Material experimentation is one of the most exciting fields of horological development. Exploring new ways of using metals and composite materials to enhance the structure, durability or style of a watch. I immediately think of the work Richard Mille is doing with quartz composites, or the many, many in-house gold alloys proprietary to individual watch brands each with distinct properties. Now though Venezianico are throwing their hat into the ring with a material they are calling Ti-Dimascus, debuting in the new Venezianico Nereide Ti-Dimascus.
Breaking down the name Ti-Dimascus reveals the root of the material. It’s a contraction of titanium and Damascus. Titanium is an ultra-light weight yet durable material that has become increasingly popular in watchmaking. Initially it was shunned for being too lightweight but over time people have become use to that property and now it’s celebrated for the improved quality of life it brings. Damascus on the other hand refers to a historic metallurgy technique of producing hardened steel that involves folding and hammering the metal, creating a distinctive ripple pattern.
Ti-Dimascus then, as you might be able to guess, involves applying the techniques of Damascus metalwork to titanium. This is the first time I’ve heard of any watchmaker attempting this. The reason Damascus steel works so well is because steel is a compound material composed of multiple materials such as iron and carbon, so in order to create Ti-Dimascus you can’t just use a single type of titanium. Instead Venezianico use Grade 2, Grade 5 and Grade 9 titanium all folded and hammered into each other. Because each titanium has slightly different properties such as how they react to heat and beating, they don’t homogenise completely and create the characteristic ripple pattern.
Once the Ti-Dimascus has been shaped, the entire dial is flame treated. Much in the same way as many watchmakers thermally treat hands to create that signature flame blued colour, the flame here gives each dial an iridescent-like array of colours in blues, coppers, pinks and gold without the use of any external pigment. It also means every dial is unique as no two share the same colours or pattern.
Beyond the intricate new dial, the watch is typical of the Nereide range, offering a solid foundational framework from which Venezianico can explore fresh concepts. It measures 42mm in diameter in steel with 200m water resistance and a tungsten insert diving bezel. Visible through its exhibition caseback is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement featuring a violet ion plated rotor.
Trying to speak without hyperbole, Venezianico are one of the most exciting brands of 2025 in the watchmaking scene. They are continually trying new things, developing new concepts, exploring fresh ideas and defying convention. Ask most brands to make a titanium-Damascus dial and they’d say “hold up a second, we only just introduced our first Damascus steel bezel, what do you mean we should use those historic techniques on a hyper modern material and then flame grill it, are you mad?” Venezianico just say, why the hell not? And I love that. The Nereide Ti-Dimascus is limited to 500 pieces at a pre-order price €1,075 (approx. £930).
Price and Specs:
More details at Venezianico.
