Alexander Venacci is a new brand founded by two Norwegian brothers. Their first effort, the Design 1, will be launching soon on Kickstarter, and from the pictures and specs it looks promising. With the sheer numbers of divers and basic dress watches launching on the crowd funding sites on a daily basis, it’s always nice to see something a bit different. The Design 1 reminds me a bit of Moduco’s first effort that I reviewed back in February and quite liked, but with a much more angularly aggressive octagon case design.
Resting on top of the 8-sided case is a thick, vertically brushed bezel. Unlike the Moduco’s bezel with its completely vertical sides, the bezel on the Design 1 slopes gently down at a moderate angle to meet the top of the case. Those angled surfaces are finished with a high gloss polish. Without having seen the watch in person, these types of angles normally give the effect of less overall height to a piece. Continuing the angular theme are the sharp-edged lugs. Not a smooth curve in site. The case will be offered in the buyer’s choice of stainless or PVD-coated rose gold with a matching octagonal crown set off with a case-matching inset jewel of unknown material.
The dial is clean and simple, offered in either white or black with applied and nicely faceted rectangular markers at all but the six and twelve positions. Similar to the bezel, the indices have a brushed upper surface while the angled facets are treated to a mirror polishing. The markers at three and nine are slightly longer than the rest, while at six we find a large triangle, and at twelve is a diamond, which is the brands’s logo (an A sitting on top of a V). The case-matching pencil style hands are filled with BGW9 Superluminova, as is the 12 o’clock diamond marker.
Around back is a sapphire exhibition window set into a case back similar in design to the bezel, held in place by four screws. Visible behind the sapphire window is an STP 1-11 automatic movement with custom rotor and perlage finishing on the bridges. Finishing off the package will be either a black or brown quick-release Italian leather strap, with a second strap in the buyer’s choice of Milanese mesh, Italian suede, or Perlon.
Where this new brand really wins points for me is in the case size. Having a wife and sister who are also dedicated collectors, I know first hand how frustrating the micro brand world can be for female watch lovers. With this new offering I think they’ll both be pleasantly surprised. The Design 1 will be offered in two different case sizes – one for men at 40.4mm, and a second for women, or frankly anyone with smaller wrists, at 36.4mm. Well done Alexander Venacci! I applaud this decision, and would like to see other micros taking this step to welcome more female collectors into their brands. The Kickstarter campaign will launch sometime the week of May 21st, with initial pricing set at $320. alexandervenacci.com
Technical Specifications From Alexander Venacci
- CASE
- Material: 316L in stainless or rose gold coated
- Size: 40.4mm x 10mm x 48mm lug-to-lug AND 36.4mm x 10mm x 43mm lug-to-lug
- Crystal: Sapphire with three layers of AR coating
- Water Resistance: 10 ATM/100M/330FT
- Inter-lug Width: 20mm for men’s, 18mm for women’s
- MOVEMENT
- Caliber: STP 1-11, 26 jewels
- Functions: Hour, Minute, Central Seconds
- Frequency: 4Hz – 28,800 vph
- Power Reserve: 44 hours
- Strap
- Material: Italian leather
- Buckle: Pin-buckle in case matching color
- Extra Strap: Yes, in buyer’s choice of 316L Milanese mesh, Italian suede, or Perlon
