This story appears in the JCK Magazine.

Retail Details: Maddaloni Jewelers’ Lou Maddaloni

The watch man on Swiss tourbillons, Florida sushi, and Long Island guys’ nights out

1. What’s your most memorable sale and why?

A few months back, a client of mine expressed interest in buying a very special timepiece by Ulysse Nardin. So I arranged a visit to its U.S. head quarters in Boca Raton, Fla. The customer suggested we fly down on his private jet. Then, Ulysse Nardin was nice enough to welcome us with a sushi lunch and a private viewing of their spectacular timepieces. It was during that visit that my client purchased a limited edition royal blue tourbillon set with round diamonds and blue baguette-cut sapphires for $400,000, as well as a few others.

2. What’s the best idea you’ve come up with for your store?

We recently instituted a watch collectors club that meets two to three times per year. At the meetings, we host a five-course dinner in the store—with tablecloths and silverware—and have [representatives of ] a featured watch brand come and speak, bring in their newest products, and talk about limited editions and introductions for the year ahead. It’s kind of a guys’ night (we have cigars). The club fosters the interests of watch collectors and connects them to others who share their passion.

3. When you walk through your front door, what do you like most about your store?

I have to say that when I come into the store every morning, I look forward to the people I work with. The Mad daloni team is dedicated to giving each customer a positive experience. Customer retention has been a key to the success of my business.

4. How do you differentiate your store from the competition?

We are passionate about watches. Maddaloni can converse about the finer points—like swan-neck gaskets underneath screw heads—of models we don’t even stock. Sometimes we know more about models than the brand representatives or stores that do carry them. We also write down everything—any and all information the customer gives, from their pets to the type of car they drive—on a job envelope. Even the most mundane information can be a tool to use in a future sale.

5. What was your finest hour in customer service?

We had a customer buying a particularly complicated platinum limited-edition perpetual-calendar pocket watch, which also happened to be the last one available in the world! In the midst of the sale, it became evident there was a screw loose inside the watch; the head of the screw had actually broken off inside. Since we have a Swiss-trained timepiece technician on premises, we were able—in the span of a few short hours—to disassemble the watch, remove the screw, and fabricate a new one from scratch, right there in the store. The watchmaker then reassembled the watch, and Maddaloni delivered the piece, a $102,000 sale, in time for the owner’s dinner plans that night. If that watch had had to go back to the manufacturer, it would have been sent back to Switzerland and would have taken four to six months to repair.

Maintenance of a fine timepiece will ensure the integrity and precision intended for watch.

The word on Wall Street…Gold should be used as ‘Wealth Protection’ especially when it hit 1300 on September 22,2010; we are now on the official “New Gold High”. Of course it is a safe investment, tangible and globally secure.

There are two thoughts has to why gold has been on the rise and catching the attention of hedge funds and investors alike. negative interest rates and gold not being valued as fiat currency. The faster currency is produced (fiat money) the deeper deflation will move in.

Analysts are suggesting a state of deflation will cause double dipping in the recession in months to come. Gold will be needed to provide protection from the apparent growth in deflation. Deflation will flatten everything in sight including base metals, commodities, housing, and job creation. The component of preserving wealth will be gold. Unlike junk fiat currencies, gold cannot be devalued. As a source of wealth protection purchasing gold bars is a strategic move on the investors side.

Be aware of your gold seller, luxury long island jewelers have their finger on the pulse of the gold market. Investment houses deal with an array of communities; specialization is key.

Gold bullion is available from Maddaloni in two convenient forms; the 10-ounce gold bullion bar of at least .995 fine purity is the standard industry unit. It is traditionally used for trading and storage, and can also be taken for personal delivery. Each gold bar is hallmarked by a leading refiner to certify weight and purity. Also available is the 32.15 troy ounce gold “kilo bar”…a one-kilogram bar of fine gold bullion of at least .999 purity. Manufacturers of these bars certify the weight and purity of the bullion content by imprinting their stamp or hallmark on each bar.

Congratulations to  Ulysse Nardin Monaco Timepiece, to have been chosen as the special limited edition watch for the Monaco Yacht Show (Sept. 22-25). The show is packed with extravagant events and visited by the worlds most elite. The MYS has not only been committed to providing visitors with everything luxury, they are raising funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare genetic illness that affects boys: one birth in 3500.

This very special timepiece is in all black with a bit of midnight blue elements on the dial (hands and some of the markers). The steel case is covered in a matte black vulcanized rubbercoating. The case is 45.8mm wide (200 meters water resistant) and has a rotating diver’s bezel and a rubber strap with a black ceramic link on each end. The clasp is also done in black ceramic. Inside the automatic movement lies a subsidiary seconds dial and power reserve indicator. On the back of the watch you can see the movement along with a special “Monaco” image on the sapphire exhibition window. The Ulysse Nardin Monaco 2010 Marine Diver watch will be limited to just 100 pieces.

With great pride, Frederique Constant introduces a new, passionate initiative, exclusively for the United States of America: The Frederique Constant for Cohiba Limited Edition Timepieces.

Frederique Constant and Cohiba will be launching these exclusive timepieces during a dedicated event on September 22nd, 2010 at Club Macanudo in New York City. In the setting of New York City’s premier cigar bar, restaurant and lounge. Long Island Jewelers and fine Timepiece stores will be carrying the limited edition watch early October, 2010.

Maddaloni Jewelers is honored to be the retailer of these two exceptional watches that reflect the style and atmosphere of the Cohiba brand. With its smooth case inspired by ‘Toro’ shaped cigars, the warm, ivory colored dial, the tobacco brown Roman numerals and the hand-sewn tobacco brown Crococalf strap, these watches form a tribute to the high-profile cigar brand that achieved ‘cult’ status under discerning connoisseurs the world over. Presented in a luxurious giftbox that doubles as a humidor, and produced in a very limited edition of 188 numbered pieces in steel and 188 pieces in rose gold plated, these watches are already ‘smoking hot’ before their launch!

• The Dominican Cohiba cigar was reformulated in the 1990s and is the only Cohiba cigar that can be purchased legally in the United States.
• This limited edition timepiece set is the result of the cooperation between Frederique Constant SA & General Cigar Company Inc., the largest cigar company in the USA.
• Maddaloni Jewelers is an official Frederique Constant retailer.

Frederique Constant is an independent family owned watch manufacturer based in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva. The company manufactures Alpina timepieces as well. Frederique Constant contracted with Maddaloni Jewelers in 2004 to be an official retail partner. In 2005 Maddaloni became authorized to repair the fine watches through their state-of-the-art timepiece center. Maddaloni has one of the largest selections of fine timepieces and engagement rings in the country

The art of measuring time, horology, has been practiced for hundreds of years. Even before any official name was placed on the study, horology could be seen in the constructing of hourglasses and the use of sundials. What started as a curiosity for labeling parts of the day has developed into a necessity to schedule a day’s events. Over the years that necessity, along with an ongoing study of horology, has led to the emergence of luxury watch brands from all around the world. As a result, watchmakers and timekeepers are constantly redesigning their products to win over the hearts, and ultimately the wrists, of savvy watch aficionados.

Apart from defining specific products representing luxury and affluence, watch brands often differentiate and specialize in constructing either mechanical watches or quartz watches. Because the invention of quartz watches dated in the 1970s, timepieces that can be considered a true result of traditional horology are mechanical. Luxury watch brands and timekeepers are constantly producing watches that combine the sophisticated aspects of horology with modern, desirable designs of today.

So which designers are showcasing beautiful timepieces through innovative elements while still respecting the precision of horology? How can the leaders in today’s designs of mechanical watches forge ahead and become established? An answer can only be determined after looking at the various components and fine craftsmanship that dictates luxurious timepieces, like perfected mechanics working with an updated, attractive case. Each handcrafted movement must be put into an inventive position with a perfected certainty. Astute precision and clear originality like this can be found in an Frédérique Constant watch. Pleasing aesthetics must encompass the inner workings of a luxury watch, too, so designs might incorporate various shapes or multiple materials. This is showcased in the newest timepieces Frédérique Constant has designed for Cohiba. Watches must adapt with the times while still exemplifying traditional and knowledgeable composition and these two well-respected names are perfect examples of constantly innovative, yet classically assembled, timepieces.

Keep up with the trends and learn more about the present, innovative designs in horology, like those found in a Frédérique Constant, Glashutte Original or Ulysse Nardin watch. Inquire about these renowned names, along with other leading watch brands, at Maddaloni Jewelers. For an in-depth, wide variety of masterful timepieces, join Maddaloni Jewelers on November 6th 2010 for their annual Festival Of Watches event. RSVP on the site www.maddaloni.net … See you there.