Anoma A1 Core Collection — Abyss & Stone: The British Indie's First Permanent References

Description

After three years of attention-grabbing limited-edition A1s — each of which sold out within hours of launch — British indie Anoma finally drops what its waiting list has been asking for: a permanent core collection. The A1 Core Collection comprises two references, the A1 Abyss with a teal mirror-polished centre and the A1 Stone with a textured grey dial, that together form the new structural foundation of the lineup.

The shape is unchanged: the same lugless, sculptural triangular case in 316L stainless steel that turned the A1 into one of the most distinctive design statements of the post-2023 indie wave. What's different is the availability model. Where every previous A1 was a small numbered batch (often 50–100 pieces) that disappeared the moment doors opened, the Core Collection will be permanently available from Anoma's online store — with an initial 300-piece allocation (150 per colour) and continuous restocks once that runs through.

For Freddy's audience, the appeal is simple: this is finally an Anoma you can actually buy on demand, in two dial colours that feel deliberately versatile rather than statement-piece. It is also a meaningful proof point for British independent watchmaking — Anoma has graduated from "drop project" to "real brand with a catalogue."

Design

The case continues to be the design anchor: a 39 × 38 mm lugless triangle machined from 316L stainless steel, with sculptural sloped sides that flow seamlessly into the integrated rubber strap. The lugless geometry means the case sits very flat against the wrist — Anoma's signature wearing characteristic, and the reason the A1 has been embraced equally by men and women.

The two new dials are studied opposites. The Abyss features a teal lacquer dial with a mirror-polished central segment, where light catches the surface in a deep oceanic refraction. The Stone uses a grey dial with contrasting textures — a fine-grained matte field surrounding a smoother central area, more architectural and reserved than the Abyss. Both share polished stainless indices, slim baton hands, and the brand's signature soft FKM rubber strap with a butterfly clasp.

Specifications

References: A1 Abyss (teal) and A1 Stone (grey)
Case: 39 × 38 mm lugless triangle, 316L stainless steel, sculptural sloped sides
Crystal: Sapphire (front), closed steel caseback
Dial: Teal lacquer with mirror-polished centre (Abyss) / grey with contrasting textures (Stone)
Movement: Sellita SW100-family automatic, ETA 2892-A2 architecture
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: ~38 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds
Strap: Anoma signature FKM rubber, two-piece integrated profile, butterfly clasp
Initial production: 300 pieces (150 per colour) — collection is permanent thereafter
Price: approx. GBP 3,900 / USD 5,000 (brand-direct)

What's Exciting

The most underrated thing about this release is that it changes Anoma's commercial model entirely. The brand's previous strategy — sub-100-piece drops, opened to a private mailing list, gone in hours — built tremendous secondary-market mystique but also alienated genuine first-time buyers who could never get on the right list at the right time. The Core Collection means anyone can finally walk in (digitally), pick a colour, and own an A1 without having to time a drop.

Design-wise, the lugless triangle remains the brand's defining gesture — and the new dial executions are smart. The Abyss leans into the brand's design-object identity (mirror-polished teal, light-catching), while the Stone offers a more daily-driver, fashion-agnostic alternative. For a buyer at the GBP 3,900 / USD 5,000 mark, getting a sculpturally distinctive watch from a brand with real editorial credibility (not just hype) is rare. This is one of the best small-indie value propositions of 2026.

History

Anoma was founded in 2023 in London, around the singular vision of the A1 case shape — a lugless triangular design developed in collaboration with industrial designer Ramy Boutros (also responsible for several restaurant interiors and Highland whisky brand identities). The first A1 dropped in early 2023 and sold out the same day; subsequent special editions (A1 Slate, A1 Optical, A1 Forest, etc.) all followed the same drop-and-sell-out pattern.

The brand has been quietly building toward a permanent line since 2024, signalled by hires in production engineering and a meaningful expansion of its Sellita supply contract. The A1 Core Collection is the visible result of that infrastructure work — the moment Anoma stops being a series of drops and becomes a brand with a steady-state catalogue. The promise from co-founders is that the special editions will continue, but the Core gives the brand a foundation collectors can rely on.