Lots of Potential, Just One Issue... Venezianico Arsenale Review

[@MrPleers]

The dial is not really the problem. It's the hands and hour markers. If they were white (and the hands not skeletonised), it may be much better.

[@CyberSammael]

It's like they specifically picked the worst hand set possible.... If it had lume, or the hands were gold, or another colour, or even not skeletonized it would make a big difference.

[@UTOOOOOOOY]

I own one and I 100% agree about the readability issues of this watch, the overall experience however has been positive, it hasn't really affected my enjoyment of the watch. Comfy on the wrist, the dial is awesome to look at especially when you play with the light with it, it's a "fun" watch to experience for the lack of a better term to describe it. I love the watch but I don't really recommend it either at it's current state, however, I do recommend people to try it on to see if it gives them that "spark" to make a buying decision for it.

[@stavros_katsopr]

When you copy PF Tonda on a budget...

[@brianmccord7387]

This brand charges a hell of a lot for a company whose every watch contains serious flaws

[@Sam_D]

This is what I call an honest review. I wish more youtubers do such reviews, it also helps the brands too.

[@RelativeTime]

Thank you, I appreciate. It's a shame this video didn't do better. It was actually one of my worst performing videos in years. So not a lot of people saw it.

[@TheAdamh612]

Recently picked one up, and gotta say - I love it…as a piece of jewelry. It looks and feels fantastic. The dial is epic. But as a watch? Ooof. You can read it, but you have to really want to read it. It’s fun, it’s flashy, it’s not so great for checking the time. Keep the dial, change the hands.

[@chateaubullion2560]

At the risk of sounding pedantic, the Ultrablack comes in 40mm and 36mm not 38. I know, since I have the 36mm. I like Venezianico watches for their design and style. It's unlike anything else I have in my collection. I have four of their watches but no Arsenale.

[@pauldi7268]

What if you filled the open area of the hands with lume, might make it more readable in all lighting

[@dunderhay9169]

Good review and fair criticism 👍 . I agree 50m WR is less than ideal, but having sacrificed the second hand to get it to 9mm, I suppose adding a mm of glass and a thicker back would be frustrating. If I was to redesign this, I would go with a good quartz movement and use the space saved to bring the WR up to 100m while reducing the size to 38mm and of course fitting visible hands 😁

[@WeibenWang]

If you like the dial, check out the Maen Manhattan (as a Manhattanite, I don't know what a Manhattan about the watch). I tried this and the Maen at Windup New York. The design is more elegant and refined, and the there's no trouble with legibility of the hands. Is $300 more though, though probably worth it.

[@denisnako811]

Realistically speaking, I dont even look at the time on my watch. Its become a habit to just check my phone when I need to look at the time. This watch is absolutely stunning to me. Everything about it is mashAllah beautiful

[@thealphabethalls]

I LOVE the dial. A set of white hands which you can actually see, and it would be fabulous.

[@DarthGem1]

I just bought the purple one. Not only because I am huge Prince fan, (though I am). But this watch is entriely something else. Yes, it has all the issues listed here. Only if you're looking for them. I guess people miss the whole point of it. It exudes Italian elegance in all its glory, even if it has some flaws. The bracelet is outstanding, simple as that. Can compete with all Royal Oaks, et consortes. The dial is beyond elegant and intriguing , especially in that purple colour. But the navy blue and gray do great job as well. Lack of seconds hand is purposedly done, because every other watch HAS THEM. You can pick any and observe the ticking or gliding (depending on the movement version) but NOT in here. That's the whole point. Yes, Parmigiani had a date. But remember: Parmigiani costs 27000 Euro. This one is only 800 Eur. It's just a steal for its beauty. And it is by no means a "sports watch" - it is dressy one and it is clear from a moment you see it. As for the hands - many complain that they become hard to read - but look how they change the colour, depending on the angle -going from steel shine to dark charcoal. You don't see it in any other watch. My ONLY gripe would be that it really should be max 38 mm, even if I have quite a wrist. 38 mm would suit this example of elegance way better. But one cannot have everything, can one? ;)

[@YOJIMBO_ESCANOR]

Hi, what do you think about the satin finish of the crown comparating with the polie/brossé case finish??

[@RelativeTime]

Well, the entire case has a lot going on, and I think as a whole it works. Or at the very least blends in. I think the coin edge at the base of the bezel stands out more than anything.

[@YOJIMBO_ESCANOR]

@@RelativeTime thanks for you answer

[@jontpt]

If you don't need a watch to tell the time, it's perfect. Completely illegible

[@cosmodoc]

thanks for the interesting review, Shane! The ultra-black was available in 40 and 36mm, not 38mm! So I’m going to wait, as you say

[@brianlam9429]

And he actually reviewed them

[@lpsalsaman]

Excellent objective review Shane. The watch looks good, but like you stated, the hands seem to get lost within the dial which is not a good thing. I think the dial pattern is fine if they get a different set of hands and possibly markers to go with them. Given the water resistance and some design queues, I also agree that the company did not know which way to go if they would make it a "sport" watch or a "dress" watch. Oh, and if the bracelet changing is that hard, then that's no good, sorry to hear you stab yourself! Anyway, keep up the great work, and happy holidays!

[@RelativeTime]

Thanks! I figured out a trick to make it easier now. But would of been great if they had figured out some quick release system for it.

[@lpsalsaman]

@@RelativeTime You are welcome. I'm glad to hear you were able to figure out an easier way to change the bracelet. It would have been a plus if they had included something like a quick release.

[@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

Always luv ur reviews… Reckon this 1’s a bit exxy 4 what u get… 👍😊

[@WilsonCQB1911]

I bought a Citizen Chronomaster because of you lol! Ugh. Its a great watch.

[@RelativeTime]

It really is isn't it! which color did you get?

[@WilsonCQB1911]

@RelativeTime Blue. The AQ4091-56M. The only "downside" is that there's truly no fiddling with it. I don't have to reset it occasionally or do anything really other than at DST time changes. I wonder if I'll love that or miss having to mess around with my watch on occasion.

[@RelativeTime]

@WilsonCQB1911 I've got enough other great watches that I find it nice to have one that's always good to go. One I don't have to fiddle with.

[@musik4u343]

I think even with all that it's still far better than the PRX. However I do agree with the Christopher Ward part if you're going to get this watch just maybe save a little more and get that. But I'm pretty sure they'll be using this case design again and put more traditional dials on them

[@Konsaliki]

Maen watches did the whole geneva stripes on the dial thing much better.

[@Horizontalvertigo]

Well, to be fair to them, they only list the Arsenale as a dress watch, & not a sports watch. I agree with you on basically all points, I'm sure they'll put out at least a 36mm. Even CW have made an intermediate 38mm size these days too. & speaking of the Twelve, I really don't see myself buying this when I could just get the Twelve instead. Especially considering I think CW has a much better reputation, & I don't feel any level of concern about them fulfilling their warranty obligations.

[@benjaminvis]

Coming to this review late, I can't help but thinking it's odd that the most vocally critical review of this watch never graced my YT feed, almost as if it got buried a bit. I can't help but agree. The idea of it seems great and the design elements all rather handsome, and under the right angles, the desired visual impact is certainly there. It would also seem that in other reviews the emphasis may have been on more flattering angles (literally speaking). Yet, crucial critiques such as the slightly high price point (though perhaps excluding VAT for the US less so?), the too large sizing (with limited articulation in the end links, and the disappearing hands in a dual that just presents quite distractingly, even if it is beautiful, and I'd add that oddly the crown looks matte vs the other case finishes. All these things could be addressed. Since the launch, my favourite Arsenale is actually the ultra black. I've said elsewhere that in this watch, and I stress on the bracelet(!), this absorbing black makes finally makes sense. For me, the hour markers on this original version feel undersized, so they get lost a little in the visual onslaught of the dial, and the dynamics light play of the dial is in direct competition with the polished flourishes of the case and bracelet. In the Ulta black version both major elements stand in contrast and get space to breathe. I care not much for the caseback decoration on either version and I regret that the bracelet version of the ultra black gets up to 900EUR. If/when they reduce that version, it may be one of the more compelling Venezianicos released, which is saying something as it seems barely a month goes by without yet further Venezianico releases, which is an aspect of the brand that fatigues me. The speed of churning them out is possibly more important than absolute refinement and a fully thought through coherent offering, even if there is a bit of a family line in their offerings. Some are just so much stronger aesthetically than others. But perhaps all that is a matter of taste. They seem quite successful.

[@RelativeTime]

Yeah, not sure what was going on exactly. This video performed horribly, surprisingly so. I think it's the worst performing video I've had in a couple of years. The analytics tell me it's underperforming by at least 60-70% compared to what I would normally get. The only thing I can think of is something I pointed out in that one video I did. The one talking about why so many reviews are positive. Which is that negative reviews don't perform well, and get buried by the algorithm. And I guess this supports that theory. When I came right out of the gate saying there's a big issue and pointing it out, lot of people just stopped watching after that. Which tells the algorithm that this video is no good, and stops recommending it to anyone. At least that's my theory. Especially when you look at other reviews of this watch and see that those videos are getting a lot more views. Even on smaller channels.

[@benjaminvis]

@RelativeTime very interesting. It would be very pertinent to know whether the algorithm decides also based on an expectation of whether the content is likely to do well, or only reacts quite quickly on the viewing behaviour observed. If the latter, there is an opportunity to try to hook viewers for longer throughout a video, though naturally this means changing tone and presentation to please powers adverse to diversity in messaging. It's interesting and complex. Yet, it's also good to confirm that it wasn't just me overlooking the video, which would have been a possibility.

[@vincebrickner5529]

Yeah I can't go with integrated bracelets are there any watches myself. And if you can't read the time what's the point. And then $800 ridiculous!

[@larrydalton2205]

You nailed this review, which is typical for you. Dial and hands are terrible...case and bracelet have lots of potential. I hope they listen to you. Otherwise, it is useless as a watch and just a piece of jewelry.

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

Fill those hands with lume, apply microdots of lume outside the applied indices and problem solved. I fixed the same problem on the Baltany 1912 drivers watch homage in salmon by blueing the hands myself. (brace for Arrested Development jokes incoming). Not many people want to perform open-heart surgery and DIY on an $800 watch, and it's shame that it costs so much to make this thing useful. As for thickness? There are loads of 9mm integrated watches with date and central seconds, so they didn't gain anything by losing them. It's a design choice. I'd be tempted to add one back in if there were still height to spare behind the crystal. I've been holding out on picking up one of their models, as they are so expensive for what they are, but the originality of the design is worth a lot, assuming the fit and finish are executed to par. I love my Twelve(Ti) but the Venezianico watches are a step up in pure class IMHO.

[@zosothezephead837]

Very reminiscent of Christopher Ward.

[@bngr_bngr]

This watch has the worst name. It’s like a fashion watch for sale at Walmart.

[@Mystery_Man84]

Dude it takes class to know class. You obviously have none.

[@denisnako811]

Bruv the name is absolutely beautiful

[@DM-rc4yu]

*than

[@rumatadestora]

Wow, this one is terrible!

[@AMore429]

That’s just bad. These micro brands are getting ridiculous with these prices. Save a couple of hundred and buy a Longines 😂

[@Bob_Smith19]

Why even have the indices? Just leave them off the dial, problem solved. Ditch the minute track as well.

[@giusepperocchi2979]

They may as well ditch the hands.

[@Bob_Smith19]

@@giusepperocchi2979you can still tell the time w/ out any markers. You can’t w/ out hands 😂

[@giusepperocchi2979]

@Bob_Smith19 Not with this watch

[@etebol]

*Arsenal in the title bro

[@Horizontalvertigo]

No, he spelled it correctly

[@lawrence-ec5dm]

Looks to much like a fashion watch.

[@StephenTomko]

Tired of no date watches on this category. I think everyday watches need to have a date complication somewhere

[@RelativeTime]

I agree. Much prefer a watch with a date.

[@YOJIMBO_ESCANOR]

@@RelativeTime I desagree... you mess the dials with useless dates...😉