Principality of Monaco – In a corner of the Côte d’Azur where VIPs and stars sojourn. We find ourselves in the Principality of Monaco, more precisely in the beautiful Monte-Carlo beach hotel where the waves of the sea and the seagulls and the beautiful principality make it the favorite place of great Hollywood stars and famous names such as the great director Alfred Hitchcock and the beautiful actress and princess Grace Patricia Kelly of Monaco, a paradise where the greatest masterpieces of cinema were shot. Where great musical events by Michael Jackson, Madonna and even Pavarotti opened the roof of the Sporting Monte-Carlo Salle des Etoiles; and where the beautiful voice of the immortal Maria Callas could not be missing at the Monte-Carlo Opera Casino… and certainly without forgetting the era when the great enchanting boat Christina O belonging to the famous Onassis and his wife Jacqueline Lee Kennedy Onassis called Jackie O, former first lady of the US, was anchored in the waters of the principality of Monaco. Onassis has been president of SBM, responsible for a third of the country’s infrastructures amongst which the most luxurious ones of Monaco such as the renowned Hotel de Paris, the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort as well as our beloved Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel. There are countless stories of the wonderful Principality of Monaco yet to be told, a wonderful place where you can also live gala evenings and dream shows without missing the Monte-Carlo International Circus. The principality is also renowned when it comes to sports thanks to the tennis Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters championship along with the Formula One Grand Prix. The myths of the past and the stories will forever remain in the magical Monte-Carlo and between the roar of Ferraris, Porsches, and Lamborghinis we are awakened by the sound of the waves of the sea of ​​October where we return to the reality of 2017.

It is right here at the Monte-Carlo Beach hotel that I noticed two people with a natural sympathy. Two very simple characters, far from the clichés of show business personalities and Hollywood stars, talking and laughing with natural simplicity. I was therefore intrigued and became aware of an all other kind people I could expect to find in the city of billionaires.

I was curious, I heard about watches and precious stones, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Vacheron Constantin and Rolex, and even gems: diamonds, emeralds and rubies. As a journalist I could not resist the temptation to interview them:

From these passions a friendship was born, one fine day. On this October day I could understand how Fabio Donà Pierro and Antonio Romeo met, by chance, or by destiny, who knows.

The first is one of the most renowned watch salesmen and collectors; an expert on vintage from some of the most prestigious brands, precious gems, especially diamonds, and jewels. Swiss citizen and president of the Luxury Society Lugano, he practices his art in the areas of Lugano in Switzerland.

The other, a fervent watch collector fond of Rolex, and Patek Philippe. The well-known Antonio Romeo, a distinguished resident of Monte-Carlo. For Antonio the love for the Rolex brand was born, as a boy, from a Rolex showcase that was on the path for school where he saw a magical world beyond this showcase. The years passed and our enthusiast finally managed to buy his first Rolex, realizing the dream he had most dearly kept in his heart for a very long time. This collector is gradually building up a modest collection of watches of the most famous brands.

Antonio Romeo, together with his son Lorenzo, fortunately met Fabio in search of advice. These two could only meet and, of course, appreciate each other. The one living from his passion, and the other communicating it to his son Lorenzo. The trio feeds on his unconditional love for these great brands, and have had the shared fortune to meet in a very nice committee. Fabio advising and sharing with patience and sympathy his great and secret acquaintances and the two emulators, keenly taking in his knowledge. The discussions always revolve around very rare or rather unique models, of which Fabio is the lucky owner of the great majority, some of the most beautiful and desired rarities of Patek, Audemars, Breguet, Vacheron and Rolex; which he defines his untouchable collection. While father and son instruct themselves on the hidden knowledge about vintage, Fabio, on the other hand, as president of his company, expects to expand his shop to this paradise with the help of his friends, offering them the possibility of becoming the managers of his new store Monegasque.

This beautiful friendship, blossomed where the waves of the sea and the seagulls in the sky make the beautiful Monte-Carlo a paradise, can go far beyond passion because it is nourished by unconditional love and a passion for watches.