Now entering its 21st year in operation, Anonimo has long been known for big, masculine, military-look timepieces (and no wonder; many of its most successful early models were developed by Colonel Dino Zei, an Italian navy officer and former CEO of Panerai), but at Baselworld 2018 the Florentine watchmaker of robust divers’ models like the Militare and Nautilo dipped its toes into the shallower waters of gentlemanly elegance with the launch of the new Epurato collection.
The Epurato, whose initial launch consists of three distinctive, colorful editions, joins the aforementioned Militare and Nautilo families as the third pillar in Anonimo’s modern collection, which has evolved and streamlined its focus since gaining new ownership in 2013. The Epurato’s cushion-shaped case measures 42 mm in diameter and just 11 mm thick, with an integrated crown guard and a fluted bezel, for an elegant wrist profile. Unlike the other two Anonimo watch collections, which feature unconventionally placed crowns at 12 o’clock (Militare) or 4 o’clock (Nautilo), the Epurato offers the more traditional crown placement at 3 o’clock. The dial has applied indices and the triangular hour numeral arrangement (12-4-8) characteristic of the brand; a date window completes the layout at 6 o’clock.
The first model has a case in bronze (Anonimo was, probably unbeknownst to many, one of the very first watch brands to make cases from this increasingly trendy material), here with polished surfaces that impart a dressy rather than sporty look. The mahogany-brown calfskin strap harmonizes with the bronze case and the sun-brushed, anthracite-colored dial and features, like all of the Epurato straps, a new system that allows for easy changeability.
The Epurato Blu Intenso model (above) matches a stainless steel case with a matte blue dial, Super-LumiNova-filled hands, and a velvety soft brown kudu strap. Rounding out the trio, the Epurato Imperial Green (below) combines another polished-and-brushed bronze case with a sunburst green dial and a dark green felt bracelet, made of natural fibers and handcrafted in Italy.
All the Anonimo Epurato models are powered by a Swiss-made, automatic mechanical movement, the Sellita SW200-1, which has a bead-blasted finish, a skeletonized rotor with côtes de Genève, and a 38-hour power reserve. The movement is visible through a sapphire window in the caseback. They will be priced at $3,185.
Anonimo has always sailed close to the wind in terms of copying the characterising design features of Officine Panerai, but now they have decided to go full out and simply sell a Panerai knock-off.
You said it all, Abraham. It lis an expensive knock-off of an iconic brand that was destroyed by Richemont Group in the recent years.
Don’t forget gents that when Panerai was bought by Richemont Anonimo was born and they used the same machinery and some of the same staff to produce their early pieces. In some ways they have just as much of a claim over the connection to the original company as Officine Panerai has.I would like to bet the watches aren’t much different in quality to some of the Luminor models which are basic and pretty over priced.