An Italian Collector on His Bespoke OISA 1937 Watch, Marking the Return of Movements Made in Italy

It’s something we’ve told over and over again. Watchmaking isn’t only Swiss. Watchmaking is global and has, historically, been present all over the world. Surely, with industrialisation and the effects of the Quartz crisis, three giant hubs have emerged: Switzerland for high-end watches, Japan with its immense conglomerates and China, the silent factory… Italy surely isn’t the first country to come to mind when thinking of movement manufacturing. Still, back in 1937, Domenico Morezzi founded O.I.S.A. – Orologeria Italiana Società Azionaria – in Milan to start producing movements, up until the 1970s. Recently, Carlo Boggio Ferraris, grandson of the founder who still produces components for the industry, has been on a mission to revive the idea of movements made in Italy, bringing OISA back to life. And today, we’re talking to an Italian collector who owns one of the earliest watches to be equipped with the new calibre 29-50 Cinque Ponti by OISA 1937.

How did you get to know the brand in the first place? 

OISA 1937 is definitely not a well-known name among the watch brands. I could just get to know it idling for hours (literally, hours) on a specialised watch forum. At the time of my personal discovery of such company, it was around springtime in 2022, this was a pretty much newbie whose name was revamped from the original Orologeria Italiana Società Azionaria (aka O.I.S.A.), by Carlo Boggio Ferraris, grandson of the founder, Master Domenico Morezzi.

In June 2022, OISA did not yet have a watch production, albeit Ferraris already had a clear vision: to trigger the rebirth of the Italian watchmaking industry through the production of a “made in Italy” movement. This sounded quite odd to me: I guess we all know about marketing “traps” or “tricks” that don’t tell a lie, but probably don’t tell the whole truth; even if at that time I was not an hyper-expert of the horology market (neither I am now, just consider myself as more horological-savvy than before) , though I was quite conscious that usually new born companies often use the same 3-4 basic mechanics and with a few maquillage they are able to introduce a movement with a shiny brand-new name, alas the core mechanics remained the same.

I was never happier, my expectations were unfulfilled: once I found their web page, some pictures (obviously renders), it was pretty much clear to me that it was something completely different from what I’ve seen in the past, useless to say in a totally positive manner. Thus, in April 2022, I started to get in touch with OISA, and saw which way the wind blows…

Since when have you wanted to own this specific watch?

Just after the first contact, the atmosphere was not the one of a mere watch seller, though I was feeling to communicate with a tailor, a person (by the way the first contact was directly to Mr. Ferraris, to be honest I expected to get in touch with one of his selling department’s team) ready to fulfil your wishes and desiderata. Many technical features of its soon-to-be watch were provided to me, along with a list of optional configurations and finishes that OISA was capable of doing to your personal timepiece. Well, just like bringing a child into a toy shop: I could indulge myself searching for the finest finishings that would not normally appear in low-mid range watches of our contemporary era: manual-driven finishings just like anglage, perlage, côtes de Genève. Furthermore, there was quite a wide choice of selection of dials, in terms of colours, indexes, and even the pattern of guilloché if you wish for one.

Well, all the readers can now realise I was completely taken by the customisation demon in an effort to choose the watch most suitable to my (classic) tastes.

When did you buy it and where?

The step from the customisation to the purchase was short: in a few days, maybe weeks, but you know “time flies when you have fun”, I came up with the whole model’s features and peculiarities list. OISA’s first watch is a limited edition made in 18 pieces in yellow gold case and 97 in steel case; probably today I would spend more time on which material to choose for a dress-watch looking case, but at that time my decision was immediate towards the 316L case. I still don’t regret it as it looks wonderful with its electric blue dial. The usual acme between the mere payment and the delivery was quite long in my perception, even if it just lasted the fair time to manufacture a bespoke watch. I was also invited by Mr. Ferraris to participate in the official delivery of the batch of watches by his company in the nearby of Milan, an occasion to have a closer look to his shop and an opportunity to meet in person the people who realised my piece. Unfortunately, I could not attend, and thus I opted for a more anonymous courier delivery. I will not hide it: the first shipment was not 100% satisfactory, due to the fact that some of the requested features were not implemented in the watch, though, thanks to the care of Mr. Ferraris, OISA was able to fully fix the issue, and within some additional weeks I was able to fully enjoy my Domenico Morezzi masterpiece. Youthful mistakes, I like to think of it, may be present when your company is still ramping up all its departments and persons. All in all, I received my watch in November 2022, and it has been a love story ever since.

Does your watch get a lot of wrist time?

I can currently reckon about 15 pieces in my watch collection, a limit that I imposed on myself not to extortionate the dimension of my watch case. On average, in a couple of weeks, I wear all my collection using each watch on a daily basis, though I admit that the Domenico Morezzi is always able to gain some extra days within the turnaround interval. Reasons are quite obvious: it reflects somehow my personal tastes and attitudes towards horology, a sort of “declaration of independence” from the mainstream watchmaking. Nonetheless, it comes in a wonderful size (38mm) for my wrist, with a more than decent thickness – around 10mm including the domed sapphire, a stunning guilloché enamel dial and not the least an incredibly manual-finished calibre. I enjoy its understatement, fully aware of the if-you-know-you-know effect.

Do you ever get reactions if you wear or show the watch?

Here is the trick: those who are well acquainted with horology, and I am not speaking of the few mainstream brands but shall we say “fine connoisseur” in a way, do perceive the quality and the refinement of the watch; even less do know the technicalities that this watch brings itself: central direct seconds, independent seconds train, high quality materials even for the smallest components, fine regulation through balance weights, and so on.

A few times, I had the pleasure to share in real life the caseback of this watch, and it has always been a nice surprise for the newcomer. No big brand, no big heritage, just pure facts.

Are there any more watches you would like to buy? 

My watch journey has been relatively short, though not yet completed so far. Will it ever be so? Nobody knows (especially I), I have some precise objectives in the future, but in a more long-term horizon: Breguet 3130, FPJ Chronomètre Souverain, Lange 1815 Chronograph. Historical, complicated and extremely technical pieces; perhaps one day I will be able to reach my nirvana, nonetheless, I still fully enjoy my present pieces, and the OISA surely represents one of those I am mostly fond of.

Do you have any tips for other collectors who’d like to own an equivalent model with an OISA 1937 movement?

Take your time, don’t rush; the journey to reach your desired watch is part of the ticket price. The more you study and design, the more you will appreciate your result. It must also be known that nowadays OISA is no more led by Mr. Ferraris, who has developed a brand named Morezzi Milano, formerly independent from OISA, but still strongly connected to each other; I am confident that he is keeping extraordinary news for all mechanical watch lovers.