Venezianico returns to its Utopia project with the Redentore Utopia II, a compact dress watch that pairs an Italian-made V5001 calibre with a hand-guilloché dial cut in the new “Marea” motif. Two versions appear – Alpha in gold-galvanic and Beta in graphite – both reading Venice in ripples rather than slogans.
The V5001 is an evolution of the V5000, manufactured by OISA and designed by Fausto Berizzi and Andrea Menegazzo. The core specifications remain measured and practical: 3.5 mm height, 60-hour reserve, 25,200 vph, accuracy regulated to ±3 seconds per day, and 19 jewels. Regulation is via a free-sprung, variable-inertia copper-beryllium balance with four masselottes, supplied by Atokalpa, secured under a double-anchored balance bridge, with KIF Elastor shock protection.
Where Utopia II pushes forward is finishing. Bridges and mainplate receive a 24k gold galvanic treatment, with radial Côtes de Genève, polished anglage, and hand-executed micro-perlage. The wheels show double-snailing, and the balance bridge bears étirage. Bridges are milled from solid by high-precision CNC, then dressed to a standard that invites a long stare through the exhibition back. The movement remains the point – decoration serves construction, not the other way around.
The dial is the visual hook. “Marea” is cut entirely by hand at Atelier Renzetti on 19th-century rose engines, led by Linda Renzetti. The pattern does what good guilloché should do: it plays with light without shouting, turning small wrist movements into shifting texture. Alpha uses a gold-toned galvanic finish on the dial and pairs with a handcrafted black calf strap with natural grain. Beta opts for a dense graphite tone and a hand-finished saffiano leather strap.
Case dimensions stay courteous to the cuff: 38 mm diameter, 8.9 mm thickness, 44.2 mm lug-to-lug, all in 316L steel with a polished bezel and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. The sapphire exhibition caseback is secured by six screws. The 316L buckle is polished and satin-finished, engraved to match. Assembly of V5001-equipped pieces is handled by master watchmaker Daniele Zorzetto in the Italian atelier, with particular attention to free-sprung balance regulation.
Redentore Utopia II reads as a clearer statement of intent for contemporary Italian watchmaking: a home-grown calibre, visible craft on both sides, and proportions that choose longevity over theatrics. A quiet watch, which is often the point.
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