In a nice place outside Pistoia, at the edge of the woods surrounded by green flowering meadows, Marco Cioni lives and works as a master luthier, after spending many years as a goldsmith and watchmaker. What is common to the art of violin making and the goldsmith's art rather than to the craft of the watchmaker, you may be wondering...
Well, the answer is clearly written everywhere in the corner of a large room where Marco organized his workshop of violin making. From equipment, furnishings, utensils, (he made a lot of these things his own just for the specific purpose) avoiding to mention the "workpieces", transpire innate qualities of craftsmanship, precision, attention to details combined with an uncommon passion and dedication.

The story of Marco Cioni as a luthier began just over a decade ago, at the age of 59, not just the age of an apprentice who starts practicing in a workshop, you might say. Nevertheless, a long time before, Marco had been an apprentice, when he was a child and was fascinated by the job of his uncle, a carpenter. Then, after graduating as an accountant, he joined him even if for a limited period of time. In fact, shortly after, he took his great chance when he decided to apply for a job as an apprentice watchmaker in a shop downtown. It was the period between 50s and 60s when Marco Cioni became a fully-fledged watchmaker opening his own workshop in Pistoia. It was a short step to get interested also in jewelery and so he quickly started the new store which even today is a point of reference in his town.

But let's get back to the apprentice luthier.... Everything started one day when Marco, while he was opening a clock of one of his clients, found it full of sawdust. So he called the owner and asked him if he were a carpenter. He answered he was a luthier, actually. "We need to talk", said Marco and invited him for a chat and drink a cup of coffee like old friends at his home.

Over the years, Marco had never lost his passion for woodworking by collecting and preserving the tools and equipment from the carpentry of his uncle who had had a key role in stimulating Marco’s nature as a brilliant craftsman. So, driven by his friend the luthier, Marco began to assimilate the techniques about the making of bowed stringed instruments.

He assiduously devoted himself to look for ancient texts written by the Master Luthiers in the past to learn their secrets about both manufacture and painting which he discovered to have a decisive role in the musical performance of an instrument, as much as the quality of wood. For the remaining part, his accomplishments talk of him. Marco joined the goldsmith's art to violin making

by inserting special works and gold made trim so to make his "jewels" so much rare to be unique. As a completion of his own success, respect and appreciation from musicians must be mentioned, also from those ones internationally accredited who tested "The Violins of Marco" with surprising satisfaction.