17 questions to a well-dressed man – Davide Cerrato
Photo credit: Alex Teuscher
Davide Cerrato is a watch design. Davide worked for great names as Tudo, Panerai and Montblanc and so he has quite an impressive road behind him already in the watch world. Davide’s eye for detail and heritage certainly helped developing Montblanc’s watch division in the most recent years. Because Davide is a man that everyone will notice immediately. He is one of the men that wears a bowtie, and let’s be honest, you never forget somebody who wears a bowtie. I personally think that it has a unique charm and it’s hard to wear it well. But those who do, really stand out. Another interesting thing in Davide’s style is that we see him mostly in double breasted jackets, another very elegant type of garment that I think never bores anybody. This all combined with fine details, shoes and of course fine watches makes it hard to not notice this gentleman. I couldn’t do anything else than asking him to answer the ‘’17 questions to a well-dressed man’’ as I’m sure many people are curious to hear more about the taste of somebody like Davide. With great happiness that he answered the questions, I present you below the answers and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
What are you wearing today?
I’m wearing a bespoke suit, hand made by an Italian tailor with double breast jacket and wide lapels in a dark gray Prince of Wales Vitale Barberis Canonico fabric with a Royal blue check. A bespoke Italian shirt with hidden buttons and white rounded collar and cuffs. A golden vintage pin and a golden vintage pocket watch chain on the lapels. As always, a bow tie from E. Marinella, a blue with white stars and paired pochette also from E. Marinella. Gallo long socks Navy blue with white spots. On my head a Borsalino Nick Fouquet gray Fedora. My shoes Church Shanghai bi- colour.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
It depends, it can be both related to the mood, hunting phase and desire.
What jewellery could a man wear?
I wear a lot of chains through the lapel and in the pocket either in gold or stones like coral, tiger eye, falcon eye, Onyx, Turquoise. I love stones I always liked collecting and searching for minerals and special stones.
Tie or a bowtie?
Bow tie for ever.
Do you remember your first jacket?
An older cousin very fond of the sartorial bespoke approach offered me one of his jackets. Double breasted and checked. I only wear double breasted. It’s so elegant.
What is your favourite watch?
A Rolex Paul Newman John Player Special in yellow gold.
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Fountain to write, I have the luck of owning a Montblanc one with a bespoke nib and it’s a real pleasure to write. So smooth. To draw and sketch I prefer a ballpoint or a roller.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
Yes, for the winter, I love to wear wool pilot pants closed at the hackle with high Church Shanghai shoes. A nice warm double breast jacket and a turtleneck pull in cashmere wool. Difficult to do more comfortable and at the same time elegant and unique.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
You don’t go fly fishing to kill a fish but to keep alive a part of you that would risk otherwise to die.
What is your guilty pleasure?
A Hungarian recipe (my wife is Hungarian) Paprika Chicken.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
Gianni Agnelli when he was in between us.
The best book you ever read?
Sir Conan Doyle full collection of novels about Sherlock Holmes.
Which city should one go shopping?
Milano, London, Paris.
Tweed or flannel?
Tweed. In the last years my taste especially in winter has clearly shifted into a British touch of elegance.
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
Il Cambio in Turin in the place in front of the Palazzo Carignano where the king of Savoy was living. His prime minister Camillo Benso conte di Cavour had a special table at the restaurant overlooking the palace to be ready in case of call. The restaurant has kept its original elegance with original boiserie and mirrors from the time and a typical Piedmont old regime style.
Describe your style in three words?
Italian, educated, gentleman.
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
A Montblanc 1858 chronograph mono-pusher split second with Minerva handmade movement and enamel grand feu dial that I designed and developed.