There are no prizes for guessing what city Italy-based watch brand Venezianico is inspired by.
In setting its sights on expansion of its retail network in 2022, the brand’s founder and CEO Alberto Morelli sat down with WatchPro.
He catches up with Alex Douglas on the brand’s foundations, what it has achieved so far and how the lifting of travel restrictions can catapult the brand even further in the next twelve months:
WP: Can you explain the foundations of the brand and where the idea came from?
AM: My brother and I were students in Venice, two children of the digital era walking among centuries-old buildings, such as the Clock Tower, which is located on the north side of St. Mark’s Square – not by chance, the cross on its top later inspired our logo. It is quite natural that you feel fascinated by the idea of how such an extraordinary past can coexist with the modern world. When we started to look out for opportunities, watchmaking matched exactly the challenge we were looking for: to create something that has clear roots in Venetian legacy but is modern and appealing to contemporaries at the same time.
WP: Venice is clearly important for you as it inspired the values and make-up of the brand. How so? How does that impact your watches specifically?
AM: Freedom, curiosity, industriousness, and elegance are rooted in the soul of Venetian people. The creativity of our designs, the choice of materials and the study of color combinations are instrumental to convey these values.
In particular, the clean shapes of our timepiece Redentore recall the purity and elegance of Neoclassical architecture. The Basilica del Redentore (Redeemer Basilica) is one of the most representative examples of this style.
Nereide was a submarine built in Venice in the early 20th century, a technological marvel of that period. Our dive watch could not get a better name to symbolize the pioneering spirit that has always been in the city DNA.
Moreover, Venezianico visual identity is consistent with the materials and colors you can find if you take a walk in Venice: white refers to Istria stone, the material used for house basements; sandstone gray is the color of “calli” pavement; gold is widely used on stuccos and mosaics.
WP: How do you achieve an affordable product while ensuring premium quality?
AM: We rely on a global production chain that involves some of the most experienced manufacturers in the world. Swiss horology has always set the bar for quality in the industry. Therefore, we have no prejudice about where in the world our partners operate, because we have carefully chosen them with one main requirement in mind: that they are used to work for the Swiss industry and well acquainted with high standards it demands.
WP: Why is affordable luxury important?
AM: Quality is a universal language: we want it to be accessible to as many people as possible.
WP: It is great to see sustainability plays a role in your business, how do you go about your work to ensure it meets these needs?
AM: We are aware that all our decisions have an impact on the environment and, through conscious design choices, we can contribute to the sustainability of our business.
First, all our watches are powered by mechanical movements, there are no batteries inside. This means that there is no need to dispose of them periodically.
Furthermore, our business entails shipping a lot of single orders through express courier worldwide. That is why we have designed our packaging to be lighter to transport. In fact, it is made of 95% paper and significantly reduces our carbon footprint.
WP: What should be expected from Venezianico in 2022?
AM: We are about to launch the new Redentore Collection and have some interesting new projects on the way that we can’t wait to reveal to you.
Also, as it is progressively becoming easier to travel again, we are planning to participate in some of the best watchmaking trade fairs. This will be important to build new business relationships and expand our international network of retailers, which is one of our main commercial goals for 2022.
WP: How will the product offering as well as the brand evolve in the coming months and years?
AM: We are so lucky to have a very active fan-base we love to interact with. The models coming up in the next months have been developed also in response to the thoughts and ideas that our customers have shared with us.
For the lovers of mechanical complications: the upcoming Redentore Riserva di Carica, features the power reserve indicator, which we are particularly fond of. Besides, we are currently working on widening our range of complicated watches, so… stay tuned!
The brand has gone from strength to strength in its lifetime so far, and with the expansion of an international retail network top of the priority list this year, Venezianico looks like it will only get stronger.
Given it has flourished in years gone by while being somewhat held back by Covid restrictions in Europe and across the wider world, taking the leash off the business in 2022 will give the industry and watch lovers alike the chance to see just what the brand and those behind it have to offer.
You can find out more HERE.
