Furlan Marri Adds Two Mechaquartz Stunners to the Permanent Collection: Sabbia Rosa & Ardesia Blu
- Balance & Bridge
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Here at Balance & Bridge, we’ve been following Furlan Marri closely since their debut, and for good reason: few brands have managed to bottle vintage design, sharp execution, and real accessibility quite like this young Swiss outfit. They’ve nailed the “if you know, you know” formula without coming off as precious or overly nostalgic. With each release, Furlan Marri continues to refine its voice—and its latest additions, Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu, are two of the most balanced yet.
These two chronographs now join the brand’s Mechaquartz Permanent Collection, expanding a lineup that has quietly become a modern-day go-to for thoughtful, design-driven collectors. And if you’re new to the brand, consider this your invitation to take a closer look.
A Brand Built on Design and Detail
Furlan Marri was founded by Andrea Furlan, a Swiss industrial designer with a background that reads like a greatest-hits list of watchmaking influences, and Hamad Al Marri, a Middle Eastern collector and artist whose love for independent watchmaking runs deep. Together, they’ve built a brand that blends romantic design inspiration with sharp execution, always leaning on the story behind the watch.
Andrea cut his teeth with the likes of Chopard, Hublot, and the elite complication atelier Renaud & Papi, where he worked closely with co-founder Dominique Renaud. Hamad, on the other hand, brings a collector’s instinct—one informed by years of combing through auction houses and studying finishing techniques. Their combined outlook is what gives Furlan Marri its distinct blend of past and present. From their earliest releases to recent permanent additions, the mission has remained consistent: design-forward watches with elevated finishing and emotional connection, delivered at a price that makes sense.
We’ve covered the brand multiple times here on Balance & Bridge, and with each release, they’ve shown a clear evolution—one that’s both cohesive and surprising.
Why Mechaquartz Still Works
Some brands use quartz for cost savings. Furlan Marri uses it for design freedom. By opting for the Seiko VK64 mechaquartz movement, the brand gets to channel its energy (and budget) into things that elevate the experience: complex dial textures, nuanced case finishing, and vintage cues that feel considered rather than performative.
For those unfamiliar, mechaquartz movements combine quartz accuracy with a mechanical chronograph feel. That means a smoother sweep of the chronograph hand, a satisfying pusher response, and—crucially—an instant snap-back reset. It also allows the case to stay thin and wearable at 12mm, without sacrificing the richness of the design.
Introducing the New Furlan Marri Mechaquartz Permanent Collection
Sabbia Rosa – Golden Hour, Captured (Ref. 20201)
Sabbia Rosa is easily the softer of the two releases. Its creamy, champagne-toned dial has a warmth that leans romantic—think summer light bouncing off aged metal or that moment right before the sun dips below the horizon. The look is classic, but not fussy.
This model features a tachymeter scale wrapped arou\nd the outer edge of the dial, a callback to vintage racing chronographs. The applied Roman numerals, steel hands with rose gold PVD, and domed crystal all give it a tactile, charming feel.
Dial: Cream and champagne matte finish, double printed text
Scale: Tachymeter (base 1000)
Hands & Indexes: Highly polished steel with 4N rose gold PVD; curved and domed hands; raised Roman numerals
Case: 38mm stainless steel with 4N rose gold PVD, 12mm thick, 46mm lug-to-lug
Crystal: Scratch-resistant sapphire with five layers of anti-reflective coating and a fingerprint-resistant layer
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Straps: Includes two Italian leather straps—one in brown, one in cream—both with quick release and matching color stitching
The engraved, decagonal caseback adds a sense of closure—literally and figuratively—and a bit of unexpected depth for a quartz-driven piece.
Ardesia Blu – Calm Depth and Texture (Ref. 20203)
Where Sabbia Rosa leans warm and nostalgic, Ardesia Blu takes a cooler, more meditative turn. Its dial is rich with deep blue tones, layered with matte and glossy finishes, circular brushing, and vertical strokes that add visual movement with every shift in light. It’s the kind of watch that feels serene on the wrist—subtle, but definitely not plain.
This model swaps the tachymeter for a pulsometer scale, a tool historically used by doctors to measure heart rates. It's a neat touch of analog history, given a modern twist here.
Dial: Multi-textured deep blue with circular and vertical brushed finishes
Scale: Pulsometer (15 pulsations)
Hands & Indexes: Curved and domed hands, stamped Roman numeral-style indexes
Case: 38mm stainless steel, 12mm thick, 46mm lug-to-lug
Crystal: Same sapphire treatment as Sabbia Rosa
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Straps: Comes with two quick-release Italian leather straps—one in dark velvet blue, the other in baby blue
Like its sibling, Ardesia Blu arrives with a signed buckle, engraved reference numbers, and that distinct Furlan Marri casework, blending perlage, satin brushing, and deep engraving throughout.
Finishing That Punches Above Its Weight
Both models share a level of detailing more often found in far pricier pieces: applied markers, brushed and polished surfaces, multiple strap options, and an ownership experience that feels complete from box to buckle. The brand continues to honor historical case construction cues as well—including influences from François Borgel (later Taubert), the legendary case maker behind many 1940s and '50s chronographs.
Retail is set at 585 CHF, keeping the value proposition firmly intact.
The Takeaway
Sabbia Rosa and Ardesia Blu showcase Furlan Marri’s Mechaquartz savvy and their confidence in its design language and prove, once again, that storytelling and practicality don’t have to be at odds. These are watches built for everyday wear but filled with thoughtful touches that reward closer inspection.
Whether you’ve been following the brand from the start or this is your first introduction, Furlan Marri continues to be one of the most compelling names in the accessible luxury space. And as always, we’ll be here to cover where they go next.
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