Furlan Marri plays with new colour for the Mechaquartz, but subtly, of course
Borna BošnjakThe Mechaquartz is the watch that started it all for Furlan Marri, and with its accolades, you’d half expect them to just churn iterations of it without any meaningful advancement. Fortunately, Furlan Marri isn’t a brand that rests on their laurels – we’ve seen watches like the Flyback and Disco Volante launch – but still paying attention to their roots with meaningful refreshes. The latest is probably my favourite yet, as it sees Furlan Marri launch two new variants in the understated colours we’ve become accustomed to. The Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu bring back some touches we’ve seen in now-discontinued models, and we’re delighted to offer them both in the Time+Tide Shop. Here’s everything you need to know.
The first of the two is the delectably soft Sabbia Rosa (pink sand, in Italian), with a 4N rose gold PVD coating and a rosy champagne dial. Not that Furlan Marri’s existing releases suffer from ill-advised colour combinations, in fact they’re all quite beautiful, but this one stands out to me as probably the best Mechaquartz thus far. The rosy inner changes to a rich gold with a flick of the wrist, with a sapphire crystal that surprisingly doesn’t take away from the warmth as you might expect. It also brings back the applied Roman numerals at 6 and 12 which have previously been replaced with Arabics.
Just like all of its watches, Furlan Marri supplies it with two quick-release leather straps, but the Sabbia Rosa stands out even more with its bright white number. In all honesty, I vastly prefer the alternative, which is this ultra-soft dark brown. It lets the main event shine, and offers a staggered contrast of warm tones that slowly darken from the dial, to the case, and ends with the strap.
And if you’re one of those who just can’t stomach having a 24-hour indicator on the dial, courtesy of the Seiko VK64 mechaquartz calibre, Furlan Marri is releasing another colourway of its pulsations-graded Mechaquartz. The Ardesia Blu (or slate blue, if we’re translating) eschews the 3 o’clock counter for an all-printed sector style. Except for the black minute track and running seconds sub-dial, the Ardesia Blue achieves visual interest by alternating the style of its dial brushing. The centre is vertical, while the hour ring goes for circular – again, subtlety is key here.
On the wrist, its 38mm diameter and 12mm thickness is in line with all the other FM Mechaquartz variants, as is the 46mm lug-to-lug. But thanks to the blue dial and denim-like strap, the Ardesia Blu has a distinctly casual feel to it, despite the all-polished case and ornate Tasti Tondi pushers. Its alternate strap is a bright baby blue that, similarly to the white of the Sabbia Rosa, can play up the casual feel of the watch even more – but I do think the fully tonal look is just right here.
As briefly mentioned before, both watches are powered by Seiko’s VK64 mechaquartz movement. It’s a common choice for entry-level chronographs, combining the affordability of a quartz base and the romanticism of a mechanical chronograph module, with satisfying pushers to actuate it. If you’re keen on learning more about the tech, make sure to read our in-depth piece on mechaquartz.
Furlan Marri Mechaquartz Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu pricing and availability
The Furlan Marri Mechaquartz Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu are now available from the Time+Tide Shop, and both the Melbourne and London Discovery Studios. Price: A$1,200, £630
| Brand | Furlan Marri |
| Model |
Mechaquartz Sabbia Rosa
Mechaquartz Ardesia Blu |
| Reference Number | 20201 20203 |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) x 12mm (T) x 46mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel 4N rose gold PVD |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Domed sapphire crystal |
| Dial | Cream and champage Brushed blue and black |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap |
Coloured leather straps, case-matching pin buckles
|
| Movement | Seiko VK64, mechaquartz |
| Power Reserve | 2 year battery life |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds |
| Availability | Now, from the T+T Shop |
| Price | A$1,200 £630 |