Anonimo celebrates its 20th anniversary,
a story led by passionate men since 1997
Founded in 1997 in Florence, Italy, Anonimo has a long tradition of local watch making. A remarkable variety of models, materials, functions and patents flourish along the banks of the river Arno for the Italian market. Supported by an additional team in 2009, the brand opens itself to the international market and the collections become more organized. Sold in 2013, Anonimo settles in Switzerland and redefines its structure before starting from a new base. Today this independent brand fully assumes its personality. Different entities, different personalities staying true to its original philosophy, a watch should not be worn as a “brand status” but as the expression of the personality of the wearer.
With an aestheticism inspired by Italian elegance, an Anonimo watch expresses both robustness and functionality through its distinctive design and solid case. The values of originality, seriousness and closeness carry across the two decades. This feeling is reinforced by the careful choice of materials, such as treated or stainless steel or bronze, an element that the brand was one of the first users in watchmaking, and that is still included in each of its lines. Yesterday the watches from Anonimo were developed for professional divers and they refine and affirm their style today.
ANONIMO SpA: 1997 – 2009
Driven by the desire to bring back to life the Florentine watch industry after the sale and departure of Officine Panerai, Federico Massacesi, formerly of Ferragamo, leant on the craftsmanship of the Ambucchi workshop, casemakers since 1939, to found Anonimo. The two collaborators shared the same passion, and the same creative sensibilities, for refined Italian timepieces. Helped by Colonel Dr. Dino Zei, ex-Italian navy officer and former CEO of Panerai, the collaboration was not slow in bearing fruit, thanks to innovation and the technical expertise of each member. Real professional instruments, tailor-made and very sophisticated, are created and aimed at the Italian market. The brand develops nearly 45 models and deposits several patents, both on the technical construction and the decoration of the watches.
It is, for example, from this workshop that the first dive watch made from bronze is launched and several models are developed for the CNS (Cooperative Nazionale Sommazzatori), one the world leaders in deep water diving. Composed of a case forged in the mass with typical Florentine know-how, the watches can withstand enormous pressure. In 2002, Dino agreed to develop a new, eponymous collection, with a more elegant and contemporary approach.
Firenze Orologi: 2009 – 2013
After several years of creativity, inventions and various partnerships with the world of sport, the management team changes but the headquarters remain in Florence. The objective is to make the brand known outside Italian borders and the first ANONIMO watches start to be sold on the Japanese, American and German markets. In tribute to the local traditional know-how, the watches now bear the inscription "Casemakers in Florence since 1939" on the back and "Anonimo Firenze” on the dial.
The collection is revised, refocused and now falls into four conceptual lines:
· The "Sport" line
· The "Militare": distinguished by a cushion model with the crown at 6 o'clock as a distinctive element and a signature that is immediately recognisable. This line is still part of the current collection.
· The "Professionale Line": created in collaboration with the CNS (Cooperative Nazionale Sommazzatori) and its professional extreme divers.
· The "Dino Zei" models: stamped with a helmet diving suit on the dial, and a partial transparent caseback.
ANONIMO SA: from 2013 -
Bought by a European investor, the company moves from Florence to Switzerland where its manufacture can meet the “Swiss Made” criteria.
A new brand development strategy is initiated with the restructuring of the teams, the development of the international distribution networks and an in-depth work on the collection where only two lines are maintained: Militare and Nautilo. From now on, the brand ANONIMO perfectly combines Swiss precision with Italian style sport-chic with a strong personality. The watches are distinguished by a neat and functional design, a clean dial where markers at 12, 04 and 08 o’clock are arranged in a triangle, a reminder of the capital A of ANONIMO.
Important Dates
1997: Founding of ANONIMO SpA, in Florence, Italy.
1998: Presentation of the «Millemetri» at Vicenzaoro, the most important exhibition for Italian watchmakers and jewellers. This model has an automatic movement like all it future stablemates, and is water resistant to 1000 metres, as its Italian name suggests. Two models are ‘tested’ by the CNS (Cooperative Nazionale Sommazzatori) succeeding to a depth of 2100m during their GEOSTAR project, (research into oceanographic geophysics), off the Sicilian coast in October 2002.
2001: Creation of the Militare model, recognisable by its crown positioned at 06 hours, patent filed.
2005: Presentation of the «Dino Zei» line and its first model: Nemo.
2006: Dino Zei develops the first Nautilo watch.
Appearance of Polluce model as a tribute the ANONIMO watches used by the professional divers who saved the treasures from the boat of the same name, shipwrecked in 1841.
2007: “10 ANNI” Special editions, including the Marlin, with its 55mm diameter.
2009: The structure evolves further with Firenze Orologi and international distribution.
2012: To mark the brand’s 15th anniversary, Dino Zei brings out a book, limited to 800 copies.
2013: The brand moves to Switzerland and is renamed ANONIMO SA.
2015: Presentation of the new collection with the Militare and Nautilo lines.
2017: ANONIMO celebrates 20 years.
Patents and distinctive features of Anonimo
· The U-Lock®
An innovative locking system, exclusive to the Professionale models watch case, featuring an extreme strength watch case. Finished with an advanced locking waterproof system which alleviates torsion on the O-Rings, and is easily repaired in emergency conditions without special tools. The system exclusively operates with great dimension screws on the dial side that allow the watchcase to open or be released without the watch movement needing to be removed.
· “Locking Device System ”
A system of articulation and protection of the crown, ensuring the watertightness of the winding mechanism. The crown is placed between the lugs, rather than on the side, for ease of handling and less irritation to the wrist.
· DRASS Double Refined Anonimo Steel Surface
Multiple treatments of the steel to give it a more sober pitch, closer to titanium. The objective is to maximise the resistance to corrosion and fight oxidisation, an exclusivity of the brand.
· KODIAK k®
The process in which the leather is treated in order to ensure that it remains sealed, making it possible for the leather to preserve its natural qualities. This process does not actually repel water but absorbs it without degrading the leather.
Bronze and ANONIMO
At ANONIMO, bronze watches hold a historical legitimacy and are the expression of the Florentine know-how of the brand. The alloy might have different colours depending on the composition, but the choice at ANONIMO leans towards the warmer hues. Besides its resistance to wear and corrosion, bronze also lives and evolves along with its wearer. Indeed, a colour similar to gold at the outset, it becomes darker and acquires a natural luster over time. This slow and gradual oxidisation gives the bronze watches a unique and vintage look, highly sought after by lovers of this noble and elegant material.
Technical Details: Nautilo
While the first Nautilo was born in 2006, the new models are a contemporary reinterpretation of the famous diving watches designed by Dino Zei. It has its principle identifying mark: the crown placed at 4 o'clock – which is, in the opinion of many divers, the ideal place to ensure that it is in the most comfortable position for the wearer. The markers at 12 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock have double batons recalling, both during the day or at night, on land or on sea, the capital A of Anonimo.
· Case
ü 44,4 mmü steel, bronze or two-toned bronze/DLC
ü cushion shape
ü water resistant to 200 metres (20 ATM)
ü bezel with graduated ceramic insert
ü anti-reflective sapphire crystal
ü Swiss Super-Luminova® numbers and hands
ü unidirectional rotating bezel
ü screw down crown
ü central second hand featuring the “A” of “ANONIMO”, stylized as a triangle.
· Movement
ü Sellita SW200-1
ü automatic winding
ü power reserve 38 hours
ü date at 6 o’clock
ü Swiss Made
· Strap
ü Black rubber – delivered with an additional two-toned Nato bracelet
ü Coloured calf leather, hand-made in Italy
ü Pin buckle
· Price: from 1,890 CHF to 2,790 CHF
Technical Details: Militare Automatic and Chrono
Created in 2001 by ANONIMO, this model is easily recognisable by the positioning of its crown, situated at 12 o’clock, inspired by pocket watches. Thanks to its patented system, the movable and discreet hinges protected the crown nestled between the lugs of the case against any unexpected mishandling. A clean dial, where the figures 12, 04 and 08 are arranged in a triangle bringing to mind the capital A of ANONIMO.
· Case
ü 43,4 mmü Steel or bronze
ü cushion shape
ü water resistant to 120 metres (12 ATM)
ü ribbed bezel
ü anti-reflective sapphire crystal
ü unique hand-brushed case, in either grey, black or blue
ü all markers in Swiss Super-Luminova®
ü unidirectional rotating bezel
ü chronograph version: central second hand featuring the capital “A” of “Anonimo” as a stylized triangle.
· Movement
ü automatic version: Sellita SW260-1 and for the Chrono a Sellita SW300 with a Dubois Dépraz 2035M model developed exclusively for ANONIMO
ü automatic winding
ü power reserve: automatic version 38 hours and 42 hours for the Chrono
ü Date at 9 o’clock for the Automatic; and for the Chrono version: 30 minutes counter at 9 o’clock and central second hand for the chronograph function, small second stop watch at 3 o’clock.
ü Swiss Made
· Strap
ü Calf leather, hand-made in Italy; nubuk strap available as an exta
ü Pin buckle
· Price: from 2,590 CHF to 4,690 CHF
ANONIMO SA
Chemin des Chalets 9 – CH-1279 Chavannes-de-Bogis – www.ANONIMO.com
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