Anonimo sets sail for a new journey

Anonimo is back, although it was never really gone. To make even more of a name for itself the Florentine watch house joined forces with the SFS team and skipper/ambassador Lionel Péan for the 64th edition of the Giraglia, one of the most famous regattas in the Mediterranean. 0024 was on board.

Perhaps superfluously: Anonimo started in 1997 when Panerai closed up shop. Closed up shop in Florence, to be precise, and moved to Switzerland. Anonimo made sure that the watch tradition was maintained for the region. The watch cases of the current collection are still being made by hand in ateliers in Florence that have been there since 1939. The movements are Swiss. The combination of Swiss precision and Italian design creates a modern reinterpretation of the famous professional watches that used to be produced on the banks of the Arno River for military divers of the Italian Marina Militare. The same applies to the 2016 collection that has now been expanded with the Nautilo Sailing Edition. This watch, with obvious historical features and characteristics, is introduced during a presentation in Marseille, attended by highly experienced French skipper Lionel Péan – he is also the ambassador for Anonimo – and the SFS team. We’re on the eve of the 64th annual Giraglia, and the captain and crew can hardly wait for the starting pistol.

Dino Zei DNA

The new Nautilo Sailing Edition has the same red and black colour scheme as the yacht and comes with a black aluminium bezel and a cushion-shaped case made of steel with DLC coating. Rugged and able to withstand water and harsh conditions. Proof of this is delivered the day after the presentation when Lionel Péan and the SFS II leave the tower of Notre-Dame de la Garde behind and head straight for the open waters of the Mediterranean. The 70-foot yacht is at home here, and the Nautilo feels equally comfortable. The watch is a modern reinterpretation of the renowned Anonimo diver’s watches that were designed by military engineer Dino Zei. The most striking characteristic is the crown at 4 o’clock, which many divers feel is the ideal ergonomic position. The latest version of the 44.4mm Nautilo has an updated case design that is water resistant to 200m and the crown protector has been redesigned as well. The case back is made of hypoallergenic titanium and the bezel is unidirectional for safety, as we have come to expect in professional diver’s watches. The automatic Anonimo movement was made in Switzerland and is based on the Sellita SW 200-1 calibre. There is a choice of a rubber or NATO strap; both are sporty, functional and stylish.

Photos by Gilles Martin-Raget, Aurelien Butfirst and Anonimo