If the Softwatch was a lucky find from an era when partying and late-night car rides were a habit, there is a watch that accompanied me through another phase of my life: the one of flea markets. Before buying my Tank de Cartier, I was truly convinced that high-end watches were not yet for me (budget wise). So with that in mind and like a true Italian, I browsed all the flea markets near Milan, trying to find the best quality watches for the best price. This one was definitely a lucky find: my Gobbi Milan. Not double-signed, no watch brands — just Gobbi on the dial, the oldest retailer in Milan. This properly oversized “Calatrava” style, chrome-plated watch with a plain clear dial and the almighty “Gobbi” stamp on the dial, jumped into my hands during a summer day at Navigli, the biggest antiques market in Milan, literally when I was thinking, “Oh, I’d really love a double signed.” Moreover, Gobbi closed its doors last summer, which makes this watch even more special to me as it is a relic of a bygone time.
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