When it comes to British, enamelled dials, there’s only really one name out there: anOrdain. The Scottish brand has made a name for themselves with bright, funky colours paired with accessible price tags like the Neo, their collaborative effort with fellow Scots Paulin. That said, anOrdain is keeping their latest dials to themselves and for good reason. The new Model 1 Fumé dials are stunners.
The focal point of the newest take on the Model 1 is, quite obviously, the dial. Over the last few years anOrdain has been getting better and better at their own brand of enamelling and this example is proof that it’s been worth the investment of expertise.
You might have seen similar dials on the Model 2 before, with its chunkier case and more off-kilter colours. They’re lovely for sure, just a bit too quirky for me. The colours here – blue, grey, a rich plum and the absolutely magnificent green – are far more acceptable and suit the dressier silhouette of the Model 1 to a tee.
The textured, almost organic glassy grain of the vitreous enamel starts bright and vibrant at the centre before darkening to near-black around the edges (or closer to indigo on the blue). Paired with gold Arabic numerals inspired by Highlands cartographic maps and a charming minute track, with the 5-minute markers running through the numerals, it’s like nothing else in this price range.
That price, in case you were wondering, is £2,100 inc. VAT. For the dial alone that’s not bad, but throw in an ETA 2824-2 movement (thankfully without a date interrupting the enamel) and you have a winner.
If you’ve ever fancied Glashutte Original’s funky Sixties pieces but couldn’t justify dropping well over 5K, then anOrdain’s latest is more than a solid alternative. It just might be better looking, too. Now, when will it come in orange?
Price & Specs:
Model: anOrdain Model 1 Fumé
Case/Dial: 38mm diameter, stainless steel, vitreous enamel on silver, green fumé, blue fumé, plum fumé or payne’s grey fumé dial
Water Resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Calibre ETA 2824-2, automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 38h
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Strap: Leather
Price/availability: £2,100 (incl. VAT)
More details at anOrdain.
