With new watch brands coming out seemingly every week, it may be difficult to stand out from the pack. Some of the more notable names have been revivals from formerly-shuttered brands prior to the Quartz Crisis. However, now and again there are brand debuts from new names in the game, hoping for their own chance to get noticed. For Anoma, they don’t have to try too hard in that regard, with its inaugural A1 model already making waves for its unique design language and handsome aesthetic. Let’s take a look…

Some Backstory

A growing trend in the microbrand industry is the formation of companies by fervent collectors or even influencers in the space, and Anoma falls right in line. Its founder, Matteo Violet Vianello, was a former employee at both Sotheby’s auction house and the vintage and rare retail platform A Collected Man, the latter of which he spent four years writing editorial content and rubbing elbows with independent watchmakers while he accumulated the knowledge necessary to start his own brand. He’s also been collecting vintage watches for years and knows his history.

Finding inspiration from the likes of architect Oscar Niemeyer and modernist designer Constantin Brâncusi, Anoma — short for “anomaly” — has set the bar high with its debut piece. Specifically influenced by a 1950s free-form table designed by Charlotte Perriand that Vianello found at an antique gallery in Paris a few years back, the A1 is also reminiscent of the Hamilton Ventura or the Patek Philippe Gilbert Albert watches from the ‘50s that were inspired by Art Deco design.

Anoma A1 Basics

If you look at the A1, you’ll notice a couple of things going on. For one, there’s a distinct triangular shape on both the case and the dial, except they’re slightly offset from one another to create a sort of tension on the wrist. Measuring 39mm x 38mm, the mirror-polished steel case is made to look and feel like a smooth river stone. As such, there are no straight lines on it at all.

The two-tone blue dial is rather minimalist, with only indices for the hours and brief ANOMA dial text. Available in either gray or sand, the grained Italian leather strap integrates directly into the case itself. Powered by the Sellita SW100 automatic movement, the two hands feature slight curvatures in order to go with the case shape. A hidden detail on the case itself is the recessed crown — accessible via an aperture in the back — which helps maintain the minimalism of the timepiece.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

Now available for pre-order for £1,300 (~$1,655), the A1 is unlimited in edition size, although the first 100 pieces are numbered (these are now sold out). The rest, engraved with “First Series,” will only be available until July 6 with deliveries expected for January 2025. Head over to Anoma’s website to reserve one now.

Anoma A1

Founded by a vintage watch collector, Anoma created its debut A1 model after finding inspiration from a free-form table designed by Charlotte Perriand in the ’50s.