Introducing: The Venezianico Redentore Utopia II
Venezianico has been an interesting brand to watch. The Venice-based upstart has continuously upped its game since its establishment in 2017. That hasn’t necessarily equated to producing more expensive watches, but we’ve seen the offerings become more focused and an increasing drive toward wearability and improved finishing. Today’s Redentore Utopia II represents the current pinnacle for the brand, and while it is the priciest offering, it’s impressive.
Last May, Venezianico strayed from its typical lineup of classy yet affordable pieces by introducing the Redentore Utopia. The watch made waves with its focus on Italian-made componentry. A handmade guilloché dial and bespoke OISA movement cemented these claims. Now, there’s a sequel with a choice of two distinct dial hues. Additionally, the dial design and movement finishing differ from the initial release.
The Venezianico Redentore Utopia II
Those who remember the original watch from last year will notice that the Utopia II follows a similar format. The cases are 316L stainless steel and feature strong chamfers on the outside of each lug. On the right side of the case, these flow toward subtle crown guards. Dimensionally, the 38mm diameter remains, as do the 44.2mm lug-to-lug, 8.9mm total thickness, sapphire crystal, and display case back. Also, for these models, we have an official statement from the brand about water resistance. The rating is 30 meters, which is fine for daily wear.
A guilloché dial with a Marea pattern
Venezianico offers the Utopia II in two colorways. The Alpha model has a gold-colored galvanized finish on the dial and is paired with a black grained calfskin strap and stainless steel pin buckle. The Beta uses a graphite tone for the dial and comes fitted with a gray Saffiano strap and pin buckle. Compared to the original Redentore Utopia, these new pieces have a wavier design with a turbine-like pattern. Atelier Renzetti, Venezianico’s guilloché partner, created the new Marea pattern, which is inspired by the waves in Venice’s lagoon. Regarding the production, fourth-generation master Linda Renzetti creates these wonders on rose engines that date back to 1850. Aside from the guilloché pattern, each piece has a matching, brushed chapter ring with polished indexes and an applied logo. Corresponding hands display hours, minutes, and seconds.
An updated movement, the V5001
Mechanically, the Utopia II uses an enhanced version of the OISA V5000 that debuted on the original Utopia. Functionally, it is still a hand-winding caliber with a frequency of 25,200 vibrations per hour and a 60-hour power reserve. The upgrades relate to the finishing. Now, the mainplates and bridges are plated in 24K yellow gold. Also, the primary wheels show off double snailing. Overall, it has a higher-end look that is certainly in keeping with the level of finishing on the dial side.
Availability and pricing for the Redentore Utopia II
The good news is that even with the increased movement finishing, the Utopia II pricing will remain the same as the original model. At €4,500, there’s a lot to like about these watches, and I suspect that the colorways will appeal to even more people than the blue-green of the first model. Regarding production, Venezianico will accept pre-orders on its website until 15:00 CET on January 18th. The number of sold pieces will determine the final production run, with no further orders allowed. The first 100 watches will begin shipping in February, and the remaining units will be delivered in May. Once again, we’re impressed, and we look forward to sharing more impressions soon when we receive samples for a hands-on review.
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