rom the same spirit of exploration that for centuries drove Venetian merchants and artists along the Silk Road—towards distant lands, unknown scents, and unseen visions, and which has always inspired the Morelli brothers—comes the new Arsenale Sumi-e 墨絵.

Just as ships once departed from the waters of the Serenissima laden with silk, spices, and new ideas, today Venezianico carries that legacy forward with a timepiece that symbolically sails those same seas, intertwining two worlds united by their love for art and their pursuit of harmony. The result is a watch that does not merely measure time but tells a story of beauty suspended between East and West.

Its dial, a true masterpiece of micro-art, is made on Japanese Washi paper through a complex five-step pad-printing process that captures the delicacy of ink and its infinite nuances.

On this living, textured surface, a poetic landscape takes shape: mountains and blooming branches reflected on the water, evoking the contemplative stillness of Sumi-e 墨絵, the ancient painting technique born within Japan’s Zen monasteries.

Each stroke, each shade of black, is the result of a discipline that unites gesture, breath, and thought in a single, unrepeatable harmony.

Reproducing the depth and sensitivity of Sumi-e 墨絵 on a dial just a few centimeters wide demanded absolute precision. Each layer of color is deposited with millimetric control, respecting the weave and natural imperfections of Washi paper, so that the final image retains the vibration of the original artwork. Just as in traditional Japanese painting there is no room for correction, here too each layer of ink is definitive—the result of a perfect balance between technique and artisanal sensibility.

The 40mm satin-finished steel case, with its rigorous and harmonious proportions, and a thickness of just 9.95mm including the anti-reflective sapphire crystal, frames this visual microcosm with understated elegance. Its alternating polished and satin surfaces echo the very dialectic of Sumi-e 墨絵: the dialogue between fullness and emptiness, light and shadow, matter and spirit.

The deep red strap adds a vibrant accent that enhances the refinement of the ensemble, evoking the passion and vital energy that unite Venice with the Far East.

On the caseback, sealed for 50 meters of water resistance, stand out the Japanese characters that identify the technique from which this model draws inspiration. Around them unfolds an engraved motif recalling ink dissolving in water—a symbol of balance and perpetual motion. Inside, hours, minutes, and seconds are precisely marked by the Miyota 9039 Automatic Caliber, itself of Japanese origin.

The progressive numbering from 1 to 500 underscores the rarity and value of this edition, conceived for those who see craftsmanship as culture and time as a form of meditation.

Arsenale Sumi-e 墨絵 is more than a watch: it is a bridge between two worlds that share the same vision of harmony. Like the Venetian shipyard from which it takes its name, this creation is born from the encounter between art and engineering, between tradition and innovation. Wearing it means taking part in this timeless dialogue, carrying on the wrist a fragment of poetry that celebrates the wonder of time and its endless power to unite cultures.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• CASE MATERIAL: 316L Stainless Steel

• DIMENSIONS: Ø40mm, 44mm lug-to-lug

• THICKNESS: 9.95mm (including crystal)

• DIAL: Crafted on Japanese Washi paper through a five-step pad-printing process MOVEMENT: Cal. Miyota 9039 Automatic

• CRYSTAL: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

• BEZEL: 316L Stainless Steel

• WATER RESISTANCE: 5 ATM (50 meters)

• BRACELET: Integrated rubber strap with stainless steel end links