Carmine Di Donato at the watchmaking bench during a Swatch Group training session

Recensioniorologi.it

The Italian watchmaking magazine I founded in 2015.

On Recensioniorologi.it I tell the story of the world of watches through reviews, buying guides, technical insights, interviews and industry news. I write with a journalistic and independent approach, trying to make even the most complex subjects understandable without giving up precision.

How it started

Recensioniorologi.it was born in 2015 out of my passion for watches and the need to create an editorial space able to combine technical expertise, clarity and independence.

At the beginning it was a personal project, built article after article. I wanted to answer the questions I asked myself as an enthusiast: how a movement works, what differences exist between two models, what determines the value of a watch and which aspects need to be assessed before buying.

Over time the site grew together with my experience. The first relationships with brands arrived, along with invitations to presentations, visits to manufactures, international events and direct exchanges with technicians, collectors and industry professionals.

Today Recensioniorologi.it is an independent magazine followed every year by over a million readers, but it keeps the approach it was born with: explaining watchmaking with expertise, a critical spirit and accessible language.

What I publish

Technical reviews

I analyse design, dimensions, materials, movement, build quality, comfort on the wrist and value for money. When I try a watch directly, I also describe the experience of use and the aspects that emerge in everyday life.

Buying guides

I produce considered selections by price range, type, size and intended use, with the aim of helping the reader choose the model best suited to their needs.

Calibre analysis

I go in depth on mechanical and quartz movements, architectures, complications, performance, reliability and the technical solutions that have marked the history of watchmaking.

Interviews

I gather the point of view of manufacturers, watchmakers, designers, collectors and industry professionals to explore topics that cannot be told through a spec sheet alone.

News and events

I follow presentations, fairs, anniversaries, openings, product launches and the main industry appointments, distinguishing official information from my own assessments.

Editorials

I analyse the evolution of the market, collecting trends and the topics most discussed by enthusiasts, offering reasoned and recognisable opinions.

What I cover

I cover watchmaking in all its forms: from haute horlogerie to accessible watches, from mechanical movements to quartz, from the great maisons to independent brands.

I follow the main news from Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, IWC, Panerai, Grand Seiko, Tudor, Longines, Seiko, Citizen, Orient and many other players in the industry.

I take part in press presentations, meetings with brands, visits to manufactures and international events such as Watches and Wonders. These occasions allow me to observe new models directly, to speak with technicians and product managers and to verify information that rarely emerges from press releases alone.

Alongside new releases I also follow vintage watches, historic calibres, construction techniques, maintenance, the secondary market and the phenomena that influence the way enthusiasts choose and evaluate a watch.

The editorial criterion does not depend solely on the price or the fame of the brand. I choose topics based on their relevance, their informational value and the real questions of readers.

The numbers

1,000,000+
active users every year
2,200,000
sessions recorded
~2,000
pieces of content published
120+
new pieces of content each year
34.6M
impressions on Google Discover
21,000
regular readers

Data collected through Google Analytics, Google Search Console and the project’s editorial platforms.

Beyond the site

Recensioniorologi.it does not live only on the web. Through YouTube I publish reviews, in-depth content and videos dedicated to the models I try and to the topics that deserve a visual explanation.

On Instagram, Facebook and TikTok I share news, photographs, short videos, previews from events and content designed for a more direct exchange with the community.

Social media is not a simple promotional extension of the site. I use it to experiment with different languages, to answer readers’ questions and to turn technical subjects into more immediate content, without losing precision.

The result is an editorial ecosystem in which articles, images, videos and social media tell the story of the same industry through different, complementary formats.

How I work

I personally choose the topics to cover and define the editorial line of the magazine. Proposals from brands and press offices are assessed on their relevance to the audience, not just on the fame of the product.

When I review a watch, I start from the technical information and the available documentation. I check references, dimensions, materials, movement characteristics and the model’s positioning within the collection.

When I have the chance to try the watch directly, I also analyse proportions, legibility, perceived quality, comfort and behaviour in everyday use. Any limitations are pointed out with the same clarity reserved for the positive aspects.

Every piece of content is developed with a journalistic approach: I compare sources, I distinguish official data from personal assessments and I try to avoid both promotional language and conclusions built only to attract attention.

Most of the articles are written and signed directly by me. Any external contributions are entrusted exclusively to people with verifiable expertise and are published with the author’s name.

Commercial collaborations and affiliations are disclosed transparently. A relationship with a brand does not change the judgement expressed on a product and does not automatically guarantee the publication of content.

Collaborations

I consider proposals from brands, distributors, press offices, agencies and industry professionals for reviews, product tests, interviews, manufacture visits, presentations, event coverage and video content. For editorial requests or press material, write to me through the form.

Contact me