Venezianico has shown significant progress over the past few years.
This young Venetian brand has demonstrated ambition by consistently improving its watches. Whether it's original dials, proprietary calibers, or skillful variations of existing models, the extensive collection becomes more interesting with each new release. One of the brand's commercial successes has been the Arsenale collection. This series of sports watches with an integrated bracelet offers great value for money at a very affordable price. Recently, Venezianico expanded the lineup by introducing its first complicated watch - the Arsenale Calendario. I was fortunate to personally familiarize myself with the new model.
Overview of Previous Venezianico Arsenale Models
About a year ago, I had the opportunity to test the Venezianico Arsenale Platino and Arsenale Avventurina models. These watches, with good value for money, served as an excellent introduction to the series for me. As I noted in the article, Arsenale embodies Italian style and looks more elegant compared to popular counterparts. Both models feature unique dials that highlight their style and individuality. Moreover, it was demonstrated how the brand offers an entry-level option with a Japanese Miyota movement and a more premium version with a Soprod caliber. My impressions were very positive - the series is indeed an excellent choice for those looking for affordable sports watches with an integrated bracelet.
Features of the New Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
However, the brand did not stop there. Since my review, Venezianico has expanded the lineup by introducing 37mm Arsenale models. Furthermore, last month saw the release of the first complicated version - the Arsenale Calendario. In his introductory article, Mike praised Venezianico's designers for creating a calendar model with a minimalist design and affordable price. I was able to verify if these compliments hold true in practice.
Let's start with the technical specifications to get a complete picture of the new model. Both available versions have a stainless steel case with a diameter of 40mm and a thickness of only 11mm (including 1.4mm convex sapphire crystal) with a compact lug-to-lug length of 44mm. The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters and features a proprietary fluted bezel and a screw-down crown protected by case protrusions.
The case is paired with the signature Canova steel bracelet, equipped with a hidden butterfly clasp with buttons. The brand offers two dial options - blue and purple with a sunburst effect. Both options have sub-dials with a concentric pattern, adding visual flair. We were provided with the version featuring a purple dial for review.
Dial of the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
On closer inspection of the dial, there are three sub-dials located at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions. At the 12 o'clock position, there is a power reserve indicator, above which the brand's logo is applied. The sub-dial at 3 o'clock displays the month - this function is adjusted with a button at 2 o'clock. The sub-dial at 6 o'clock serves as a day and night indicator. Instead of the usual 24-hour scale, Venezianico used a pictographic display showing the progression of day or night. Two small screws secure the sapphire lens over the lower half of this sub-dial, while the open upper part above the lens shows the current settings.
Between the sub-dials at 3 and 6 o'clock, there is a neatly integrated date window. The color of the disc matches the dial color, making it unobtrusive yet easy to read. The sub-dial at 9 o'clock displays the day of the week using Italian abbreviations, which can help refresh your Italian language skills. The arc-shaped power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock provides visual balance without cluttering the dial. Overall, like Mike, I was pleasantly surprised by how harmoniously all the elements come together.
Miyota 9100 Movement
Behind the engraved stainless steel case back depicting the Venetian Arsenal lies the automatic Miyota 9100 movement with a thickness of 5.52mm. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour with a power reserve of 42 hours. The official accuracy is -10/+30 seconds per day, which is not outstanding, but users report an improvement to ±10-15 seconds after adjustment.
The mechanism is intuitive to operate. Pulling the crown to the first position allows you to adjust the day and date by turning clockwise or counterclockwise. Pulling it to the second position adjusts the time with the central skeletonized hands. The day and night indicator at 6 o'clock automatically synchronizes with the time setting. Additionally, the movement supports manual winding and hacking.
Wearing the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of wearing the Arsenale Calendario. The case proportions are perfect, and the watch feels comfortable and pleasant on the wrist. It's especially pleasing that adding calendar complications didn't require increasing the case diameter or length, and the thickness increased by just over a millimeter.
The bracelet, with its smooth tapering, looks elegant and fits the wrist comfortably. It should be noted that the butterfly clasp can only be closed in one way due to the protruding logo on one side, but you quickly get used to this nuance.
The dial particularly caught my attention. I'm not usually a fan of red shades, but this dial is impressive. Depending on the lighting, it changes color from deep red to almost purple - it's truly intriguing. After viewing the promotional photos, I would have chosen the blue option, but after wearing the watch for a few days, I realized that the purple dial is much more unusual and attractive.
The meticulous finish is also immediately noticeable. The combination of polishing and vertical satin finishing is executed with high detail. Thanks to this, the Arsenale Calendario looks like a luxury watch. Fortunately, the build quality matches the appearance. As I confirmed in previous reviews of Arsenale models, the watch feels reliable and well-made.
Final Impressions of the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
Overall, the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario pleasantly surprised me. Before starting my acquaintance, I was sure that this calendar version couldn't surpass the impressions from the two single-function models I tested a year ago. I usually prefer the simplicity of a two-hand watch to complicated ones with multiple indicators.
However, there is something special about the Arsenale Calendario that caught my attention. The watch looks balanced, and at a price of about €1200 ($1400), it's hard to find a competitor with the same price-quality ratio. Moreover, it's difficult to name direct competitors in general. If you need an alternative to the usual sports watches with an integrated bracelet and just time, this model is an excellent choice. Popularity is already noticeable: the first batch of purple Arsenale Calendario, scheduled for delivery in June, is sold out. The second batch of 300 pieces with delivery at the end of August is still available for order.
The Arsenale Calendario clearly demonstrates how Venezianico skillfully expands its collection. It's interesting to observe what the brand offers with each new release. If Venezianico maintains this level of quality and interest, it will be one of the accessible brands to watch in the near future.