The Secret Designers Don’t Tell You! Venezianico Arsenale Review

[@nizarmurar]

Many thanks Jason. Professional, humble and honest as always. You are great as well as the watch.

[@DesignAtelier]

Thank you my friend! Always a pleasure hearing from you.

[@faded3657]

I love the effort you put into your videos, do you edit these yourself?

[@DesignAtelier]

Yes with Final Cut Pro and procreate on my iPad.

[@faded3657]

@@DesignAtelier impressive

[@brittwebb5602]

Excellent review. That bracelet is fire! As for the watch, I just cannot get over that coin-edge bezel and hands making it look a cheap Parmagiani Tonda knockoff.

[@DesignAtelier]

I think they are different enough to Parmagiani once you see the Tonda with it side by side. But that being said, PF really created that now iconic design that we cannot separate anything thats close to it.

[@brittwebb5602]

@@DesignAtelierI have ordered the slate gray (they call it “anthracite”) as I already have a blue Christopher Ward The Twelve. I’ll let you know what I think when it arrives

[@gmichaelhall]

So much to love about this. I really really like the minimalist dial, the absence of excessive font makes such a classy confident statement. The polished markers feel a bit too narrow and the beautiful open dial is an opportunity for more esoteric/impactive hands. I love love no seconds hand and no absurd date window. I really like this watch. Perhaps this incarnation of this model is more feminine in its appeal, I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. Ladies watches are in dire need of something special like this watch, even if this in fact eventuated by happy accident in trying to appeal to the trend of modern men’s watches being very dainty and sometimes comically undersized. There is a lot of middle ground mitigated by this design 8.6 out of 10

[@DesignAtelier]

One of the better comments in recent weeks from the channel!

[@gmichaelhall]

@@DesignAtelier I think very highly of the mannerism and inquisitive expressive nature of this channel. Its character and charm does not overtake the topic of the watch but rather, garnishes the subject matter with a perfect sense of knowledge depth and balance in presentation, not to mention the evolved understanding of aesthetics sans any pretentious over valued personal opinions. Being able to laugh at oneself makes it very easy for others to laugh with. This is high quality content that I feel I deserve Thank you for your insight and perspectives on watch design and culture ✌️

[@DesignAtelier]

@@gmichaelhall my ego is thoroughly stroked with this reply. Haha. Thank you.

[@ahirshfield]

Jayson - not sure what your understanding was re. lack of running seconds-hand on this model. It does not save any thickness of the case. They are using the 9029, not 9039, which actually lacks the seconds-hand from factory. So simply an (unfortunate) design choice: The saving of 0.35mm thickness by using the 9029 is only a benefit if you are having an open-heart balance-wheel for which the 9029 was intended. Which is evidently not a feature of this dial. Else the 9039 would also enable the exact same case thinness without date, and with a seconds hand included. It’s a shame to have a high-beat movement without any smooth motion on the dial. Many people also like to see some visible movement on the dial to know the watch is operating and has power. * 9039 (no date complication) * 9039 minimum case thickness: 8.25mm * 9039 total hand stack height: 1750µ (1.75mm) * 9015 (has date complication) * 9015 minimum case thickness: 8.6mm * 9015 total hand stack height: 2100µ (2.1mm) * 9029 is same as 9039 but only 2 hands and with Open Balance wheel. * 9019 is basically a 9015 but with a lower clearance for the hands. It has the same thickness of 3.9mm, but the ability to install the hands closer to the dial allows for an overall thinner watch design. In measurement, the difference is 1,750μ vs 2,100μ.

[@lachlandupuis2824]

Exactly the reason I haven’t pulled the trigger on the watch, would instantly buy a version with a seconds hand

[@Eikenhorst]

Indeed, it doesn't make any sense to add a high beat movement and not add a second hand. I don't even know why on earth they produce the 9029, since it doesn't make any sense. Personally I don't need a second hand, but then just put in a nice, thin, reliable and very affordable quarts movement. If you are not giving me a smooth seconds-hand nor a see through case back, what is the point of using an expensive movement like this when all it adds is service cost and less reliable timekeeping?

[@jamesblonde2271]

This lot have a bit of a chequered history, originally they were Mecciniche Venezia & had to close down after a terrible release replete with spec changes, mass warranty returns , quality issues etc, chronopolis have a history, the micro brand store have a thraed & there are hundred of hate groups on facebook from dissapointed customers.

[@WparuSlowach]

Thanks for addressing comments, I still believe in this price point Maen Manhattan offers a bit more extra, however it’s a good try from Venezianico to gain a bit of that market. I would stay with my FC Highlife, it’s more unique and much more comfortable for me to wear (I have blue 39mm chronometer edition). Ps. Hopefully Pf won’t sue Venezianico, because some elements are very close in terms of design and concept.

[@DesignAtelier]

i like these design discussions. I think the bezel and hands look very similar to the Tonda but not enough to sway the “spirit” down PF’s direction. the Tonda project wider and the rest of the watch i guess is different enough. but yes in the end its a parallel offering against other brands. PS. I also like the FC highlife but i need to handle one in person to make a better opinion.

[@WparuSlowach]

@@DesignAtelier I definitely will recommend it to try FC Highlife, especially 39mm version with COSC SW200 or Worldtimer with manufacture movement. Design and concept have very sensitive discussion these days. Look for NTH - amazing value/quality 60’s inspired Tudor Submariner and Rolex, but unfortunately Tudor make case against NTH and NTH is no longer with us. :/ Anyway, I wish Venezianico all the best.

[@DesignAtelier]

@@WparuSlowach yes im not sure that Tudor was the main reason for NTH going out but that is kinda sad. But thats why i prefer building stuff from scratch. It’s a lot safer. The drawback is of course it will be a LOT more expensive.

[@WparuSlowach]

@@DesignAtelier Possibly was not the main reason.. I would say NTH 2K1 line didn’t sell as good as 40 line, next factor is Ali express copies or clone watches and end of economic regression... I really like my NTH Legend sub, the only alternative is to get original watch from that era, but for sure will be more fragile and not as well made as modern technology allows. Microbrand watches need to show something else and move to higher price point to be competitive on the market. Luckily we still have few very good micro or independent brands on the market and I wish one day we would see NTH again.

[@theloniousmonkiv5982]

I was worried about that chamfer, I’m glad they addressed it lol, it looks soooo much better. 🍻 I bought a Revelot Gentus (similar style bracelet) for my sister and noticed the center links were a bit sharp around the edges, did you notice any sharpness on this?

[@DesignAtelier]

No sharpness here. Pretty solid wear.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

I feel more like the CW Twelve is worth the price. Same thickness (nominally, reality may vary) , date complication, display caseback, screw-down crown and a seconds hand. The dial here is very nice but there are a bunch of features lacking for me.

[@buttonsama5751]

Does it have screw down crown? Does this wear bigger than the 40mm PRX? They need to make the first link bracelet articulate down more. The hands bigger with lume. 100m should easily be doable

[@DesignAtelier]

Yes screw down crown. Wears smaller than PRX.

[@benjaminvis]

As nice as the elements of this watch are, I'd love to see you review the Mephisto from Makina too. I think it's arguably a more original take on the genre, while also being one of the more immediately easy to like watches from the brand. It's a bit less overtly dressy than the Arsenal, so also less thin, which is used to add sculptural rather than only shiny details.

[@pietrocanale1417]

very interesting review, a good, clever and unusual point of view.

[@MazinAraimiWatchesClub]

Thanks for the confirmation brother

[@robertlittlehawk7713]

Good review

[@appleratpipe]

Should have been quartz

[@weezkidtube]

Integrated bracelet watches are now passê... the formula has been reloaded so many times.

[@OmegaR4y]

I like the watch, but I don’t like the hands 🙂‍↔️

[@Pounderino]

For me I think it’s the dial.. if the dial was different I think the hands and markers would stand out more. But as it stands I don’t like the dial or hands and marker setup.. that could change with a different dial.

[@PoRRasturvaT]

Those $800 feel bad on the compromises for a watch that is Tonda inspired and this dressy with no equivalent anywhere, and that's why people are asking for a half as cheap quartz version. Myself, I wish this went to $1000-1200 with a better movement, a good looking rotor and a display case back (with 100M wr). Like the Twelve but with that beautiful dial and bracelet. Thinking about it, that's exactly what the PRX has, a cheap quartz version and a full featured mechanical version. That middle ground leaves me desiring for the full thing.

[@DesignAtelier]

Good point. I’ll have a watch in that similar line of idea in the future. If they can’t do it, I will!

[@musik4u343]

Make sure to get your facts straight. That specific moment is made to actually not have a running seconds.

[@joemama-p2y]

Almost made it through the video with out revealing your lack of knowledge of watches and watch buyers. There is no Buyer of this watch that is considering it in lieu of a royal oak or a Tonda. You couldn’t keep yourself from saying something so stupid. And up to that point I was thinking wow this is a pretty good video….. at-least you realized it is a Tonda homage not a a Czapek homage

[@DesignAtelier]

I was thinking specifically about you, Jeff. 🤣

[@joemama-p2y]

@@DesignAtelier I appreciate that