When it comes to name recognition, few brands evoke a sense of luxury quite like Versace. Its bold and confident design aesthetic and uncompromising approach to material and craft means that watches are a natural fit for the brand — and the Versace name has become as synonymous with timepieces as it is with other luxury goods. Its newest release, the Versace Greca Logo Chrono, is a bold new take on the chronograph, with a typically opulent aesthetic.
In the Versace Greca Logo Chrono, a repeating geometric tile pattern rings the bezel, interrupted only by six hex screws that add visual interest and a strong design element. At 43mm and with a broad bezel, the Greca Logo Chrono is certainly not lacking in wrist presence. Each colorway was chosen to be visually striking — whether you choose the gold-tone IP-coated “champagne” case and bracelet model, the natural stainless-steel with green dial model, or any of the other variations, each is made in Versace’s evocative style.
The Versace Greca Logo Chrono is powered by a RONDA S60 Swiss-made quartz movement, and the dial is based on a classic three-register design, with wide surrounds on each register that mirror the applied indices. Along with a date window at 4 o’clock, the 9 o’clock register displays the day of the week while the other two registers act as seconds and minute counters. Sitting at 12 o’clock is the Versace Medusa. The Medusa motif was chosen because those who looked at her instantly fell in love — exactly the feeling Versace hoped to evoke in those who looked at his creations.
Versace certainly doesn’t stop at the case and dial when creating a striking design — both the bracelet and strap options are also standouts. The integrated bracelet utilizes a mix of brushed and polished elements in the links, but the eye is immediately drawn to the Versace name proudly emblazoned on alternating links. The bracelet secures to the wrist by way of a comfortable butterfly clasp. Versace also offers the option of an integrated strap with broad geometric elements in colors that complement the tones of the dial and case.
Most hard-core collectors of luxury watches probably frown at models offered by fashion houses, and that’s understandable. When your primary business is fashion, you generally concern yourself more with clothing than you do with fine watchmaking. It’s true that most fashion houses that offer watches tend to have flashy, but inexpensive offerings. Versace watches are different, and strikingly so. While the company is primarily known for their clothing and accessories, the do take their timepieces seriously.
The timepieces are Swiss made and have the sorts of features and build quality that one usually finds only with well known companies that manufacture watches exclusively, such as Audemars Piguet or Rolex.
While few people who collect timepieces from those companies are likely to start buying this particular brand, their timepieces do compare favorably with other mid to high end Swiss models and we think you’ll like what you see.