Introducing The Wonderful Monochromatic Venezianico Arsenale Platino

I remember the first time I was drawn to learn more about a Venezianico watch. The brand’s Nereide GMT debuted in 2022 in several attractive colorways. I recall being intrigued by the monochromatic version of the brand’s travel watch. Fast-forward three years, and I am again intrigued by a monochromatic version of one of the Venetian brand’s watches. This time, the modern integrated-bracelet sport watch honoring the Venetian Arsenale, Europe’s first major industrial shipyard, gets a special Platino dial. Let’s dive in and see what it’s all about.

When I first saw photos of the Venezianico Arsenale Platino, the watch’s look immediately made me want to learn more. We had the earlier Arsenale models in for review, and while I liked them quite a bit, the one thing that kept me from loving them was the dials. But the brand did not disappoint with a special aventurine-dial version of the Arsenale. That watch looked stunning and joined an impressive meteorite-dial model in the Arsenale lineup. With the introduction of the Arsenale Platino, Venezianico adds yet another special dial to the collection. While the watch itself links to the rich history of Venice, the brand’s home base, the dial makes the composition even more impressive.

The story of the Venezianico Arsenale Platino

If you are not familiar with the Venezianico Arsenale, it is the Italian brand’s modern sports watch with an integrated bracelet. The model range gets its name from the Venetian Arsenale, Europe’s first major industrial shipyard, with the crenellations of its historical towers having inspired the knurled pattern of the watch’s bezel.

With the special dial, the brand makes the Arsenale look sleeker and more balanced than ever before. Of course, the watch is also visually similar to the Parmigiani Tonda PF with its polished and knurled bezel. But I mean that in the best way possible because I adore the Tonda PF, so a reference to that design, intentional or not, is a good one in my book.

The Arsenale Platino has a 40mm by 44mm stainless steel case with a 9.95mm thickness, including a sapphire crystal with antireflective coating. It is slightly thicker than the 8.95mm profile of the models that Mike reviewed late last year. The main reason is the addition of a seconds hand. But with a sub-10mm profile, it still is a slim watch.

Let’s talk about the special dial in this latest version. The brass base dial first gets a soleil finish before undergoing a tumbling process to create its texture. After that, it receives a platinum galvanic treatment, resulting in a lovely silver-tone dial with a rippled surface. Because of the process, each dial is different from the next, adding a personal touch to the watch.

Perfectly minimal

The unique dials feature only a set of applied indexes and the brand’s cross logo on the upper half of the dial. A ring surrounding the dial holds the minute track and the brand’s name at 6 o’clock. Finishing the look are the sharp lume-filled hour and minute hands and a thin seconds hand. I love the quiet branding because it leaves the dial almost untouched. Especially with special dials like the meteorite, aventurine, and this one, the design lets wearers enjoy them to the fullest. The special dial of this Arsenal Platino gives the watch a monochromatic look, but the different textures and finishes of the dial and the case give the watch great visual presence.

A new movement for the Arsenale Platino

The case is matched with the brand’s integrated Canova bracelet. While the design is nothing revolutionary, it nicely complements the flowing lines of the case. The bracelet features a push-button butterfly clasp, ensuring a nice and stylish look. If you turn the watch around, you will see the Swiss-made automatic caliber V3250, which is based on the Soprod M100. The movement operates at 28,800vph and offers 42 hours of power reserve. Additionally, the caliber is assembled and regulated at the San Donà di Piave Atelier by master watchmaker Daniele Zorzetto to an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day. The new movement is a step up compared to the Miyota 9029 used for other Arsenale models.

Final thoughts on the Venezianico Arsenale Platino

I quite like this special edition of the Venezianico Arsenale. The special Platino dial gives the watch a monochromatic look but brings a ton of style. Add that to the elegant aesthetic of the Arsenale and the smart finishing of the different elements, and we end up with a great-looking watch. After seeing the images, I would love to find out more in a hands-on review. Include the Arsenale Avventurina for comparison’s sake, and it would make for a great hands-on experience, I’m sure.

Overall, I am impressed by the special dial and the choice of a more accurate Swiss-made caliber. The latter, especially, takes the Arsenale’s quality to new heights. Understandably, the improvements and the special dial result in a slightly higher price. The Venezianico Arsenale Platino is available for a special pre-order price of €1,200, with shipments starting on July 25th.

After the pre-order period, the regular price will be €1,450. The price for the Platino version of the Arsenale might be higher than that of the previous models. Still, considering what you get for the money, it seems like a great watch. As mentioned, I would love to experience it in a hands-on review, but for now, it seems like Venezianico has released another winner.

What do you make of the new Arsenale Platino? As always, we invite you to share your thoughts in the comments.