The Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT is currently taking Kickstarter by storm, having raised over £430,000 in preorders to date. It certainly looks good but is it all it seems?
Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT Comes to Kickstarter
The Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT certainly wears its influences on its sleeve. Some less kind commenters have compared it to a Rolex GMT Master II with stick markers instead of dots on the dial. Dig a little deeper and there is a little more to the watch than first meets the eye. Unlike its inspiration, it has a 22mm lug width and so it should wear a little larger on the wrist. The colour options are also interesting – we are very taken by the anodised gold coloured bezel and white dial combination.
Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT – Specifications
- CASE: Ø42 mm, 316L Stainless Steel,
- MEASURES: Lug width 22mm, lug to lug 49mm, thickness 13mm
- MOVEMENT: Swiss Made ETA 2893-2 (Cal. MV297)
- CRYSTAL: Antireflective Domed Sapphire Glass
- HANDS/INDEXES: Diamond cut
- LUME: C1 Swiss Superluminova® / Old Radium
- BEZEL: Unidirectional rotatable, Enamelled Aluminium
- WR: 20ATM = 200mt
- STRAP: Real vintage leather Made in Italy
- EXTRA STRAP: Metal mesh band 22mm (Silicone for PVD versions)
- CROWN: Screw Down Crown
First Thoughts on the Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT
Our first thoughts were that the watch is really attractive. It’s a very cost-effective way of getting what looks like an elabore grade ETA 2893-2 GMT movement, although there is some confusion over whether backers will actually get a standard grade with a decorated rotor. On closer inspection of the photos, we also are a little concerned over the length of the hands, which do not quite meet the markers around the dial – something which bothered us in the Seiko SUN025.
The internet has also been resolutely underwhelmed by the project’s stretch goals: a perlon strap, a strap change tool, and finally a NATO strap and polishing cloth. We would have hoped they would have thrown the jubilee bracelet in for free after beating their goal so comprehensively. Nevertheless, we’ve backed the watch and so look out for a full review next year when it arrives – and if you miss the Kickstarter there will be plenty more available after the end of the campaign at shops like the Microbrand Store.
We initially backed the campaign but changed our minds for three reasons:
- The hands look too short, as they do not hit the chapter ring markings
- The ETA GMT movement only sets in one direction and, unlike the Rolex GMT, it is the 24 hour hand that “jumps”, which means you have to set both local time and GMT time every time you cross a timezone
- The makers chose to use a unidirectional diver’s bezel instead of a GMT bezel assembly, which means that you cannot use the bezel as a way to track a second time one without rotating it all the way around every time
Buy a Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT
You can order a Meccaniche Veneziane Nereide GMT on Kickstarter at the price of €559 plus €25 postage for the next three weeks. The jubilee bracelet is an extra €65 on top of the price, and we think that’s an essential addition as it may be hard to come by as an aftermarket extra. Potential backers may also be worried about the high VAT cost on such an expensive watch: the watch ships from Venice Italy sp as long as it arrives before Brexit on 29th March 2019 then then UK backers will have nothing extra to pay.
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1. – make your homework, they ship from Italy!
So there will be no VAT before Brexit!!!
2. The whole article and your statement why you canceled your order screams – “I‘m a frustrated wannabe watch reviewer and didn’t get a free watch!”
So not worth to read more from your work, because you are paid by the manufactures!!!
Thanks for your comment, Michael.
1 – the last line if the review clarifies that the watches ship from Italy as confirmed by the creators.
2 – we all have different opinions. 1 in 10 backers of the campaign have withdrawn and this article explores one person’s reasons why. I never asked MV for a free watch.
As all our readers are aware, unlike some other blogs we do not ask for free watches in return for reviews. Our news articles are clearly marked as such, and all our reviews point out negative as well as positive points. On the rare occasion we are allowed to keep a review watch instead of passing it to the next reviewer, we state it in the review and give it away to a reader. You’ll have noticed we are currently giving away a NAOS watch which was donated to us.
Just wow re the first comment. I’m almost at a loss for words at how ignorant the poster seems to be, or his total lack of comprehension when Mike has laid things out very clearly.
Re point #1, Mike explained carefully and clearly that if the watch ships on time then no VAT before Brexit as it’s coming from Italy. His other implied point is of course that there will be VAT if it’s significantly delayed, is also valid as many pre-orders get delayed. In fact the majority of campaigns do end up delayed on Kickstarter. Add in that this campaign is amazingly successful in terms of numbers backing, it’s reasonably possible that the creators may have a much larger quantity to ship and produce than originally anticipated, thus making a delay somewhat more of a possibility.
Re point #2, am very glad Mike doesn’t shill for free watches, which he explains the situation very nicely. Probably more politely than I’d have done so. I just wish more reviewers were like him so folks can get a balanced viewpoint with both the good and the bad points instead of basically a canned advert in review format.
The reasons Mike chose to bail sound reasonable to me, and I think it’s a fair review. (And no, I’m not a naysayer. I’ve actually ordered a number of these for my store and absolutely love the look, the San Marco being my personal favorite.) I have other GMT watches with the jumping 24 hour hand and unidirectional bezel that put Mike off, such as a Christopher Ward Trident Pro 600 GMT, and I’m fine with that. It’s still a great ETA movement and a great looking watch. The Kickstarter is also a phenomenal value IMHO. Everyone makes their choices for different reasons.