With his innate elegance, his inseparable pipe, and the “pins” on the collar of his jacket–whether in Milan, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, or in the garden of his beloved home in Lodi Vecchio–it was impossible not to notice and recognize this Gentleman, this true Citizen of the World… Sadly, the imposing figure of Luciano Arati passed away this Spring in his native Italy at the age of 77.
Born November 23, 1930 in Lodi Vecchio, Arati began working at age 15 just after the end of World War II for the publication, L’Orafo Italiano, where he alternated work and learning the French language while completing his studies. When he was 17, L’Orafo Italiano entrusted the young man with selling advertising space for the magazine. His collaboration with this revue continued until the beginning of the 1970s. During this time he also worked in the furniture sector, was active in marketing for the gold and silversmithing sectors and was recognised for his prolific journalistic activities. By the early 1980s, his name appeared officially on lists of prize winning journalists and his byline began showing up in the world’s major jewellery and watch revues, such as Couture International Jeweler, Europa Star, l’Orafo Italiano, Clessidra, Le Journal Suisse d’Horlogerie, JCK Magazine, and many others.
In 1972, Arati founded his own advertising agency, “Studio Luciano Arati.” That same year, he began working as press attaché for the Italian jewellery exhibitors at the Basel fair. This led, a few years later, to his role as coordinator of these exhibitors, beginning an association with the Basel show that lasted uninterruptedly until 2002.
Studio Luciano Arati prospered and grew, becoming the representative for Italians to other events and trade fairs, such as the Hong Kong Jewellery fair, the International Jewellery show in New York, the JCK fair in Las Vegas and Orlando, and the JA shows in New York. Parallel to his activities in the jewellery sector, his agency also coordinated Italian exhibitors at the Hong Kong Furniture Fair and the Hong Kong Footwear Fair until the end of the 1990s. His diligent work ethic and his untiring desire to know the world around him took Arati to the United States, Japan, Thailand, China, and Hong Kong, as well as to the other nations of Europe. During the last few years, his work has been gradually assumed by his children, leaving him more time to spend with his grandchildren. Still, he continued to travel He visited old friends and trade fairs, which he considered a little bit like “his” shows, where the “Gentleman with the pipe” was always the one to see for solving a problem, asking for advice, having a small chat, or simply being able to smoke a pipe or a Tuscan cigar together.
During more than 60 years, Luciano Arati passionately and unwaveringly dedicated himself to the development of the Italian gold sector. Yet, he never neglected his family to whom he transmitted his devotion for work and his values of honesty, professionalism, and doing the right thing. Luciano Arati, you will be greatly missed by the Europa Star and Couture International Jeweler team.
