Over the previous few years, the younger unbiased Italian model Venezianico has constructed a cult following for its spectacular ending, average pricing, and agency devotion to a lush, distinctly Venetian visible language. This final level has ranged from a penchant for conventional Venetian aventurine glass to ornately carved dials depicting the town’s Renaissance masterpieces, however one among its most placing visible tributes thus far pays homage to what would possibly nicely be the town’s most beloved landmark: the Basilica San Marco (or St. Mark’s Cathedral, for non-Italian audio system). The brand new Venezianico Nereide Aureo provides a 24K gold dial remedy to the model’s sturdy fashionable diver platform, creating a singular mix of sensible performance and spectacular spectacle that few watches can match at this worth level.
At 42mm extensive and 49mm lug-to-lug, the Venezianico Nereide Aureo’s stainless-steel case is on the bigger facet of present traits however wears nicely on extra moderate-sized wrists because of its balanced case profile and pronounced wraparound impact. The general form right here isn’t precisely groundbreaking, with a typical fashionable diver-style mixture of tapering, athletic chamfered lugs, and pronounced square-tipped crown guards. It will not be probably the most adventurous diver case, however the ending is well-executed all through, with impressively sharp transitions between mild linear brushed planes and brightly polished chamfers. The place the Nereide Aureo’s case actually grabs consideration, nevertheless, is with its unidirectional dive bezel. The insert right here is mirror-polished tungsten, which supplies the watch a placing, ultra-reflective look. It’s tough to convey simply how reflective this bezel is on the wrist (which makes photographing our media pattern an actual problem). In need of the superbly distortion-free Zaratsu sprucing utilized by manufacturers charging practically ten occasions Venezianico’s asking worth, this is kind of probably the most brightly reflective, mesmerizingly crisp bezel one is more likely to see within the steel. Moreover, because of the ultra-hard tungsten insert materials, this near-flawless mirror shine is unlikely to be marred by the superficial scratches watches have a tendency to choose up over time. There’s a slight downside to this, nevertheless – though the polished tungsten could also be sturdy and scratch-resistant, it attracts fingerprints and smudges like a magnet. After turning the bezel or dealing with the watch, extra fastidious wearers will possible want to interrupt out a cleansing material. For the caseback, Venezianico affords a razor-sharp, finely detailed engraving of the inside of the Basilica San Marco, full with depictions of the opulent mosaics that line its gold leaf-covered partitions. As one would possibly anticipate from a diver as nicely, the Nereide Aureo boasts a reliable 200-meter water resistance.
At first look, the principle dial floor of the Venezianico Nereide Aureo seems to be hammered gold leaf, however the actuality is much extra advanced and work-intensive. The primary seen layer of the dial is, in actual fact, pure 24K gold, a rarity even within the higher echelons of watchmaking, however quite than the skinny, gossamer-delicate work of gold leaf, the model has devised a proprietary process. To emulate the hammered texture of the leaf utilized to the partitions of Basilica San Marco, Venezianico begins by working every brass dial clean by a tumbling course of, making a sequence of tiny dents and imperfections. From right here, the dial blanks are galvanically plated with 24k gold, then completed with a number of layers of clear varnish as a protectant. The tip result’s genuinely fascinating on the wrist, with a wealthy luster and a fascinatingly detailed texture that outshines just about any competitor in its worth vary. Outdoors of this superb golden dial floor, the Nereide Aureo’s dial is sharp and easy, with faceted ladder palms accented by beveled, brightly polished indices utilized to a raised, radially brushed outer chapter ring. The one actual draw back right here is the mismatched white date show at 3 o’clock, however ending a date wheel to match the hammered gold look of the dial would possible be no small endeavor.
Contained in the Venezianico Nereide Aureo beats the acquainted Sellita SW200-1 automated motion. The SW200-1 is likely one of the hottest selections for unbiased manufacturers today, providing straightforward servicing, easy development, and middle-of-the-road efficiency together with a 41-hour energy reserve at a 28,800 bph beat charge.
Relatively than the H-link bracelet discovered on earlier iterations of the Nereide, Venezianico makes use of the Nereide Aureo to launch a brand new bracelet design for the model: the “Sansovino.” This five-link stainless-steel bracelet makes use of a superficially related format to the generally controversial bracelet design of the Omega Seamaster Skilled, full with two rows of polished mid-links and a usually rounded hyperlink profile. Previous the fundamental format, although, the “Sansovino” may be very a lot its personal beast, with a swoopy, curving outer hyperlink profile, simplified second and fourth hyperlinks, feminine finish hyperlinks, and a extra streamlined, easy total execution. A brushed and polished two-button clasp with an utilized Venezianico cross emblem completes the design right here. On the wrist, the burden of this bracelet is noticeable however not unwieldy, and the softly curving hyperlink profiles make this each snug and good-looking throughout long-term put on.
Venezianico’s latest rise in fanatic circles appears deeply tied to its devoutly Venetian model aesthetic, and a number of the younger model’s most fascinating work comes on the intersection of this love for the look of Venice and the necessity to produce useful, sensible timepieces. The Venezianico Nereide Aureo is a (actually) shining instance of how fascinating this intersection may be – this solidly constructed mid-range dive watch turns into a placing dialog piece, mainly by the ability of its dial and bezel. The Venezianico Nereide Aureo is accessible for preorder now by the model’s e-commerce platform. MSRP for the Venezianico Nereide Aureo stands at $1,295 USD as of press time. For extra info, please go to the brand’s website.
Trending Merchandise
