Since its foundation in 1997 in Florence, Italy, Anonimo has enjoyed particular esteem among collectors, who consider it the legitimate heir to a long-standing local tradition of watchmaking. Indeed, many of those who were involved in the beginnings of this magnificent adventure joined from Officine Panerai (including its founder and CEO for 25 years, Dino Zei). After being bought up in 2013, Anonimo is now pursuing new lines of development in Switzerland.
The collection has been reworked to bring out more cohesion, and its manufacture now meets Swiss Made criteria. So Anonimo watches are now a combination of Swiss precision and Italian style. The watches are characterized by a stringent, elaborate yet functional design, heavily influenced by professional watches that used to be produced on the banks of the Arno for submariners and combat divers of the Marina Militare. The dials are free from irrelevant details, in order to remain legible under all circumstances.
Refocus on flagship models
Anonimo watches express a visual impression of power and solidity, which is reinforced by a meticulous choice of noble and durable materials: stainless steel, DLC steel and zinc-enriched marine bronze – a material that the brand was among the first to use in watchmaking, and which is still available in several of its lines. For this bronze working, Anonimo relies on the exclusive expertise of Florentine craftsmen, who have been making cases 1939. Over the years Anonimo came up with a number of beautiful creations, such as the Militare, Polluce and Nautilo watches, and the Millemetri professional diving model, water resistant to 10’000 meters. In 2016 Anonimo took a new turn, refocusing on its flagship models: Militare Classic and Nautilo.
The Anonimo Militare
It was created in 2001 by Anonimo for use by Italian combat divers. Rapidly becoming a cult piece for collectors, this model is easily recognizable by the positioning of its crown at 12 o’clock, as on pocket watches. The “cushion”-shaped case of the Militare Classic, reworked for a more fluid form, features a complex design, rich in ingenious details. In particular, close examination will reveal a patented crown protection/locking system, fully built-in at 12 o’clock between the bracelet horns. The models Militare Classic and Militare Chrono are part of this line.
The features of the Anonimo Militare on a row: 43.4 mm, stainless steel ● DLC and bronze with hypoallergenic titanium case-back ● 120 m water resistant ● Swiss Made Anonimo self-winding movement; base Sellita SW260-1 and Sellita SW300, with a Dubois Depraz 2035M module for the Chrono version. ● each dial is unique, hand finished ● small Second at 3 o’clock ● date at 9 o’clock for the Classic version, Minute Counter for the Chrono
The Anonimo Nautilo
It is a contemporary reinterpretation of the famous Anonimo diving watches designed by the military engineer Dino Zei. It features one of their main identifying signs: the crown at 4 o’clock, which in the opinion of many divers, is the ideal position for optimum ergonomy. The Nautilo has undergone a number of technical and aesthetic developments, including a new case design incorporating a special crown protection structure.
The features of the Anonimo Nautilo on a row: 44.4 mm ● stainless steel, DLC, bronze with hypoallergenic titanium and two-tone bronze/DLC case-back ● 200 m water resistant ● Swiss Made Anonimo self-winding movement; base Sellita SW 200-1 ● one-way rotating bezel
