So a bit more about the bronze alloy that Visconti is using: I believe it is a bronze aluminum alloy, which is rather durable, and does not cause the skin to turn green as other bronze alloys can. The “most bronze” of each of the models will be the Abyssus Scuba 3000m Dive watch with the bronze case and matching bronze bracelet. Come to think of it, I cannot picture any other watches that have bronze bracelets. The bracelet links form a “V” for Visconti and make for a nice addition to the overall look. In fact, there are three strap/bracelet options, including the metal bracelets, rubber straps, and a sharkskin strap for each of the three Visconti Abyssus watch models.
I believe that the rubber strap will be thrown in with each model, and that customers will need to choose between the metal bracelet and the sharkskin strap. It is actually quite rare to see sharkskin straps, but this is one of the rare examples, and you have to admit that it goes with the theme of this ultra fantasy dive watch. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m Dive watch belongs in a video game.
The dial of the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m is interesting and is another place where you can see some of the Anonimo design DNA – especially in the look of the Arabic numeral hour markers (there are only two of them). The design is interesting and legible while also being decorative. I know that the dial is one of the areas that Visconti is tweaking. aBlogtoWatch advised them on making the date window more legible and to have a matching color disc background, as well as making sure that the user can easily distinguish the hour hand from the minute hand.
The face of the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m dive watch has indicators for the time, date, and includes a useful power reserve indicator. I have a soft spot for dive watches with power reserve indicators so I really appreciate that latter feature. The movement inside is a base Swiss Soprod A10 automatic mechanical with a module for the power reserve. It is called the Soprod caliber SOP 9340 (SOP 9340/A10-2) automatic and has a power reserve of 42 hours.
Many watch lovers (especially Anonimo watch lovers) are going to pass right by the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m Dive watch collection because it isn’t clear that the Visconti brand acquired the old Anonimo talent, and because Visconti is not (yet) known for making watches. That is a shame because, for the right customers, these are very cool timepieces. Having said that, if Visconti follows through with a branding and messaging campaign to explain their wild new collection of highly avant garde, highly Italian watches, then they very possibly might get the type of attention they need.
A watch like the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m Dive is so strange, it drives straight by my conservative side and goes straight to “cool fantasy watch territory.” You don’t sit there and think “Rolex Submariner or Visconti Abyssus today?” A timepiece like this is part of an entirely different conversation, and I have to say that because it is actually good at being a watch, in addition to being a steampunk accessory, I find it pretty darn cool for what it is. Each of the Visconti Abyssus Scuba 3000m Dive watches will be part of a limited edition of 399 pieces each. Prices are $8,350 in steel (ref. W108-00-123-00), $8,700 in titanium (ref. W108-01-131-00), and $9,000 in bronze (ref. W108-02-132-00). visconti.it
