January 18th, 2025

When the Rolex SD43 came out I really wanted to try one. Give Rolex a last try. I traded in some watches at a store that I’ve gotten a few watches from over the years. When my SD43 arrived, I started inspecting everything. I hit the watch first, then everything else. I was looking at the warrenty card and when I flipped it over I was amazed at who the original owner was especially because these hadn’t been out very long. The original owner was my friend Page. I immediately texted her to tell her. We were both blown away because the jewelry I got it from wasn’t even the same one she traded her SD43 to! The As you all know that my friend Page was one of my OG watch friends. She was an amazing person. We traded watches, shared passion for the same style of watches and I even bought a watch from her, my first Rolex DSSD.

I got the Seiko Tuna as a wrist memorial to Page but unfortunately I didn’t click with it. In traditional Stephen and Page style I flipped it. I was back to trying to find a wrist memorial watch again. That’s were this Cavenagow came into play. It was one of Page’s favorite watches. You can go check out her posts of it. As I was researching this watch, I was blown away by a detail. Sometimes the horological angels have a hand in how things work out. Page’s Cavenago was 80/100, and the watch I got in was number 80/100! How the fuck can this happen?!? Seriously! What are the chances of me finding one of these watches, let alone the same exact one that belonged to my dear friend!?! I have goosebumps!

Page often wore hers on a green canvas strap, so I had to put mine on my Gunny straps green canvas strap! I can’t believe this at all! It’s a complete pinch me am I dreaming moment that I have my friends watch! I couldn’t wait to share this story with all of you! This 47mm Italian beauty with its handwound ETA 6497 movement is just an incredibly special watch! More to come on this very special watch!

January 21st, 2025

A watch that is simple, beautiful, badass and has some great sentimental value for me. The blasted finished case is the perfect housing for a watch that was made for adventure. I like the simplicity of this design as it’s a nice nod to those early Italian dive watches but without coming across as a homage piece. The finish and the case shape are perfect for this style of dive watch. The generous sized case comes in at 46mm. This case definitely has some heft to it which is nice to feel. Stainless steel always has some nice heft to it. I do love titanium for its color and durability, bronze for its patina and how it wears scratches/dents, and stainless steel for its nice weight. I like the fixed bezel a lot! Over the past few years I have grown quite fond of fixed bezels and found myself preferring them over rotating bezels. I have a good mix of fixed bezels and rotating bezels in my collection, just as I have a nice mix of bronze, titanium and stainless steel.

Here are some of the specs for this watch:

Caliber: Swiss Made ETA 6497 manual
Functions: hours and minutes
Jewels: 17
Hz: 18.000 vibrations per hour
Case: 316L stainless steel, 46 mm, brushed
Waterproof: 30 ATM
Back: screw
Glass: domed sapphire
Super-LumiNova: on dial and hands
Crown: screw-down
Weight watch-head: 149 grams
Case: 46mm not including the crown
Lugs: 24mm

January 28th, 2025

The Acciaiopuro is such a beautiful and clean piece. A simple two-hander powered by my favorite movement, a Unitas 6497. The sound of winding this one is pure music to my ears. I’ll do a video soon so you all can witness that joyous sound. Then the real magic begins, the movement comes to life with its ticking heart. That mechanical heartbeat that instantly transports me back to that 5 year old self, hearing my great grandfather’s pocket watch for the first time! It doesn’t get any better than this sound. This is why I can’t bond with quartz. There is no magic there for me. Nothing against any of you who love quartz, as I am sure they have their own magic for you, but for me, I need that mechanical fascination!

The blasted case teamed with the sterile fixed bezel creates the tone of this watch. A beautiful, no nonsense tool watch that has everything you need and nothing more. A classic 12, 3, 6, 9 dial follows suit and creates a clean and effective wrist experience. There is that magic again shining through this watch.

The matte black dial is the perfect backdrop for these white numerals and these large hands. Legibility is not an issue on this watch whatsoever! And I am talking day or night. As you can see in the pics the legibility is off the charts. I will take some lume shots.

This piece is magical from a design and execution perspective but it’s true magic comes from its former owner, my dear friend Page.

February 4th, 2025

Cavenago in Masters of the Universe vibes! I loved Masters of the Universe when I was a kid. The toys, the amazing box art from legends like Rudy Obrero, Earl Norem, William George and Esteban Maroto and the mini comics especially the art from Alfredo Alcala. I remember being a kid getting lost is all of that MOTU art. I still get lost in it now. It is still so damn good. All of that art inspired my shoot today with this special watch.

You have no idea the struggle I am having trying to find screw bars for these lugs. Page lost the original screw bars for this watch and I am trying to find a replacement pair. I might just have to use spring bars which all of you know, I hate spring bars.

I definitely don’t hate this watch, that’s for damn sure. I am loving it. The case shape, design and finish are all so well done. I just love admiring it from all different angles. The sterile fixed bezel is perfect in my opinion. A perfect frame for this dial. The white hands, numerals and markers almost pop off of this dial in a 3-D hologram kind of way. It’s quite magical in fact. The icing on this Italian masterpiece is the movement inside. The winding of the 6497 is the purest form of horological harmony. Each click of the wind and each tick of the movement is music to my ears, heart and soul!

February 16th, 2025

I love the simplicity of the two hands and the classic reliability of the Unitas 6497. In my opinion, those two details go together like peanut butter and jelly. A combo made in horological heaven. Another combination that I like on this watch is the matte black dial and the white hands & markers. A legibility combo that is both aesthetically pleasing and functionally pleasing. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with a classic 12, 3, 6, and 9 dial.

It’s a shame that @cavenagowatch is no longer around. This watch is so damn good and I would imagine so are their other models. It would have been interesting to see what other watches they had in the planning process. I’m glad that I was able to get one. It’s already a cherished piece in my collection. Not only because it once belonged to my dear friend but also because it encompasses everything I appreciate in a watch, right down to the case finish.

February 25th, 2025

This watch is absolutely no nonsense. Simple dial and case, reliable Unitas hand wound movement…..right up my horological alley. I threw it on this custom leather nato from the master himself aka Blue Radish Straps . It’s a perfect match in my opinion.

The finish on this case is also perfect. I am not a fan of polished finish or details, especially on tool/dive watches. Aside from the shit quality control, the explosive diarrhea of polished finish on Rolex’s watches is a huge reason why I couldn’t bond with them. That’s partially my fault for believing that they actually made tool watches, but I quickly realized they only make luxury retail dress watches.

Thankfully there are so many options out there for all tastes. This @cavenagowatch is definitely 💯 my taste. I’d love to pick up another one of their watches. The price point is crazy good for what you get. The quality is right up there with other Italian brands such as Ennebi, Visconti, Anonimo and GAW!

May 16th, 2015

One of my personal favorite watches that I have experienced. From the beautiful case, to the matte black dial and the hound wound mechanical Unitas movement. It’s an incredible watch. I am sad that @cavenagowatch is no longer in existence. Their watches are so well done. Beautiful quality and execution. This piece was once owned by my dear friend Page and that sentimental value adds so much to this watch.

The way this watch sounds as I wind it up is pure music to my horological heart. The clicks are so precise and beautiful. I never had a hand wound movement that had such strong & deliberate sounds when it was being wound up. Once the heart and soul of the watch starts to beat, oh man that tick tock sound is a symphony for my soul. It’s exactly why I fell in love with watches when I was just 5 years old, winding & listening to my great grandfather’s pocket watch.

May 21st, 2025th

The 46mm beast, with the handwound ticking heart, is an absolute joy to behold. Had to do a #moodywatchshots series to show off the finish, the curves & angles of the case and just the overall badassery of this watch! The sandblasted finish is absolutely stunning. For those of you who don’t know, ACCIAIOPURO translates to “pure steel.”

This case and dial are perfect examples of where less is more! The oversized hands are incredibly well done and are the perfect choice for this dial. I love a classic 12, 3, 6, 9 dial. Something magical, something classic, something clean and something that triggers my mechanical fascination!

I love a fixed, sterile bezel. It’s a throwback to those early military dive watches of yesteryear! Back when divers were badass and didn’t need to rely on modern conveniences of a rotating bezel. This watch has a great throwback feel to it.

June 6th, 2025

The case finish on this one is so damn good. “Cavenago’s logo is minimal and rational. It consists of 7 vertical lines which symbolize the “Duomo” of Milan, the landmark of the city. The “Duomo” is a millenary Cathedral always alive and able to attract the people from around the world. The “Duomo” is imposing and beautiful. It is the “heart” of Milan.” I wish this brand was still producing watches. Their watches are such well made tools. This is my personal favorite of their catalog. The handset, the matte black dial, the 12, 3, 6, 9 and the 6497 mechanical movement, all are the details that I appreciate about this watch.

The other detail, the detail that you can’t see, makes this watch incredibly special. You all heard the story on how this watch belonged to my friend Page who passed away and how I got this watch randomly on a trade only to realize that it belonged to Page after looking at her old pics and the serial number matched. I was blown away by this! Completely random but mapped out by the horological universe.

July 27th, 2025

The Swiss Made ETA 6497 manual movement is one of the main reasons why I appreciate this watch. It’s a true workhorse movement that has a shit ton of notches on its trial and proven reliability belt. I know I talked about this before but winding this movement on this particular watch is pure tactile and auditory heaven for my senses. I not only love the clicks of the crown with each wind but listening to the movement tick & tock symphony make my horological heart happy! 17
jewels and the 18,000 vibrations per hour!

The finish on the 316L stainless steel case adds that tool feel that I know & love. The watch has a nice presence on the wrist and at 149 grams, it feels great on the wrist too! The design of the case and the 46 mm case allows that presence to have some awesome command. The brushed finish is done with great precision. It also has a nice amount of water resistance which is 30 ATM. In and out of the water, the domed sapphire crystal and screw own caseback are both aesthetically appealing but also functional reassuring.

The blue glow of the Super-LumiNova on the markers and on the hands are stunning. The day-lume on this watch is absolutely gorgeous. I love pulling into the garage just to see it glow so bright. Make this #watchnerd smile from ear to ear.

August 3rd, 2025

A perfect example of when less is definitely more! The sterile fixed bezel is a lovely frame to draw the eye into this work of Italian horological art. The domed sapphire crystal creates a porthole to view the classic cardinal dial with the cross created by the 12, 3, 6, 9 hour numerals.

This watch is simple but the details leave a long lasting impression of Italian watch making. The brushed case finish on this 316L stainless steel case sets the tone for this watch. This watch is beautifully moody in every aspect possible. If I were to describe this watch in a single sentence it would be: A simple, yet beautiful moody watch with few but incredible impactful details!

I wish that I pulled the trigger on one sooner. I chatted several times with Cavenago but I never was able to commit to buying one. It was a time when I was constantly moving, restarting my life after life-changing events. This was all supposed to happen because how else would I have traded for this watch only to realize that this 1025 was the same model that belonged to my dearly departed friend, Page! That makes this Cavenago more special and more appreciated than if I were to have purchased one years ago.

August 10th, 2025

This is a very special and beautifully badass watch. It only a a sense to me that it uses a badass movement, the Unitas 6497. The large, pocket watch movement has been around for a long time and has truly been trialed & tested. There’s something romantically musical about the movement. It’s been one of my personal favorites for as long as i can remember. Winding it and listening to its symphony is something that brings great joy to my horological heart.

I love that i get to play the conductor of this orchestra every time I get to wind this watch via its gorgeous crown. The logo on the crown is equally beautiful and simplistic. The seven vertical lines symbolize the Duomo of Milan. It’s been a landmark for the city for a very long time. Its construction began in 1386 and ended in 1965. Its one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Many consider it the heart of Milan, always alive with its imposing beauty. I love this logo because of it’s simplicity but historical significance.

There is no denying my love for Italian watches and there is definitely no denying my love & appreciation for this watch. It’s simplistically perfect. It has a mysterious beauty about it yet somehow manages to be quite badass. It reminds me of Allucard from the Castlevania mythology. The finishing on the case is so well done. It creates the masterpiece artwork that encompasses this watch. What I appreciate about my wretched hive of scum & villainy is what it does for me on a mental level. Every time I start to think or start to crave a watch, as that feeling starts to manifest itself within me, you know it can start as a small, insignificant spark, but quickly ignite into an inferno. As soon as I begin to wander through my collection, that fire of desire is extinguished as quickly as it started. That’s something that I truly appreciate about my collection!

August 24, 2025th

This capable diver, with its 300m water resistance is a good tool. The right tool for the right job comes into play, yet again. You see, I have watches with 6,000m water resistance rating and everything in between, so every watch in my collection doesn’t have to make it down to the Mariana Trench.

I have dive watches with bezels that rotate unidirectionally, bidirectionally, that lock, that ratchet, that have ball bearings, etc…so when I have a dive watch like this with a fixed bezel, it is the right tool for the right job when I pick this watch to wear that day. The finish on this case is done with professional precision. Cavenago can hold their own with brands like Ennebi, Gruppo Ardito…which are great brands as well!

September 7th, 2025

This is a beautiful dial to start with too. It’s an example of my favorite type of dial, matte black with white painted numerals/minute markers. My other favorite detail is that there is no polished bits on this dial. This watch has entered my top 10 favorite watches of all time list. The quality and finish rivals brands that are not only more expensive but also brands with deeper history. It’s a shame that Cavenago’s lifespan was so incredibly short. I’m grateful to own this badass watch. This watch is full of amazing details, quality and execution but throwing in the fact that it’s directly connected with my dear friend Page, makes this one so incredibly special. I still need to track down a pair of screw lug bars for this one.

I wasn’t sure if I was even going to review this watch. There were a few thoughts that came to my mind. When i was first starting contemplating this, the “why should I review a watch from a company that no longer exists?” I delved deeper into this deeper and pondered this very question, it brought me back 12 plus years ago, to when I started my blog. My blog was started on the very foundation of my original thought, my original purpose of why I started it. There weren’t any resources for me to find information on the watches/brands that I was drawn to. I set out to create a blog for individuals like myself, who liked watches that were ‘off the beaten path’. I never set out to be the most popular, to get the most likes or followers, just like the watches I feature, my blog was and still is for the select few. I enjoy bringing attention to brands that those select few might not have known about. If I helped one person, I considered my blog a success. My journey hasn’t been perfect, I have made mistakes along the way but from those mistakes I’ve learned a great deal and improved upon my watch journey through growth and progression.

As always, thanks for reading!

https://www.cavenagowatches.it