A dial that captures the movement of Venice itself. Paired with a refined case and impressive manual-wound movement, the Venezianico Redentore Utopia II Alpha is one watch that offers more than meets the eye!
Venezianico has unveiled the second-generation of one of their most popular timepieces, the Redentore Utopia. The first edition of this timepiece was a dream for the Italian watchmaker to create a watch that showcases their full identity. From the brand’s first calibre that’s been designed and built in Italy, to creating a dial that’s inspired by the Venetian lagoon and its constant movement.
It certainly felt like utopia for the team at Venezianico, where everything seemed to come together perfectly. And, fittingly, this is the name given to one of the brand’s most iconic pieces. While Venezianico’s history may be short, being only founded in 2017 by brothers Alberto and Alessandro Morelli, the brand has risen exponentially. The brothers were university students at Ca’ Foscari in Venice, both driven by a passion for watchmaking and their design to represent their hometown through the design language of the watches.
With only a handful or so of great Italian watchmakers, Venezianico wanted to bring more Italian culture and design to the world of watchmaking. The brand didn’t want to be just another watchmaker that creates generic designs, but rather create timepieces that capture the essence, history, and culture of Venice.
The Redentore Utopia is just that. The V5000 calibre, for example, that sits inside is the brand’s first Italian-made movement, created after “years of discussions shaping a clear vision of what the ideal movement meant to them”. Everything seemed to then fall into place when they met Fausto Berizzi, a key figure in Italian watchmaking, whose expertise lies in micromechanical engineering.
In late January, the brand released the second generation, named Redentore Utopia II ‘Alpha’, where they looked to the golden luminous tones that have defined Venice, where the warm tones showcase the beautiful architecture of this city.
Case Design
The Redentore Uptopia II ‘Alpha’ features the same case design as the first gen, with proportions of 38mm x 8.9mm thickness, and lug-to-lug distance of just 44.2mm. With these slim proportions, it is designed to fit most wrist sizes, with its discreet profile being able to easily slide under a cuff.
The stainless steel case features a mix of finishes, from the vertically brushed surfaces on the top of the case to the horizontally brushed case sides. The chamfered edges, along with the smooth bezel, are finished with polishing, adding a touch of luxury and elegance, ideal characteristics for a dress watch.
Dial Design
The dial is, of course, where this watch truly comes to life. The beautiful dial pattern is created through the rare art of guilloché. For Venezianico, this rare artisanal craftsmanship is passed down through generations. Riccardo Renzetti was the author of the dial of the first-generation Redentore Utopia.
With the skill being passed down through generations, his daughter Linda Renzetti has also mastered this rare craft and is now one of the artisans carrying out the guilloché work. She is one of the very few artisans still able to practise this technique according to historical methods, working on 19th-century lathes operated entirely by hand.
“A rare craft, preserved by a handful of masters and historic machines operated entirely by hand, where each engraving is the result of a slow, precise, and irreversible gesture. Line after line, micron after micron, the metal is sculpted without any possibility of correction, in a constant dialogue between hand, material, and light. The result is not a mere decoration, but a living, deep surface that changes with the angle of observation and makes every dial unique.”
Venezianico on the art of guilloché
A truly stunning display, the idea behind the engraved pattern originated “from the observation of the tide, and from the bond with the lagoon territory, where water and light continuously transform the perception of surfaces.” The design was first developed through paper through various experimental patterns, which were then refined through large aluminium plates. Then the final product was on full-scale brass discs, which allow the engraving, polished surfaces, and visual depth of the piece to really shine.
The golden surface of the dial amplifies this incredible guilloché pattern. When the light hits the dial from certain angles, it appears as though the waves are in motion, creating an exceptional visual experience. This interplay of light and texture brings the dial to life, ensuring it never feels static on the wrist.
Movement
The movement sitting inside is an upgraded version of the first Italian movement for the brand, the manual-wound V5001. Developed from the base V5000 calibre, it keeps the same movement architecture, reliability, and performance, while introducing a grade of finishing, and features a 24k gold galvanic treatment that beautifully matches the dial aesthetics.
The V5001 calibre offers a 60-hour power reserve, operating at 3.5Hz (25,200 VpH). Venezianico states that the movement is accurate to +/- 3 seconds a day. The movement features a variable inertia balance wheel made from copper-beryllium alloy, a split gear train system (one for the seconds and another for minutes and hours), and lastly a KIF Elastor antishock system, which has been designed to protect the balance wheel against impacts.
With the dial having the eye-catching guilloché pattern, it only makes sense for the movement to be decorated just as aesthetically. Against the 24k gold galvanic plating, the movement plates are finished with radial Côtes de Genève, while underneath the balance wheel, you’ll find fine perlage finishing. The balance bridge is characterised by horizontal étirage, emphasising its structural and technical role within the movement.
Initial Thoughts
When I first saw Venezianico’s creation two years ago, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the timepieces were executed. The Redentore Utopia II Alpha is a great reflection of not only the brand’s growth over the past few years, but also its attention to detail, the exceptional artisanal work, and the evolution of the brand’s first Italian-made movement.
What I love about the Redentore Utopia II Alpha is that all the elements work together in harmony. The stunning tide-inspired guilloché pattern doesn’t detract from the dial’s readability. The hands and indices, along with Venezianico contrast nicely against the rich golden tones to deliver a timepiece that is as aesthetic as it is easy to read.
Combine this with the impressive manual-wound movement, which is finished to a degree that is comparable to more expensive watches on the market, what we have is a timepiece that balances refined aesthetics with genuine watchmaking credibility. Altogether, the Redentore Utopia showcases Venezianico’s growing maturity, delivering a timepiece that feels both thoughtfully designed and impressively executed.
Reference: Venezianico Redentore Utopia II – Alpha – Limited Edition
Specifications
- Dimensions: 38mm x 8.9mm thick, lug-to-lug: 44.20mm
- Case Material: 316L Stainless steel with brushed and polished surfaces.
- Dial: Guilloché dial hand-engraved on an 1850 rose engine by master artisan Riccardo Renzetti.
- Movement: Manual-wound V5001 calibre. Made in Italy (Manufactured by OISA, designed by Fausto Berizzi & Andrea Menegazzo.
- Power Reserve: Approximately 60 hours.
- Beat Rate: 3.5Hz (25,200 VpH)
- Strap: Hand-crafted embossed leather with 316L stainless steel buckle that is polished, brushed, and engraved.