Venezianico has shown tremendous progress over the past few years. This young Venetian brand has demonstrated its ambition by continually improving its timepieces. Whether through distinctive dials, proprietary calibers, or clever variations of existing models, the extensive collection has become more interesting with every release. One of the brand’s commercial successes is the Arsenale collection. This series of integrated-bracelet sports watches offers great value at very affordable prices. Recently, Venezianico expanded the line with its first complicated timepiece. I had a chance to go hands-on with the new Arsenale Calendario.
About a year ago, I got the opportunity to review the Venezianico Arsenale Platino and Arsenale Avventurina. Offering great value for money, these watches were a wonderful introduction to the series for me. As I explained in the article, the Arsenale embodies Italian flair and is more elegant than its popular counterparts. Both also came with special dials that further enhanced their stylish presence. On top of that, it illustrated how the brand offers an entry-level option with a Japanese Miyota movement and a more premium version with a Soprod caliber. To say I was impressed was an understatement. The series is a seriously great option if you are looking for an affordable integrated-bracelet sports watch.
The details of the new Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
But the brand hasn’t slowed down. Since that hands-on review, Venezianico has extended the lineup with smaller 37mm Arsenale models. Additionally, the brand released its first complex version of the Arsenale last month, the Arsenale Calendario. In his introduction article, Mike complimented the Venezianico designers for creating a calendar version with a clean look and an affordable price. I had a chance to find out whether Mike’s compliments would hold up in a hands-on experience.
Let’s start with some specs to paint a picture of the new watches. The two available models both have a 40mm stainless steel case with a thin 11mm profile (including the 1.4mm-thick domed sapphire crystal) and a compact 44mm lug-to-lug. The watch is water resistant to 50 meters and features the signature reeded bezel and a screw-down crown protected by crown guards.
The case is paired with the brand’s Canova steel bracelet, equipped with a hidden push-button butterfly clasp. As Mike explained, the Italian brand offers two dial variations. You can choose between a blue or violet sunburst dial. Both feature sub-dials with a concentric pattern for extra visual brilliance. For this review, Venezianico sent us the violet-dial version.
The dial of the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
If we zoom in on the dial, you will see three sub-dials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. Located at 12 o’clock, you will find a power reserve indicator with the brand’s applied logo right above it. The sub-dial at 3 o’clock displays the months, a function set with the pusher at 2 o’clock, while the sub-dial at 6 o’clock serves as a day/night indicator. But instead of using the common 24-hour scale, Venezianico opted for a pictorial display to show the progress into the day or night. As you can see, the two small screws mount a sapphire lens over the lower half of this sub-dial. The open upper part above the lens displays the current setting.
Located between the sub-dials at 3 and 6 o’clock is the date window. It is neatly integrated, and the disc matches the dial color so as not to stand out. That said, it is still easy to find whenever you want to check the date. The sub-dial at 9 o’clock shows the day of the week. Just like the months, the days are displayed with Italian abbreviations, so if you need to brush up on your Italian, the Arsenale Calendario will help you do so. Lastly, the arc-shaped power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock provides visual balance without cluttering the dial at all. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, as Mike was, by how well the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
The Miyota 9100
Hidden behind a steel case back engraved with the Venetian Arsenale is the Miyota caliber 9100 that powers the watch. The 5.52mm-thick automatic movement operates at 28,800 vph and provides a 42-hour power reserve. The official accuracy is rated at -10/+30 seconds per day, which is nothing spectacular, though users have reported better results of ±10–15 seconds after regulating it.
Operating the movement is easy. Pulling the crown out to the first position allows you to adjust the day and date displays by turning it clockwise or counterclockwise. Pulling the crown out to the second position allows you to adjust the time displayed by the central skeletonized dagger hands. Naturally, the day/night indicator at 6 o’clock automatically adjusts when you set the time. On top of that, the caliber offers manual winding and hacking seconds.
Wearing the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
I was pleasantly surprised once I put the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario on, first because of how comfortable it felt. The proportions are perfect, and the watch is simply a delight to wear. I love that the brand didn’t have to increase the case diameter or length to accommodate the calendar complications and that the thickness increased by only a little over a millimeter.
Additionally, the nicely tapering bracelet not only looks elegant but also wraps comfortably around the wrist. One thing to keep in mind is that you can only close the butterfly clasp one way due to the protruding Venezianico logo on one side. But once you get that in your system, it’s smooth sailing from there.
Another thing that stood out was the dial. I am usually not a big fan of red dials, but this one hits different. Depending on the light, it changes from deep red to an almost-purple hue, and I love that. After seeing the promo images, I would have easily picked the blue-dial version as my favorite. But after wearing the watch for a few days, I found the violet dial more surprising and intriguing.
Another thing that immediately stands out is the intricate finishing. The mix of polishing and vertical brushing is nicely detailed. As a result, the Arsenale Calendario looks like a luxury timepiece. Thankfully, the overall build quality backs this up. As I experienced with my previous hands-on with the two Arsenale models, the watch feels nice and solid.
Final thoughts on the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario
Overall, the Venezianico Arsenale Calendario pleasantly surprised me. Going into this hands-on experience, I was convinced that this calendar version of the Arsenale would not match the overall impact of the two time-only models I reviewed last year. Usually, I would naturally gravitate towards the simplicity of a two-hander over a complicated watch with multiple displays.
But there is something very nice about the Arsenale Calendario that caught me off guard. The watch feels nicely balanced, and for €1,200 / US$1,400, finding a competitor that offers the same value is hard. I would even say it’s difficult to find any competitors in general. So if you want something different from the usual time-only integrated-bracelet sports watch, this new Venezianico Arsenale Calendario is a great option. And its popularity is already visible. The first batch of the violet-dial Arsenale Calendario models, scheduled for delivery in June, has sold out. But the second batch of 300 pieces, with delivery scheduled for late August, is still available to order.
The Arsenale Calendario perfectly displays how Venezianico cleverly expands its collection. It’s interesting to see what the brand comes up with every release, but if Venezianico can continue to keep it this interesting, it will be one of the affordable brands to keep an eye on for the foreseeable future.
Jorg Weppelink
2026-05-09 09:00:00