After recent outings featuring meteorite and hand-crafted, aged bronze Venezianico are continuing their exploration of exotic and unusual dials. Specifically, the Venice-based brand have launched the Venezianico Nereide Damasco, featuring a Damascus steel dial. It uses traditional metalworking techniques to offer a funky interpretation of their classic steel dive watch.
Damascus steel, if you’re unfamiliar, is a type of hardened steel from the Middle East made using ancient techniques that involve repeated layering and hammering processes. The layering results in a distinctive wavy pattern across its surface that makes for a stunning pattern when presented on a watch’s dial. Other examples in the industry include Oceaneva’s Deep Marine II Damascus and virtually anything by GoS Watches from Sweden.
Naturally, as this is Venezianico we’re talking about, the reasoning behind creating the Nereide Damasco ties in to the history of Venice. In ancient times the Mediterranean was the gateway between Europe and the Middle East for trade and as Venice was the greatest hub of trade in the entire sea, a high proportion of Damascus steel that entered Europe did so through Venice. Additionally, the ripple effect can be interpreted as a representation of the lapping waves through Venice’s myriad waterways.
The metal works well for a dive watch because the dark grey tone provides a strong contrast to the bright, lumed elements of the hands and hour markers. The Nereide’s dial is also naturally layered with the peripheral minute track and baton indexes sitting above the main dial, so it thematically emulates the layered Damascus steel too. In order to match the grey tone of the dial, the unidirectional diving bezel is also in steel grey with a lovely circular brushed finish.
Powering the Venezianico Nereide Damasco is the Sellita SW200-1 with a custom, openworked rotor. It features Côtes de Genève finishing and a red gold galvanic coating adding a rich lustre visible through the exhibition caseback. It’s a widely used calibre with a 38-hour power reserve – it would be nice to have a longer reserve but it’s probably boring to hear me say that at this point.
The Venezianico Nereide Damasco is a limited edition of 500 pieces with a pre-order price of €1,000 and a retail of €1,250 (approx. £840/£1,050). It goes up for pre-order on March 27th meaning you have just under two weeks to decide if you need some Damascus steel in your life.
Price and Specs:
More details at Venezianico.
