A beautiful night
If you are anything like me, you came to know Venezianico through one of their stylish dive watches like the Nereide, or the Nereide GMT. But the Italian brand’s Redentore Collection is something else altogether. These sporty dress watches are inspired by the architecture of the Basilica del Redentore in Venice, Italy—as designed by Andrea Palladio—and seek balance in the different shapes and proportions of their cases and dials.
Of late, the brand has also begun creating intricate reliefs, as in the Historia Temporis, and incorporating new materials, as in the Avventurina. Their most recent inventive is the eye-catching Redentore Bellanotte, or “beautiful night.”
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Key Features of Venezianico Redentore Bellanotte
Cleary, one of the most distinguishing elements of the Redentore Bellanotte is its asymmetrical, off-centre dial and the surrounding scene straight out of St. Mark’s Square. Crafted from mother-of-pearl and framed by a slender ring of polished steel, the dial takes on an iridescent sheen, and truly sets off the blued, dauphine hands. It is meant to represent the moon in this panorama, set into a starry sky of aventurine glass—a material fashioned on the island of Murano.
The off-centre register is made possible by the Seiko NH05A, a micro-rotor only 17.5mm in diameter, often used in women’s watches.
To finish off the features of the dial, there is a satin-brushed disc beneath the surface that appears as three differently sized circles, inscribed with exploding fireworks which are positioned in a triptych around the moon. Over this, is a rhodium-plated bas-relief of Doge’s Palace, St. George’s Basilica, and the lion of St. Mark.
The dial pays tribute to the Feast of the Redeemer—an event dating back centuries to 1576 and the end of the plague.
The case of Redentore Bellanotte measures 40mm in diameter and is only 11.5mm thick. Like the other watches in this collection, it offers a fine balance between sophistication and practicality—being predominantly polished across the top and stationary bezel, and finished in a fine satin brushing along the flanks. The signed, onion-shaped crown is also partially protected by a pair of sporty guards.
The case back is attached with six screws and has been stamped with a different perspective of St. George’s Basilica wrapped in fireworks with three lines of Italian text describing the festival. The watch is water resistant to 50m.
The strap, by comparison, is quite simple and has been handcrafted in Italy by leather artisans from Tuscany. It is vegetable-tanned and surprisingly soft to the touch, in spite of being 3mm thick.
Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 40mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 11.5mm Thick /w Glass 20mm Lug Width Push/Pull Crown 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Glass /w AR Aventurine Dial /w Mother-of-Pearl & Bas-Relief Printed Indices Blued Dauphine Handset |
| Movement | Seiko NH05A 21 Jewels 21 600bph 50-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Italian Leather /w Steel Hardware |
Venezianico Redentore Bellanotte
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Final Thoughts
The Venezianico Redentore Bellanotte is competing in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) this year. It should do well. The design is thoughtfully conceived and artistically executed. It is unique and sophisticated, but also wearable and engaging. Equally impressive to its engineering, however, is the incredible value in its pricing. How the brand have achieved this level of craftsmanship, employing locally sourced aventurine glass, mother-of-pearl, and handcrafted leather at such an attractive price point is as much a marvel as the work that went into it.
Pricing & Availability
The Venezianico Redentore Bellanotte retails for approximately $620USD on the leather strap. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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