Anoma Channels Ancient Toolmaking With the Hand-Chiselled A1 Prehistoric Watch
Finding beauty in imperfection, the experimental watchmaker tapped an acclaimed Louvre-exhibited artisan to hand-carve each of the 100 limited-edition pieces.
Summary
Anoma unveils the A1 Prehistoric, a hand‑chiselled stainless‑steel watch inspired by primitive tools.
It features an engraved anthracite dial, Sellita SW100 movement and an Italian leather strap.
Limited to 100 pieces, priced at around $3,700 USD, deliveries begin in October 2026.
Anoma has introduced the A1 Prehistoric, a strikingly artisanal watch inspired by the raw forms of early human tools. The concept took shape after Anoma’s founder visited a Brancusi sculpture exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Observing primitive artifacts collected by Brancusi, the founder was moved by their raw beauty and the brutal, violent incisions left by human hands thousands of years ago, seeing them as the purest form of creativity unburdened by excess decoration. The A1 Prehistoric seeks to capture that exact feeling, colliding modern watchmaking with the deliberate force of artisanal craftsmanship.
To achieve its unearthed, artifact-like appearance, every stainless‑steel case and buckle is hand‑chiselled over five hours by engraver Steven Brunel, whose work has been displayed at the Louvre. Working from a remote workshop in the Loire region of France, Brunel ensures that no two watches are exactly alike, leaving uneven planes and deliberate scars across the metal.
Its deep anthracite dial receives a similarly rigorous artisanal treatment; rather than a machine-stamped finish, its sunburst pattern consists of approximately 600 individual lines cut by hand into the brass base. This monochromatic finish perfectly evokes the appearance of early human tools crafted from stone and flint.
Despite its rugged aesthetic, the A1 Prehistoric maintains highly wearable proportions, measuring 39mm by 38mm, though it wears closer to 37mm due to its unique lugless, triangular shape. The 9.45mm thick case houses a reliable Swiss automatic Sellita SW100 movement and offers 50 meters of water resistance. Paired with a grey grained Italian leather strap, the watch is priced at £2,900 GBP (approx $3,700 USD). Now open for pre-order via Anoma’s website, the A1 Prehistoric is limited to 100 pieces this year, with deliveries scheduled for October.
