In the panorama of European independent watchmaking, Venezianico today represents one of the most interesting cases and paths of identity construction. Founded in 2017 by Alberto and Alessandro Morelli, the brand was born in Venice with a clear vision: to shape a contemporary watchmaking language that is based on a real supply chain and an authentic cultural link with the territory.
This approach has allowed Venezianico to rapidly evolve from a young “microbrand” to an interlocutor in a more ambitious segment. Collaboration with Italian manufacturing realities, the progressive development of proprietary movements and, above all, the dialogue with artisans specialized in advanced techniques (such as guilloché executed on historical lathes) are all elements that outline their desire to make a watch that is Italian not only in history and taste, but in design culture.
The first model that really marked this turning point was the Redentore Utopia, a true manifesto. The project was born around the idea of bringing the handcrafted guilloché back to the center of the dial, entrusting it to Riccardo Renzetti, a master engraver and guardian of an almost vanished tradition. The use of 19th-century rose lathes, engraving entirely by hand, and attention to surface construction gave the Redentore Utopia a “weight” that went beyond its price range.
For many enthusiasts, collectors, and insiders that was the moment when Venezianico stopped being perceived as a “promising microbrand” and entered into broader conversation with contemporary Italian watchmaking.
Today the Redentore Utopia II stands in direct continuity with that first chapter, but also represents a mature evolution of it. The maison itself explicitly calls it “a new chapter in Venezianico’s Made in Italy journey,” and the design process confirms this. At the center we find Marea, a new dial texture whose inspiration is a natural phenomenon: the motion of the Venetian lagoon. The result is an almost ornamental layered surface, sensitive to variations in light and capable of generating unique reflections with the change of angle.
The new caliber V5001
Maturation is also evident on the mechanical level. The new caliber V5001 represents a direct evolution of the previous V5000, retaining its architecture but significantly raising the level of finishing. Bridges and plate receive a 24k gold galvanic treatment, the wheels adopt a double spiral decoration, and the surfaces are complemented by radial Côtes de Genève and fine perlage.
Technically, the movement remains extremely thin (3.5 mm), offers 60 hours of power reserve and is regulated to ±3 seconds per day. The construction prioritizes stability over time thanks to a variable inertia copper-beryllium balance with four masselets, a double balance bridge, and KIF Elastor® shock protection. The caliber is entirely designed and manufactured in Italy based on the idea of Fausto Berizzi and Andrea Menegazzo, and is visible through a transparent case back that invites observation.
The “Marea” dial
However, the dial remains the most powerful narrative element of the Redentore Utopia II. Each piece mounts a guilloché dial hand-engraved at Atelier Renzetti, one of the very few workshops in the world still active in this technique.
Today the workshop is led by Linda Renzetti, daughter of Riccardo, the fourth generation of a family entirely devoted to the art of engraving. Work is done on rose lathes dating back to the 19th century, without electricity, where engraving is the result of pressure, rhythm and experience. Here each line is chosen and each gesture irreversible.
Specifically, the Marea pattern is not applied, but the result of a long process of research: development on paper, tests on large aluminum plates, prototypes on brass discs, until a precise balance between engraving depth, surface polishing and light behavior is achieved. In this context, guilloché ceases to be decoration and becomes a form of expressiveness.
The configurations of the Venezianico Redentore Utopia II
The collection has two variants: Redentore Utopia II-Alpha, with a gold galvanic dial and a handcrafted grained calfskin strap, and Redentore Utopia II-Beta, with a graphite galvanic dial and a saffiano leather strap, also handmade.
The proportions of the case show conscious design. The 38 mm diameter, with 44.2 mm lug-to-lug and 8.9 mm thickness, is consistent with the presence of a slim 3.5 mm movement and places the Utopia II in the tradition of contemporary elegant watches.
The thin polished bezel visually expands the dial, while the sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment is functional for reading a complex surface such as guilloché. Water resistance to 3 ATM reflects a decisive choice: prioritizing restrained thickness and proportions over sporty versatility.
Conclusions
The edition is limited, offered at €4,500, with a 72 hour pre-order window: the first 100 pieces are delivered immediately, the remainder by May 2026.
Looking at the Redentore Utopia II one gets the feeling that Venezianico is building more than just a product line. There is consistency between the original idea of the first Utopia and this evolution: the same attention to the culture of detail, the same willingness to make room for authentic craft skills. If the first Redeemer Utopia had laid the foundations of a manifesto, the Utopia II represents its natural maturation: more conscious, more technical, but still deeply linked to that initial inspiration.
And in this circular gesture, romantically evocative of the Venetian lagoon, we recognize the most interesting signature of Venezianico today.
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