Anoma returns with another visual treat — this time, not just a watch, but a full-on exploration of perception. Meet the A1 Optical: a bold rethink of how geometry, light, and reflection can come together on the wrist. With a pair of striking new variants with either a silver or copper dial. Anoma once again proves it's not here to follow the rules, it's here to bend them.

The A1 doesn’t just tell time, it manipulates perception. Sculptural, enigmatic, and quietly hypnotic, this timepiece is an exploration of distortion and reflection. Every surface is designed to bend light in unexpected ways, subtly warping its surroundings and creating a sense of movement even when perfectly still.

The A1 Optical builds on this idea, diving headfirst into the world of optical illusion. The dial is a visual playground, rooted in the traditions of Op Art. Fifty slightly offset triangles are engraved into the metal surface one by one, not printed, but cut by hand with a precision tool dragged across the dial. After engraving, the surface is sandblasted and delicately polished by hand to achieve a carefully tuned level of reflectivity.

The result is a dial that appears to shift and pulse as light moves across it. Static geometry becomes dynamic, a play of shadow, shape, and depth that never looks quite the same twice.

WHEN ART BECOMES WEARABLE

To emphasise the artistic intent behind the A1 Optical, the brand has collaborated with Canadian optical artist Adam Fuhrer on a limited companion artwork. His piece takes the dial’s pattern and reinterprets it, expanding and distorting it into a flowing visual study of order and entropy. The first 300 A1 Optical watches (150 in copper and 150 in silver) will each be individually numbered and paired with a matching artwork bearing the same number, reinforcing the connection between wristwatch and wall.

The case design takes cues from multiple sources, a mid-century free-form table by Charlotte Perriand, the soft geometry of river stones, and the streamlined fluidity of Brancusi’s modernist sculptures. The result is a rounded triangle that feels at once familiar and unexpected.

To preserve the purity of this form, visual distractions have been minimised. Lugs and crown are concealed, creating an uninterrupted silhouette that feels more like an art object than a conventional watch. Yet look closer and the details reveal themselves. The shaped buckle echoes the case form. Inside the caseback, a hidden perlage finish speaks to the brand’s dedication to refinement — even in areas unseen.

A PLAY OF ORDER AND ILLUSION

The A1 Optical isn’t a traditional timepiece. It isn’t built for sport, nor is it a conventional dress watch. It’s a conversation starter, a wearable statement on perspective and perception. Whether appreciated as a piece of design or collected as an objet d’art, the A1 Optical invites the viewer to slow down, look again, and see something new each time.

So don’t sit on the fence too long, now’s the moment to act. The initial numbered run comes paired with an exclusive art print by Adam Fuhrer, making each set a collector’s piece in its own right. Once these are spoken for, the A1 Optical will settle into the wider A1 collection — but without the accompanying artwork. For those drawn to the intersection of horology and art, this first edition offers something truly special.