Thanks to the vision and passion of Zagreb watchmaker Pero Mamić, the Mamić 1970 watchmaking company has become a leader in the luxury watches, jewelry and accessories
There’s a well-known saying that Riva is a brand known by people who aren’t interested in boats. By analogy, we would be remiss if we didn’t say that Mr. Pero Mamić is known by people who aren’t familiar with watches. Throughout his career, which started in 1970, this Zagreb watchmaker became an institution of luxury in Croatia, while his company Mamić 1970 has become a leader in the luxury watches, books and jewellery segment thanks to cooperation with Rolex and other renowned brands.
Among the many recognitions he received in his career, our magazine is proud to hand him this one: he is the only person we’ve interviewed twice. Our first interview took place at the shop at Vlaška Street, when his children were slowly getting into the family business and the ‘only’ thing the company was known for was its great relationship with Rolex.
Nowadays, the company is run by younger generations and is a retailer for a wider selection of luxury brands, but if you visit the flagship store at Frane Petrića Street in Zagreb, you’re bound to see Mr. Pero repairing watches and loving the job he has been doing for decades, thanks to which his business turned into a respected family company – Mamić 1970 – known even outside Croatia.
Over 50 years of experience is incorporated into every detail of business, and Pero Mamić, as the originator of this wonderful and globally unique watchmaking story, has continued passing his knowledge to younger generations that are currently working on big plans for the future.
YOU OPENED YOUR WATCHMAKING SHOP AT VLAŠKA STREET IN 1970. HOW HAVE THE WATCHMAKING WORLD AND THE ACTUAL WATCHES CHANGED OVER THE PAST MORE THAN 50 YEARS?
We are still a watch shop and repair centre, but everything else has undergone a complete transformation. We carry more models; the clockwork is more sophisticated and our clients know more about watches. It wasn’t easy to find books on watches in the past, but nowadays, people can find out and learn a lot about brands and how a watch works. This results in very interesting conversations during our presentations because a typical client knows more about watches today than a typical client did a few decades ago.
YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ROLEX SINCE 1978 AND YOU CLOSED THE DEAL IN AN HOUR AND A HALF?
That’s right. In the 1970s, I visited Swiss watchmakers brands with the watch distributor for South-East Europe at the time. After Patek Phillipe, I tried out with Rolex’s Chief Technical Officer. I solved a complex mechanical issue while he was having lunch, which was my first reference for becoming the first official Rolex service centre in Croatia. After that, I became the brand’s retailer, one of the few in the world who managed to land the job over the phone.
WHAT MAKES ROLEX SPECIAL IN THE WATCHMAKING WORLD?
Founder Hans Wildorf had a clear vision for the brand from the start, a blend of innovation and quality. The first waterproof wristwatch, first self-winding movement and the first watch displaying date and full name of the day are just some of the many novelties introduced to the watchmaking world by Rolex. The second big advantage is insisting on high production standards, which includes a lot of manual labour.
THE SECOND GENERATION OF YOUR FAMILY HAS TAKEN OVER THE COMPANY. WHEN YOU WERE STARTING YOUR COMPANY, DID YOU HAVE HOPES FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
Deep down, I always hoped my children would continue the tradition. What fills me with pride is the fact that they made the decision to join the family business on their own. They had complete freedom, and now I watch in awe the interaction of their personalities in joint projects. Lucija and Hrvoje Luka were the driving force behind our shop at 7 Frane Petrića Street, and my other two sons also love watches, and they’ve attended intensive watchmaking courses in Switzerland.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF MAMIĆ 1970 TO INCLUDE LUXURY JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES?
This is where the family company thing comes in. I’m lucky that my entire family has had my back, so we were able to start innovations and expand our offer together. In over five decades of doing business, I’ve managed to set the foundation for cooperation with a number of renowned brands, and my children have introduced fresh ideas in the form of jewelry and luxury products, comprising books, watch accessories by Rapport London and Caran d’Ache writing instruments. This way, we supplemented the luxury market in Croatia. We look towards the future, so we’ll definitely do some new things because we want to be known as trailblazers. Our brand will continue to be based on tradition and experience, while focusing on innovation and fresh ideas. We want our company to continue being synonymous with luxury and quality in Croatia and the region.
Indulge in a world of exquisite jewelry and timepieces at Mamić 1970’s exclusive boutique at 7 Frane Petrić Street.
Photos Mamić 1970
