Redentore Utopia II: why it is Venezianico’s most beautiful watch

In this article, we explore the new Redentore Utopia II, the latest limited edition in fine watchmaking by Venezianico. It features a hand-crafted guilloché dial executed using traditional techniques and the Italian-made V5001 calibre, developed by the brand together with OISA. The watch sold out in no time, reflecting the dream and ambition of the Morelli brothers, the brand’s founders, to revive the Italian watchmaking industry — once strong and internationally renowned. Alberto Morelli shared his perspective on the genesis and vision of the project.

THE RAPID GROWTH OF VENEZIANICO

“I have a dream.” This is how Martin Luther King began his most famous speech on 28 August 1963 during the March on Washington for civil rights — a dream of a future in which people would be judged not by the colour of their skin, but by their character. “We have a dream,” Alberto and Alessandro Morelli, at the helm of Venezianico, might say today: the dream of reviving the great tradition of Italian mechanical watchmaking. A dream of a different scale than that of Martin Luther King, yet one of profound importance to the two brothers. A dream that began almost ten years ago and has already taken them a long way.

Since 2017, when that dream began to take shape, Venezianico’s turnover is expected to exceed £15 million by the end of 2025. In 2024, the atelier opened in the Morelli brothers’ hometown of San Donà di Piave, inside Palazzo Baradel, a historic building where visitors can discover and try on pieces from the collections. Redentore, Arsenale, Nereide, Bucintoro: names that evoke the history of Venice — a manifesto of Italianness for enthusiasts who view the brand with growing interest.

“We involve our community in design choices, materials and technical specifications. This allows us to bring products to market that already have real demand,” says Alberto Morelli. “Although we are now one of the most structured companies in the sector in Italy, abroad we are still at the early stages of a growth path that we intend to build with patience and solid foundations. In recent years, we have seen encouraging signs: interest from the press, attention from international collectors and people who choose to come to the Atelier in person to collect their watches. For us, these are concrete indicators that the brand is building something that goes beyond the individual product. We are looking to the long term. The idea is to contribute, step by step, to the creation of a true Made in Italy watchmaking district, taking inspiration from places such as Glashütte. It will take many years and a great deal of commitment, but the direction is clear.”

REDENTORE UTOPIA II: THE IDEA

Interest from all over the world has led Venezianico to create numerous limited editions within its collections — many of which sold out immediately — including versions dedicated to Middle Eastern markets. Above all, however, it encouraged the Morelli brothers to take a decisive step forward in pursuing their dream: to create a fine watchmaking piece truly aligned with Italian mechanical excellence — the new Redentore Utopia II. Two versions, Alpha and Beta, differ in appearance but share the same aesthetic refinement and mechanical excellence. Rather than a predetermined production number, a 72-hour pre-order window defined availability, after which production was definitively closed. The first 100 pieces, available for immediate delivery, sold out within minutes of sales opening.

Redentore Utopia II was born from the idea of a movement designed and produced in Italy and was preceded by Redentore Utopia I (more on this below). This is not a simple evolution, but a profound work of technical, aesthetic and conceptual refinement. If Utopia I was Venezianico’s manifesto — a movement conceived and built in Italy — Utopia II represents the full maturity of that vision.

THE V5001 CALIBRE: DEVELOPMENT

To understand the Redentore Utopia II, it is worth starting at the heart of the watch: the V5001 calibre, an evolution of the V5000 used in the Redentore Utopia I. Both movements are produced by OISA, designed by Fausto Berizzi and Andrea Menegazzo, and assembled in the Venezianico workshop by Daniele Zorzetto, a master watchmaker with extensive experience in regulating variable-inertia balance wheels with weights and free springs.

The calibre incorporates a copper-beryllium balance system supplied by Atokalpa. This Swiss company manufactures all the components required to assemble a balance wheel and masters the complete production of the regulating organ, supported by an in-house department that builds its own machinery. It is no coincidence that it supplies components to some of the most prestigious Swiss brands.

“We started from an interesting base, but we knew it could be improved,” continues Morelli. “About four years ago, we met Fausto Berizzi, who was technical manager at OISA at the time. We immediately established a strong understanding, which led to the idea of developing our own calibre together with their highly qualified team. We began designing the new movement with their support and, in the first few months, validated the architecture together with Berizzi. After several iterations, we arrived at a final solution, followed by further tuning and finishing adjustments. That phase lasted several months and led to the V5000 variant. After two years of testing, we were able to fine-tune the calibre to an accuracy of ±3 seconds per day. From the outset, we felt a responsibility not only to develop our brand, but also to help pave the way for a new era in Italian watchmaking.”

THE V5001 CALIBRE: FINISHES AND SPLIT GEAR TRAIN

The evolution of the calibre is not only mechanical but also aesthetic. Both movements measure just 3.5 mm in thickness, beat at 25,200 vibrations per hour, offer a 60-hour power reserve and are regulated to an accuracy of ±3 seconds per day. The V5001, however, introduces refined finishing: double snail finishing on the wheels, bridges and mainplate treated with a 24-carat gold galvanic coating, perlage and Côtes de Genève radiating outward from the balance wheel at 6 o’clock, which becomes the visual centre of the calibre. The double-anchor balance bridge features an étirage finish, while the copper-beryllium variable-inertia balance wheel is protected by a KIF Elastor shock-absorbing system developed specifically for this movement. Thanks to a star-shaped spring surrounding the jewel, the system absorbs shock energy and returns the balance wheel to its optimal position.

Another notable feature of the V5001 is its split gear train architecture. Power transmission is divided into two distinct branches: one dedicated to the seconds indication, the other to hours and minutes. This mechanical separation reduces interference between the gear trains, preventing the stresses generated by the continuous motion of the seconds hand from affecting the regularity of the main system. The result is improved running stability and more reliable long-term accuracy.

The Redentore Utopia II adopts the proportions of a classic dress watch: 38 mm in diameter, 8.9 mm thick and a lug-to-lug length of 44.2 mm. The steel case features a vertical satin finish contrasted by a polished bezel. The sapphire-crystal caseback, secured by six screws, allows a full view of the calibre while preserving the watch’s slim profile.

THE GUILLOCHÉ DIAL

The dial of the Redentore Utopia II is the visual heart of the watch. “With a traditional dial, I would have no hesitation in saying that the watch is more captivating when viewed from the caseback. In this case, however, I cannot attribute predominance to the calibre: the beauty is perfectly balanced,” says Morelli. The decorative motif, named Marea, evokes the movement of waves in the Venetian lagoon. It was developed for this model in collaboration with Atelier Renzetti in Milan, one of the very few workshops in the world still dedicated to traditional guilloché.

Linda Renzetti, fourth generation of the family, engraves each dial entirely by hand on antique 19th-century rose lathes. The pattern reflects light dynamically, echoing the waves that inspired it. The dial was crafted using a cast-iron machine from the second half of the 19th century — so heavy it cannot be moved from its current position — exactly as the Morelli brothers desired. The design was developed from vintage textures preserved in the Atelier Renzetti archives.

Beneath the anti-reflective sapphire crystal, the dial is available in two versions. Alpha features a gold galvanic finishreminiscent of the mosaics of St Mark’s Basilica, evoking Venice’s decorative heritage and artistic tradition. It is paired with a handcrafted black calfskin strap. Beta features a graphite galvanic finish recalling the structural materials of the lagoon city — wrought iron, railings and mooring posts — and is completed by a hand-finished Saffiano leather strap.

REDENTORE UTOPIA I

Redentore Utopia II would likely never have existed without Utopia I. Launched last year, it sold out immediately. “Sold-out products increase the pressure on us and push us to give our best in every project we develop. But they also make us wake up each morning with the desire to grow and improve,” emphasises Morelli.

Utopia I quickly demonstrated its significance by winning the Watch of the Year award in the Revelation category, organised by L’Orologio magazine. As mentioned, the V5000 calibre that powers it is technically similar to the V5001 used in Utopia II; the main differences lie in the finishing. 

Even when observing the V5000, the impression was that of a beautifully executed movement with high-quality finishing. The further refinement seen in the V5001 demonstrates that improvement is always possible — and that excellence can be pushed one step further.

The dial of the Redentore Utopia I is equally remarkable. Hand-engraved at Atelier Renzetti using traditional guilloché, it features an exclusive radial pattern that creates continuously shifting reflections, enhancing every detail of the engraving. The blue IP treatment gives the watch a deep, iridescent tone, lending it both elegance and modernity. The case dimensions match those of the Redentore Utopia II. Both versions (now sold out) were priced at €. 4,500.

REDENTORE UTOPIA II: CONCLUSIONS

Redentore Utopia II is the result of a journey that began years ago and matured through Venezianico’s technical evolution, the development of a Made in Italy calibre and — equally important — the support of a community capable of recognising its value. An active community to which Alessandro and Alberto listen for suggestions, impressions and needs. A community that interacts constructively with the brand: one of Venezianico’s not-so-hidden strengths, helping it move toward its founding ambition of becoming a benchmark for contemporary Italian watchmaking.

“The decision to build a non-Swiss ecosystem for a high-end product made the project particularly exciting, attracting the attention of enthusiasts who once viewed Venezianico with simple curiosity and now consider it a credible alternative within important collections,” concludes Morelli. “Over the last two years, we have seen this curiosity turn into concrete interest — a step that carries great significance for us.” Much has been achieved, yet much remains to be done: this is the beauty of a continuous challenge.

By Davide Passoni