futuristic. Some say its appearance suggests
MERCANZIA (MERCHANT’S PALACE), which was built in 1359 on the site of an a vintage Audemars Piguet jumping hours timepiece from the 1920s.
ancient Roman theater, just a short walk to the famed Uffizi. There’s even a restau- “This is really the best possible expression of a Gucci product today,” Braga
rant onsite, the Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, which seals the deal on the explains. “Every piece is a strong reminder of the past, but also has a deep connec-
Garden being a multi-sensory Gucci experience. tion to the contemporary and to the future.”
The exhibition space includes themed rooms with advertising campaigns And all this is very much in keeping with Gucci’s mantra of self-expression and
from the past, clothing and accessories from the archives that tell the story of inclusivity.
the brand’s evolution, and art—some, rotated on a regular basis, from contempo- “I think what Alessandro did was bring a revolution to the industry,” says Braga
rary artists. The boutique, library and restaurant are on the first floor, and each of the creative director’s perspective. “Fashion was much more imposing, but he
expresses the merging of a modern aesthetic with classic structure, much like sees it as more of an inclusive thing.”
Gucci products themselves. Additional versions of Grip are on the horizon, including a chronograph and
But I was there to experience the newest Gucci timepieces, and I had an oppor- another with a “word of the day” that reveals itself in an aperture at the push of a
tunity to interview Piero Braga, Gucci Timepieces president and CEO, for this button: chance, future, amour and tenebrae.
purpose. This year’s big introduction, the Grip, made its debut at Baselworld 2019, Braga concludes, “Inside this industry we want to be the fashion point of view,
and it was the topic of much of our conversation. but we are not fashion watches. We are not just a watch with a name on it.”
Available in yellow gold PVD or steel, the unisex Grip has a “rounded-square” Have fun reading,
case and three windows on the dial indicating the hour, minutes and date respec-
tively. Braga notes that its design defies easy categorization, since its look is at
8 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2019