Latest Review
Mother-of-pearl has long acted as a sort of bridge between the commercial and artistic worlds of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Venetian artisans were particularly known for incorporating mother-of-pearl into luxurious pieces of jewelry and decorative art, cementing its role as a symbol of opulence and elegance. It comes as no surprise, then, that Venice’s own Out of Order has released their unique spin on the material with the Casanova 38.
While one elective course taken in college hardly qualifies me as an art historian, the first thought I had when viewing the Casanova was of artwork displayed on subdued museum walls, drawing the eye to the works themselves rather than their surroundings. In that vein, the Casanova’s three decidedly dazzling color options (pink, turquoise, and green) are paired with comparatively conservative styling. This lets the pearlescent dial rightfully take center stage, while other more functional features of the watch—like the screw-down crown, 100-meter water resistance, and butterfly clasp—act as supportive extras.
That doesn’t mean that the Casanova lacks distinct design details, though. The hand-applied indices and aluminum bezel insert match the chosen dial color and feature Superluminova C3 lume, and the top of the seconds hand and crown both feature the cheeky signature triple-O logo, differentiating the Casanova from other similarly-styled watches in the company’s own lineup. Furthermore, Out of Order’s slogan, “Damaged in Italy”, appears on the dial of the green variant, reminding the wearer of the company’s self-prescribed philosophy of creating “intentionally aged and weathered” timepieces. This variant also features a heavily patinated case and bracelet—a detail that ties cleverly into the Casanova’s Venetian art history inspiration and Out of Order’s brand ethos.
The marriage of functionality and opulence in the Casanova is appealing, but not more so than the price tag. All three color options come in at $380, and feature a Swiss Ronda 515 quartz movement. The watch will likely wear well on many wrists, as its 38mm stainless steel case and 10.9 mm thickness are in the sizing sweet spot for most wearers. The sapphire crystal glass also bears an anti-reflective coating, adding to its potential as a daily driver for the more colorfully-minded.
The 18 mm lug width is on the smaller side, but the quick-release bracelet should make strap-swapping easy—personally, though, I think the watch shines on the included stainless steel bracelet. While the mother-of-pearl dial and bright hues may not be for everyone’s taste, I’m glad that Out of Order chose the material and colors that they did—each version of the Casanova looks boldly distinctive from other dive-style watches from the brand and beyond, but not too blingy to leave at home on an average weekday chore run or coffee date. This blend of practicality and eye-popping pearlescence succeed in highlighting the Casanova’s artistic inspiration, and Out of Order’s own Venetian heritage—and the price should be right for those looking to try something a little more colorful than the average dive-style timepiece.
The Casanova 38 is available now with a retail price of $380. Out of Order
