No Rush, Here’s The Anoma A1 Core Collection In Abyss Blue And Stone Gray

Microbrand watch releases can often be both fun and frustrating at the same time. You get all excited about the original design, the attractive price point, and the brand’s sympathetic founder. However, if there’s only a limited number of pieces available or a tight order window, you need to decide quickly, and that’s not always what you want to do when you’re spending more than usual. For Anoma, this also used to be the case, but we have good news. The Anoma A1 Abyss and A1 Stone are now part of the brand’s Core Collection.

Of course, it’s not microbrands’ aim to frustrate potential customers. As they’re getting started, they produce small batches, and if they’re lucky, they sell out in the blink of an eye. The good thing is that these stepping-stone releases help the companies grow, so they can finally start building their permanent offerings. Anoma has now reached that point, so let’s take a look at its Core Collection.

The Anoma A1 Core Collection

Luckily, fans of the brand won’t find the shape of these two watches surprising. They both have the familiar all-polished stainless steel case with a pebble-like triangular shape. It’s 39mm long, 39mm wide, and only 9.45mm thick. Compared to previous A1 releases, there are no changes here. The 25-jewel Sellita SW100 movement inside is also the same as before. It winds automatically, runs at 28,800 vph, and has a power reserve of 38 hours.

The push-pull crown sits encapsulated in the right corner of the case. It certainly isn’t the most convenient crown, but that’s why it’s nice that the A1 has an automatic movement. I also appreciate the 50m water resistance. This combination makes this dressy piece much more like an everyday watch.

Abyss blue or Stone gray

The real news here is the dials. You can choose between Abyss blue and Stone gray. Apart from their colors, the finishing is also different. The Abyss dial requires three layers of lacquer to get the right color. One of them is greenish-blue, and the other two are midnight blue. There’s a mirror finish in the center of the dial and a sunburst finish on the outer ring. The silver hour markers are printed, and the four plectrum-shaped ones are just nearly connected by crosshairs.

The Stone version features an abrasively blasted center and also has a sunburst finish around it. The printing is the same as on the Abyss, and it also features the same elegantly domed and polished leaf hands. Both versions come on a dark gray grained Italian leather strap, including an asymmetric yet very elegant pin buckle.

Available to everyone

As I said in the introduction, I think it’s great that Anoma now offers the A1 in its Core Collection. Even better, these watches aren’t very different from the previous limited-edition releases. The signature triangular pebble-like case is still there, and you can even choose from two great color options. The Abyss adds a bit of vibrancy to your day with an elegant greenish-blue tone, while the silver printing helps you read the time.

My favorite, however, is the monochromatic Stone with its coarse dial center. For me, the Anoma A1’s shape is already interesting and beautiful enough on its own. I don’t need many other bells and whistles for it to click with me. The Stone version’s execution keeps it nice and understated while adding a thoughtful wink with the stone-like texture at the center of the dial.

The Anoma A1 on the wrist

I’m still a big fan of the Anoma A1. On the wrist, it feels like a combination of an artistic sculpture and a watch. It does feel more like a dress watch than a sports watch, but as mentioned, I like how capable it is thanks to its automatic movement and 50m water resistance. I can totally see myself wearing this watch for a long time without getting tired of its unique design.

In addition, the A1 feels aerodynamic and wonderfully comfortable on the wrist, and because it has no lugs, I’m sure it’ll fit wrists of many sizes quite well. Sure, the crown is a bit hidden and might be hard for some people to handle, but it keeps the design clean.

The Anoma A1 Abyss and Stone from the brand’s Core Collection are available now for £2,200 (ex. duties and taxes). You can buy them on the official Anoma website, where you can also find more information.

Let me know in the comments below what you think of Anoma’s Core Collection.