Breaking Anonymity

What do you do when a serious watch making company is gobbled up by a giant in the industry and production is shipped to Switzerland? You step up to the plate, and start over of course! But how do you grab the attention of the masses, or do you focus on a niche? In other words, how do you break… anonymity?

The famous Panerai brand was once situated in Firenze, Italy but has been added to the Richemont Group a number of years ago. Firenze was left with a handful of skilled labors, and an abandoned workshop. The history of said workshop goes as far back as 1939, surely they couldn’t just lay that to waste?

Gifted designer and entrepreneur Federico Massacesi, known to the luxury world through the renowned brand of Italian luxury items Salvatore Ferragomo, decided to pick up from that point. Anonimo Firenze was born. The brand envisioned true Italian craftsmanship, combined with the Florentine casemaking traditions. One of the brands models reminiscent to these traditions is the Millimetri Polluce  Bronze.

The influence of the former Florentine based Panerai is still very much alive through the models of Anonimo Firenze, but the timepieces are distinct enough to see them as independent. Through the years, Anonimo has put out some serious models, and continues to woo an ever increasing crowd. The brand likes to play with different materials, dial layouts, complications and features. The core of the brand might well be the Anonimo Millimetri, with us from the very start and updated a number of times over the years.

First in case is, well, the case. Its 42mm solid crafted case and bezel, made from (UNI 5275 Marine) Bronze, develops a unique patina when worn regularly. The stainless steel caseback prevents form any patina giving of to the wrist of the wearer, so they won’t be ‘stained’.

The Sellita SW 200 movement, with custom made Anonimo rotor gives it a reasonable power reserve of 40hrs. The movement (actually a clone of the well-known ETA 2824) is outfitted with 26 jewels, operates at 28.800 beats an hour, is fitted with an Incabloc shock protection system and decorated with Colimaçon finish on the bridge and rotor.

Positioned on the 2 o’clock position there is a helium escape valve, and the crown is situated between 3 and 4 o’clock just as the date window. The solid built case (every case is literally carved out of one block of metal, making it much stronger then cases that are stamped) and helium escape valve give the watch a water resistance of 120 ATM or  1,200 meters.

The dial is made of brass and is available in matt black, tobacco or green, and features very legible indices and plenty of lume for night-time viewing. The watch comes with a comfortable leather strap with a finely detailed folding clasp, which might seam strange on a divers-watch but has a very good reason. The strap is Kodiak treated, which gives it long lasting resistance to seawater. Kodiak treated you say? Yes, a patented process ensuring the strap becomes waterproof. The treatment doesn’t make the leather water repellent, but allows it to pass through, making it usable for almost any kind of water.

All in all, the features and design make for an interesting timepiece, sure to appeal a great number of people. Over the years Anonimo has gathered a strong fan base, referred to as the Anonimisti, much like Paneristi.

The Anonimo Millimetri Polluce is available in three versions: the Millimetri Polluce Bronze, the stainless steel Millimetri Polluce and the Millimetri Polluce Drass.

The Anonimo Millimetri Polluce Bronze retails for around $ 4,900. More information about the Millimetri Polluce Bronze and other models can be found at the Anonimo Firenze website or through their official Facebook page.

The Anonimo Firenze Millimetri Polluce Bronze used for this article was supplied by: Clockwise Hellevoetsluis, the Netherlands.

This article is written by Robin Nooy, contributing writer for Monochrome Watches.