We may need to accept that the integrated bracelet-style watch is now just another kind of model brands are expected to have in their stables. I don’t exaggerate when I say they are everywhere, being done by everyone. Already having checked off almost every box that is expected of a brand — and plenty that aren’t — Italian brand Venezianico has officially thrown its hat in the ring. The brand has a wide variety of divers and dress watches, plus a less well-known chronograph, but the new Venezianico Arsenale satisfies the integrated bracelet requirement that seems to be placed upon brands these days, and it does so with the brand’s typically superb execution and value.
The prevalence of the steel integrated-bracelet sports watch means that everyone is intensely aware of the style. With the rapid-fire release from damn near every brand, there’s a freshness of those models, even as they blur together. The upshot (and downside) is that it’s very easy to compare to other brands. That’s a natural behavior for humans, as we seek to categorize and understand things, but it can become critical and unproductive within the watch community, as people see similarities as design failures and summarily dismiss watches. All that is to say that the Veneziancio Arsenale bears resemblance to a number of other similarly styled watches, including the Parmigiani Tonda and the Arnold & Son Longitude. I draw these comparisons here, now, explicitly so you don’t have to waste your time thinking (much less commenting) about them. Because the Venezianico is not either of those watches. While we can find similarities between any two watches, we do ourselves no favors using such comparisons as the basis of our assessment of watches.
The Venezianico Areslane starts with a 40mm steel case that has angled drilled lugs and a very generous polished chamfer that contrasts with brushed surfaces. The bezel is split: the widest portion is polished while a narrow outer band is knurled; I think a fully fluted bezel would have overwhelmed the watch, so I rather liked this approach. The brand says the knurling is inspired by the towers of the watch’s namesake, the Arsenale di Venezia; while it certainly looks similar, I’m always dubious of such claims from any brand — the effective use of a pre-existing design does not need an inspiration story, and most such stories are wanting in authenticity. The watch measures 44mm lug-to-lug and is just 8.95mm thick, thinner than both its closest competitors, the Atelier Wen Perception and the Christopher Ward The Twelve. On the wrist, those dimensions translate into exceptional wearability, with the lugs draping my 7-inch wrist perfectly.
The finishing and transitions are top-notch, hitting well above the sub-$1000 price. That said, this is what we should now be expecting from any brand that’s serious about making quality watches. There’s no excuse anymore for poor execution. Unnecessary but not unattractive are the subtle crown guards; the screw-down crown (carried over from the Redentore) is grooved and fully brushed, which adds an uncertain contrast to the elevated finish of the watch. I found the crown easy to operate and encountered no issues with grip or setting the watch. A flat sapphire crystal keeps a modern profile, and the watch has 50m water resistance. I certainly would’ve preferred a bit more, but I won’t pretend I need it for my life (and I prefer to assess watches on how I will wear them, not some unrealistic judgment as if I only have one watch and it needs to be up to everything I may do).
Both strap options are perfect for this watch, and I had a hard time figuring out which one I preferred. The brand’s Canova Concept bracelet has received an upgrade and continues the finishing of the case while adding polished curved edges to the center links. The rubber will also be a blessing to those who may not be able to get a perfect sizing on the bracelet which has a butterfly clasp. But know this: while sizing with the screw pins is easy, swapping to the rubber was a pain in the ass. The straps use a long pin with a very short end, so you need to unscrew one, then the other, or use two screwdrivers at once, to release them. Then, holding the rubber strap in place against the lugs and driving the long pin in required more force than I expected (or was comfortable with), so I spent undue time trying to finesse it. It turns out that slapping it through with my sizing mallet was the best approach. But it was well worth it. The color-matched rubber strap is soft and comfortable, perfectly flexible, and impressively, its design continues the chamfer of the case!
The case of the Arsenale is undeniably attractive, but it doesn’t steal the show. It’s more likely that you’ll be taken by the dynamic dial when you first see the watch. Available in purple, blue, and grey, the Arsenale’s dial features Côtes de Genève finishing, affording dynamic striping that plays a bit of hide and seek throughout the day. The light around the watch will determine whether the stripes are visible in force, or just barely detectable. What’s more, the color shifts, on the purple dial from a deep royal shade to a vibrant almost neon. Because the dial is so wide open, the stripes really do all the talking, and as happens in these situations, I found myself just staring at it, not even bothering to check the time.
What few appointments there are to the dial, they are done well. A simple Venetian cross (the company’s logo, also seen on the crown) is set just below the 12 o’clock marker, though each marker is identical and fully polished. A color-matched minute track surrounds the dial and the time is displayed with skeletonized dauphine hands, which are also polished. The contrast between the hands and the dial was sufficient in every condition to make reading the time easy, though without lume, you’ll be at a loss in the dark.
As is expected from Venezianico, the caseback of the Arsenale features a scene from Venice. In this case, it’s a detailed depiction of the iconic towers of the Arsenale and its canal-spanning bridge. The Arsenale di Venezia was one of the earliest large-scale industrial enterprises and was responsible for Venice’s naval might, owing to the mass production of ships with assembly line-style production. Under the caseback (which, you may notice, features knurling that mirrors the bezel), the watch is powered by the automatic Miyota 9029. The movement offers 42 hours of power reserve at 28,800 vph and has a quoted accuracy of -10/+30 seconds per day. Though without a seconds hand, you won’t notice any such latency until it’s quite a bit out of time; during my weeks with the watch, I never had any issues with accuracy.
Perhaps more so than other styles, the integrated bracelet watch has a finite number of acceptable executions. You can only get so wild before the market rejects your offering. With that in mind, the art is not so much in complete originality, but in the blending of existing designs into something new. That is a talent all its own and it’s something that Venezianico has shown a penchant for with the Arsenale. The watch is at once familiar and yet uses known designs to create something that is, in fact, new and is so well done that it defies its price and the fact that it is not a limited edition. The Venezianico Arsenale is priced at $800 USD. For more information, please visit the Venezianico website.
