Venezianico unveils a limited-edition masterpiece that unites Venetian craftsmanship with Japanese artistry in perfect harmony.
Venezianico introduces the Arsenale Sumi-e, a limited-edition masterpiece of 500 pieces that celebrates the meeting of two worlds, Venice and Japan. Drawing on the elegance of Zen artistry and the spirit of Venetian exploration, this new creation transforms timekeeping into poetry, with a Washi paper dial that embodies centuries of craftsmanship and cultural harmony.
The Arsenale Sumi-e takes inspiration from the same adventurous energy that once propelled Venetian merchants and artists along the Silk Road. It is a tribute to the curiosity that drove them toward distant lands, exotic aromas, and uncharted visions. Today, Venezianico continues that legacy through a timepiece that symbolically retraces those routes, blending the creativity of the West with the meditative discipline of the East.
At its heart lies a dial that is nothing short of a work of art. Crafted on Japanese Washi paper, it is created through a meticulous five-step pad-printing process that captures the ethereal beauty of ink painting. Each dial reveals a poetic landscape of mountains and blooming branches mirrored on tranquil waters, a scene reminiscent of the ancient ink painting tradition that emerged within Zen monasteries. Every brush-like stroke reflects an intimate connection between breath, motion, and mindfulness.
Reproducing the delicate gradients and emotional depth of Sumi-e on a surface only a few centimetres wide required absolute precision. Each layer of colour is applied with millimetric accuracy, preserving the natural fibres and texture of Washi paper. As in the art form itself, there is no room for error, and each application of ink is final, embodying the balance between technical mastery and artistic intuition.
Encased in a 40mm satin-finished steel case, the Arsenale Sumi-e strikes a balance between strength and refinement. Its 9.95mm thickness, including the anti-reflective sapphire crystal, makes for an elegantly slim profile. Alternating polished and brushed surfaces echo the contrasts central to the Sumi-e philosophy: fullness and emptiness, light and shadow, substance and spirit. A deep red strap completes the ensemble, adding a bold accent that represents vitality and the enduring connection between Venice and the East.
The closed caseback, water-resistant to 50 metres, features engraved Japanese characters representing the Sumi-e technique, surrounded by a motif symbolising ink dissolving in water — a visual metaphor for balance and constant motion. Powering this refined creation is the Miyota 9039 automatic movement of Japanese origin, ensuring precision worthy of the art it celebrates.
Each piece is individually numbered from 1 to 500, underscoring its rarity and the craftsmanship behind its making. The Arsenale Sumi-e is conceived for those who view watchmaking not merely as a mechanical pursuit but as a form of cultural expression — a meditation on the flow of time.
More than a timepiece, the Venezianico Arsenale Sumi-e is a dialogue between heritage and innovation, art and engineering. It stands as a bridge connecting two civilisations that share the same reverence for balance and beauty. Wearing it means carrying a fragment of timeless poetry — a tribute to the harmony that unites Venice and Japan, and to the eternal artistry of time itself.
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