Pirro Ruço and his daughter Alba Ruço were the featured guests of Prime Minister Edi Rama in episode 9, season 3 of the “Flasim” podcast, titled “The Clock That Never Stops,” specifically to illustrate this journey.

Rama said that he has closely followed Pirro Jewellery because he is deeply passionate about the creation of products, viewing it more as an art workshop than as a store.

And it is exactly for this reason, thanks to the craftsmanship of Pirro Jewelry, Albania has been accepted into the competition for the 2024 Grand Prix of Watches in Geneva, Switzerland, also known as the “Oscar” of watchmaking.

However, Pirro’s story originates in Kuçova, where, raised in a persecuted family, he initially struggled to pursue higher education.

He shared his life story, with its ups and downs reflecting those of Albania itself, which in 30 years transitioned from Enver Hoxha’s dictatorship to the era of luxury watches.

“After three years of recess, I was able to pursue higher education in engineering. I managed to design a machine at home, which was an extraordinary event. Thanks to the fact that Kuçova was surrounded by the aviation factory, which is now a NATO base, as well as the mechanical industry and the Poliçan factory nearby, I decided to bring it into operation. I chose to design a high precision machine and brought it into operation. I modeled a portrait of Enver Hoxha and engraved it on a steel stamp. It was one of the most beautiful stories, marking the beginning of the ‘Pirro’ history, the first seal I ever made,” Pirro recalls.

These medals, awarded to recognize the moral values of the regime’s most loyal supporters, were significant for the dictatorship.

This brings us to the magnificent masterpiece of Pirro Jewelry—the watch featuring Albanian motifs, which proudly represented Albania in Geneva.

A watch featuring a dial of 1,500 microscopic tiles made of red Murano stone, with 12 Albanian dancers, each measuring 0.9 mm, handcrafted in 18-karat yellow gold.

“With every tick-tock sound of the watch, I feel a heartbeat. The watch was acknowledged as something truly extraordinary, almost captivating, and ultimately, it was marked as a work of art. This recognition comes from the most prestigious watch journalism in Switzerland. The five years it took to create this timepiece were a personal challenge, while trying to embed our cultural heritage and identity in it,” said Pirro.

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