Like many independent or microbrand watches, when Furlan Marri first burst onto the scene it was with a mechaquartz collection. A hybrid style of movement that uses a battery to power a mechanical chronograph module, giving you the timekeeping reliability of the former and the tactile feel of the latter. In the years since they have graduated to full mechanical watches but the mechaquartz editions that started it all haven’t been forgotten. In fact, with the launch of the Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu, the collection is expanding.
Both watches house the Seiko VK64 mechaquartz movement which is the most widely used movement of its type across the world. It’s accessible, easy to get hold of and easy to repair thanks to its ubiquity. So it makes a lot of sense. Plus, according to Furlan Marri themselves, when you don’t have to worry so much about the mechanics of your watch, you can spend more time on the artistic details such as the case and dial.
Here that translates to a combination of brushed and polished surfaces across the 38mm diameter case and chronograph pushers with fluted caps. It’s extremely elegant and that extra attention to detail has clearly paid off. The Ardesia Blu version reveals the exposed steel surface while the Sabbia Rosa has a rose gold PVD coating for an added sense of luxury, a first for the collection.
The attention to detail across the dials is also immaculate. The Ardesia Blu has a lovely sector style display with a 60-minute timer at 9 o’clock and a combination of circular brushed and vertical brushed finishes. Around the periphery a pulsometer allows you to calculate your pulse rate (a complication traditionally associated with doctors). Sabbia Rosa trades out the sector style for a bicompax display with an additional 24-hour timer, it also swaps the pulsometer for a more conventional tachymeter.
At CHF 585 (approx. £530) they’re dangerously close to being impulse buys with how nice the finishing it compared to the cost. Plus, not that we’ll admit it to ourselves, sometimes the convenience of quartz (or mechaquartz) is worth it. I also like the fact that both watches stay true to the core identity and style of the collection while bringing something new. Whether that’s the PVD coating on the Sabbia Rosa or the first use of a colour that’s not black, grey or gold with the Ardesia Blu.
Price and Specs:
20203 (Ardesia Blu)
Deep-blue matte finish with glossy sectors with circular & vertical brushing, stamped Roman-numeral indexes, curved & domed hands (Ardesia Blu)
Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph with pulsometer scale (Ardesia Blu)
Dark velvet-blue Italian-leather with matching stitches, additional baby-blue strap included, signed stainless steel pin buckle (Ardesia Blu)
More details at Furlan Marri.
I admit that have really surprised myself. I thought that these new releases wouldn’t hit my spot, but, I’m quivering like the pulse of the watches mechanical / quartz heartbeat. – what beauties!, particularly the Sabbia Rosa version, wow, that is gorgeous. What bargain prices too. As Michael states, almost an impulse buy.
I’m not an impulse buyer myself, so may have to wait 24 hours, so tempted though.