Anoma, a New Microbrand, Unveils its Sculptural A1 Watch

There’s no stopping the rise of small, independent brands hoping to secure a footing in the tricky world of watchmaking. While many fledgeling brands will pop up briefly and then fade into oblivion, we try to select brands with potential staying power. The latest to brave the scene is Anoma and its sculptural A1 watch that underscores the brand’s strong focus on design. Belonging to the category of shaped watches, the A1’s intriguing, rounded triangular profile is a flashback to mid-20th-century design.

Matteo Violet Vianello’s passion for watches has been channelled into his new microbrand. Although he is not a watchmaker or designer by trade, he has experience at respected indie watch retailer A Collected Man. The name Anoma, which is short for anomaly, is inspired by the unconventional shape of the brand’s first watch.

The A1 watch draws inspiration from a unique source: a 1950s table by Charlotte Perriand (1903-1999), a renowned French architect, designer and Le Corbusier collaborator. Her free-form table, with its delta-shaped wooden top and tapering legs, has been reimagined in the compact form of a wristwatch. As the indisputable king of shaped watches, Cartier’s crazy Crash and sensual Pebble watches spring to mind. More contemporary references like De Bethune’s signature delta bridge or Hamilton’s Ventura also come to mind, not forgetting Audemars Piguet’s recent Brutalist [Re]Master02.

Measuring 39mm x 38mm and 9.45 mm thick, the asymmetrical stainless steel case has some of the smooth, sensual appeal of Laurent Ferrier’s watches and is described using the same pebble analogy – “made smooth and round by the erosion of time.” The press release notes that the shaped watch wears more like a 37mm piece and is thinner thanks to its inward-curving profile. The alternating width of the bezel gives the A1 an organic appeal, while its mirror-polished surfaces play with light.

To preserve the watch’s sculptural body, the leather strap is integrated into the case through slender openings on either side. The crown is also recessed into the case to maintain the sleek, streamlined silhouette and can be accessed via the cut-away area on the caseback.

The attractive two-tone lacquered dial echoes the case geometry. Starting from the periphery and moving to the centre, the lighter blue lacquered area reveals its silky brushed finish. It is followed by a rounded, triangular chapter ring in a darker midnight-blue colour with white hour markers. The dial’s centre repeats the same colour and texture as the periphery. A stylised crosshair traversing the dial’s centre emphasises the asymmetrical format of the case and dial. The leaf-shaped hands are laser-cut and then curved to match the rounded contours of the case.

The A1 is an accomplished study in watch design. Mechanically, the A1 relies on a no-frills but competent Sellita SW100 automatic with a 4Hz frequency and a modest power reserve of 38-42 hours.

Availability & Price

The Anoma A1 can be pre-ordered between June 6th and July 6th and retails for GBP 1,300 (excl. tax). The first 100 watches will be individually numbered. Once the pre-order window closes, the A1 will never be replicated. Delivery is scheduled for January 2025.

For more information, please consult anomawatches.com.