Cool. Calm. Collected.

A handsome 45-yr old Milanese by the name of Luca greets us at the reception of a very modern white office. He’s cool, calm, collected. Think George Clooney with a charming Italian accent.

When he speaks, you can sometimes hear traces of an American twang, which he probably picked at the age of 12 in Chicago. At the time he hated his father for sending him off to live with an American family for 3 months. He felt lonely and frustrated at not being able to speak a word of English, but his homesickness was soon replaced by the restless curiosity of an eager teenager. With a cheeky smile he tells us of his meeting with a special American girl, 2 years his senior, whom he cracks for. He smiles and laughs and says enough to make us understand: “sex, alcohol and rock & roll! Those were very good times.”



Every summer after he spent traveling around, working and learning his way through his teens until he was called back to Italy to carry-out his military service. In the military he trained by climbing mountains and trekking, a hobby that became his passion and one that he shares with his son.

His son is his pride and joy. Unlike his own relationship with father, Luca and his son are more like buddies, sharing everything from climbing to dining, from ipods to Abercrombie & Fitch boxers.



The one thing he doesn’t yet share with his son is his collection of about 15 watches that range from comfortable sporty ones to the more “important” Rolexes. He even owns a Khaki Hamilton, “which was worn by the guy in Pearl Harbour,” he points out. For now he keeps this watch collection to himself. Partly because it is so sacred to him, but also because “kids these days don’t use watches. They find the time in all the gadgets they use.”

Bottom Line: Tradition never fails. Fathers will pass down their valuables, like the “important” watches, to their sons. The same way their fathers and grandfathers did before them. But today’s dads are less concerned with passing down material things unless these valuable are part of a shared interest, experience or moment.


Luca on Parenthood:



Luca on being 19, and "alone":