Yesterday
FOV, Forniture Orafe Vicentine, was established in 1960 amidst the thriving goldsmith tradition of Vicenza.
During this period, Vicenza experienced a true boom in the jewelry sector. New workshops emerged daily, and companies like FOV acted as a bridge between the demand from workshops and the supply from manufacturers.
FOV was founded by Italian-French entrepreneur Michele Rinaldi, formerly a technician at the Swiss diamond-cutting machine company Tous Diamonds. Rinaldi moved to Italy in the 1960s, recognizing the business potential of diamond-cutting machines. This prompted him to relocate and initially establish FBMO, which collaborated with Ompar, a manufacturer of diamond-cutting machines.
From this experience and Rinaldi’s market foresight, FOV was born.
Today
FOV is a constantly evolving entity. In 2017, the company underwent significant transformations, including relocating its headquarters from Vicenza to Bressanvido (Vicenza), joining Legor Group S.p.A. Key developments included the implementation of an automated warehouse, consolidation of storage facilities, strengthening of the sales network, and the launch of a web platform for e-commerce.
Today, FOV operates exclusively as an e-commerce store, offering customers the same level of assistance they would expect from a physical store.
In 1979, the historic warehouse on Via del Progresso in Vicenza was inaugurated. Starting with 12 employees, the workforce eventually grew to 30. FOV specialized in large machinery such as diamond-cutting machines, presses, chain-making machines, furnaces, and rolling mills, as well as tools and consumables.
From the outset, FOV offered an extensive range of materials to meet the demands of a dynamic and rapidly evolving market.
In a short time, daily customers grew from 5 to 200. The warehouse stocked up to 20,000 items, and as many as 20 diamond-cutting machines were sold internationally each month.
At the time, demand for jewelry-making machinery was so high that delivering a chain-making machine could take up to two years. Despite this, FOV managed to sell up to 500 chain-making machines annually.
FOV soon expanded, opening branches in Bassano Del Grappa—a city renowned for chain production—as well as in Milan and Arezzo. The business also reached international markets, including North Africa, Northern and Eastern Europe, and South America.
The 1990s brought an unexpected crisis to the jewelry sector, leading to FOV’s official merger with Legor Group in 2007, where it became an important division of the company’s portfolio.
The long tradition of FOV products could not simply fade away. As a beacon for Italian, and particularly Vicentine, goldsmithing, FOV’s legacy continues, advancing and upholding its esteemed name.
