One unique area of the watch market that’s seen some compelling growth in recent years is the once-rare genre of shaped dress watches.
These 1970s-inspired anomalies are suddenly everywhere, and for every high-end effort like the Berneron Mirage, it seems we’re getting a handful of far more affordable takes on the style from the likes of new brands such as Toledano & Chan and Anoma.
But even though those latter brands are more affordable, that doesn’t necessarily make them more attainable, as their business model has been to launch their watches in small, limited runs that end up being almost impossible to get.
Well, Anoma has decided to change course a bit by launching its first permanent collection, meaning one of the hottest shaped watches around just became a whole lot easier to buy.
Stone and Abyss
Founded by Matteo Violet-Vianello, formerly of A Collected Man, Anoma has only ever produced one model: the A1. First appearing in 2024 as the A1 First Series, the A1 features an original rounded triangle case that takes direct inspiration from a 1950s coffee table by Charlotte Perriand, itself a part of the biomorphic mid-century design movement based on organic shapes.
After the first run of blue-dial A1 watches, Anoma launched a unique piece for charity featuring an engraved dial, then the dark-lacquered “Slate” model, and last year, the A1 Optical, which came in two colorways with an engraved dial similar to the previous year’s pièce unique. All of these watches sold out quickly, never to be produced again.
