Nick St.Oegger

Photographer

Albania's First Luxury Watchmaker for the New York TImes

Pirro Ruço with his daughter Alba Ruço at their workshop in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. With a background in management and gemology, Alba works as the company's brand director. Tirana Albania

Tirana Albania

Pirro Ruço in his workshop in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Renowned for his long career creating artistic jewellery, medals, sculptures, and filigree artwork, Ruço has created Albania's first high end, in house watch, which is an entry in this year's Grand Prix D'Horlogerie De Genève. Tirana Albania

The dial and parts for the Prim... in house watch. Tirana Albania

The dial and parts for the Primordial Passion watch by Pirro sit under a microscope in his workshop in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. The dial is made of a mosaic of 1500 Murano glass stones in the colors of the Albanian flag. Pirro Ruço has used his extensive experience as a jeweler to create the first luxury Albanian in house watch. Tirana Albania

The back of Pirro Ru&ccedil... in Switzerland. Tirana Albania

The back of Pirro Ruço's watch, the Primordial Passion, at his showroom in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. The case back of the 14k gold watch features an engraving, which is a mirror image of the 12 figures on the watch dial. The watch represents the first high end Albanian timepiece, and was entered in this year's Grand Prix D'Horlogerie De Genève in Switzerland. Tirana Albania

The showroom of Artistic Jewell...banian artisans. Tirana Albania

The showroom of Artistic Jewellery Pirro in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Pirro Ruço has become well regarded for his artistic jewellery and use of filigree, a technique he and his colleagues are helping to pass down to the next generation of Albanian artisans. Tirana Albania

Medals created for prominent Al...ional occasions. Tirana Albania

Medals created for prominent Albanian figures on display at Artistic Jewellery Pirro in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Some of Ruço's earliest work was creating medals and awards during Albania's communist regime. Today he is still commissioned to create awards, medals and trophies to mark important national and international occasions. Tirana Albania

The exterior of the Artistic Je...ugust 27th 2024. Tirana Albania

The exterior of the Artistic Jewellery Pirro showroom in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Tirana Albania

Decorative gold jewellery and a...on of Albanians. Tirana Albania

Decorative gold jewellery and artwork on display at Pirro Ruço's showroom in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Ruço has been producing high end, artistic jewellery, engravings, coins, medals and awards for over 30 years, alongside old colleagues who he trained with in the past. Today they are passing on their craft to the next generation of Albanians. Tirana Albania

A statue of Albania's n...en Elizabeth II. Tirana Albania

A statue of Albania's national hero, Skanderbeg, on display at Artistic Jewellery Pirro in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Pirro Ruço offers a variety of souvenirs, gifts and statues of Albanian historical figures, and his creations have been gifted to important national and international figures including Pope Francis and Queen Elizabeth II. Tirana Albania

Pirro Ruço wearing t...reated in house. Tirana Albania

Pirro Ruço wearing the Primordial Passion, at his showroom in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. The watch represents over five years of intensive research and design by Ruço and his team, and is the first high end Albanian timepiece created in house. Tirana Albania

A watch created by Pirro Ru&...ugust 27th 2024. Tirana Albania

A watch created by Pirro Ruço, featuring his signature engraving technique on the gold bezel and onyx dial, displayed as his showroom in Tirana, Albania on August 27th 2024. Tirana Albania

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Albania's First Luxury Watchmaker for the New York TImes

nick st.oegger

Sep 23, 2024

New work for the New York Times. I had the chance to visit Artistic Jewellery Pirro in Tirana, where jeweller and self taught watchmaker, Pirro Ruco, has created Albania’s first high end luxury timepiece. The Primordial Passion is a one of a kind watch completely handmade in Albania, with the exception of the movement. The dial is dominated by 12 hand carved gold figures, each representing the traditional dress of a different region of the country, atop a mosaic of 1500 Murano glass stones. The watch is the result of over five years of research and design by Mr. Ruco and his staff, who have over 30 years of experience producing high end jewellery, sculptures, awards, and gifts that have been presented to well known figures from the Pope to Queen Elizabeth II.

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