Gucci 9000M 33mm Analog Watch in Box.

Size Open: 8 1/4 x 1 3/8 in. 

Size Closed: 8 1/4 x 1 3/8 x 3 1/2 in.

In 1897 Guccio Giovanbattista Giacinto Dario Maria Gucci (1881-1953) left Italy for London to work at the high-end Savoy Hotel as a bellhop. He interacted with the hotel’s wealthy clients, learning about their tastes in fashion, quality, fabrics, and traveling conditions. After World War I he returned to Florence to open a shop selling imported luggage and developing his own leather goods. After the 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini the League of Nations imposed a trade embargo on Italy, which made leather scarce. This pushed Gucci to introduce other fabrics such as raffia, wicker, wood, linen and jute. The rombi motif, a Gucci signature, as well as a new tanning technique to produce “cuoio grasso” (translated literally as “greasy leather”) and their stylized handbags all became Gucci trademarks during this time. Gucci’s wife and children all worked in his shop, and his son Aldo became increasingly involved in the family business. He convinced his father to open a new shop in Rome in 1938, and launched more Gucci accessories, including gloves, belts, wallets, and keychains. After World War II Gucci distributed the shares of the company between his three sons, with Aldo at the lead expanding the company to have shops in New York, Paris, London, Hollywood, and Palm Beach, Florida. The Gucci brand became synonymous with the Italian dolce vita period, eventually releasing clothing, watches, perfumes, and even specialized trim packages for luxury vehicles. In the 1980s Aldo’s sons began feuding about the future of the company, leading to the entire Gucci family being ousted by 1993 and the murder of Aldo’s nephew Maurizio by his ex-wife. As of today the company operates over 500 stores and outlets worldwide. This piece is the graphite version of their iconic Gucci 9000M 33mm analog watch with gold plating, dating from the early 90s. It comes in the original box with an additional chainlink and protective plastic cover, and has been authenticated.