Why Anordain Watches Deserve a Spot in Every Collector’s Watch Box

A Scottish brand blending enamel artistry and horological substance

There’s something quietly magical about the first time you see an Anordain watch in person. The dial doesn’t scream. It shimmers—softly, organically. Under the right light, the colors shift like a watercolor on glass. And that’s the point. Anordain doesn’t build watches to compete for attention. It builds them to be lived with.

Anordain isn’t your average micro brand. Based in Glasgow, Scotland, this small team of craftspeople has carved out a cult following for one reason: they’ve brought the centuries-old art of enamel dial-making back into modern, everyday horology. It’s a process that few even attempt—fewer still master.

You can explore a growing lineup of independent brands, including Anordain, on Coveted.com — a resource built to help collectors discover, compare, and track the world’s best timepieces.

A Short Origin Story: How a Scottish Design Studio Built a Watchmaking Lab

Anordain wasn’t created by watch industry insiders or marketing suits. It was founded by Lewis Heath, a trained designer who became fascinated by enamel dial work while exploring antique clocks. Obsessed with the idea of building watches that honored both traditional craft and contemporary design, he built a team in-house—literally hiring and training artisans to master Grand Feu enameling techniques.

The result? Every Anordain dial is fired in their own Glasgow studio, layer by layer, glass powder melted at over 800°C. Each one takes days to make. Many are rejected during quality control. But the ones that pass? They’re alive with texture and depth.

“The imperfections in enamel are what make each piece beautiful,” says Heath. “It’s not something you can mass-produce—and that’s the point.”

It’s this type of stubborn commitment to craft that makes Anordain feel less like a watch brand and more like a creative studio that happens to make watches.

Why Their Dials Feel So Different

There’s a tactile, almost emotional element to enamel that’s hard to describe unless you’ve held one. Unlike lacquer or print-based dials, enamel has an organic visual weight. It plays with light. It develops subtle inconsistencies that make each dial slightly different from the next.

Anordain’s most popular models—the Model 1, Model 2, and the newer Model 3—feature deep colors like iron cream, moss green, and post-office red. They don’t follow trends. They lead with identity. And because they make the dials themselves, Anordain controls every variable—from curvature and thickness to how the enamel interacts with indices and markers.

This isn’t a surface-level design choice. It’s a philosophy.

Under the Hood: Movements and Construction

Despite all the visual poetry, Anordain watches don’t compromise on mechanics. Most of their models are powered by modified ETA movements—Swiss-made, hand-wound, and chosen for their reliability and slim profile.

Case sizes typically land between 38mm and 39.5mm, making them ideal for dress or casual wear. Materials are thoughtfully chosen—hardened steel cases, domed sapphire crystals, hand-polished hands. Even the typography used on the dial is custom-designed, reflecting their commitment to coherence in every detail.

The upcoming Model 3 leans into a cushion case and introduces numerals for the first time—a bold step for a brand that’s built its identity around minimalism.

A Slower, More Personal Watch Experience

Buying an Anordain isn’t like grabbing a watch off the shelf. Waitlists can last several months. Releases are infrequent, often teased quietly through newsletters or on watch forums. When you finally get the watch, it comes wrapped in felt and cardboard—understated but thoughtful.

There’s also a lack of ego in how the brand communicates. No influencer campaigns. No breathless Instagram drops. Just an email from Lewis or someone on the team.

It’s this analog charm that’s endeared Anordain to serious collectors. It feels… sincere.

Why Collectors Love It

If you spend time on watch forums like WatchUSeek or Reddit’s r/Watches, you’ll find plenty of Anordain fans. Some call it their favorite independent brand. Others say it was their “gateway drug” into higher-end horology. What unites them is a shared appreciation for intention—every detail on an Anordain watch has a reason for being.

Anordain has also gained recognition from major industry voices. Monochrome Watches praised the Model 2 for its “clean design, lovely execution and a truly artisanal dial,” while Hodinkee highlighted its unique enamel tones in a glowing hands-on review.

The resale market, while not booming in the speculative sense, holds steady—proof that buyers rarely want to part with their pieces once they’re in hand.

Who Is Anordain For?

Not everyone. And that’s a good thing.

Anordain isn’t for hype-watch buyers or speculators. It’s for people who care about how something is made and why it exists. If you’ve ever been more interested in the materials and processes behind a product than the name on the box, Anordain will speak to you.

It’s also an ideal entry point into the world of independent brands. Priced between $1,200 and $2,500, it offers serious artisanal credibility without stretching into haute horlogerie pricing.

Final Thoughts

In a world of algorithmically optimized design and mass-produced style, Anordain is a quiet rebellion. Their watches are beautiful not just because of how they look, but because of how they’re made. Slowly. Carefully. By hand.

If you’re building a collection that tells a story—not just one that ticks boxes—then Anordain deserves a place in it.

Explore the full lineup of Anordain watches on Coveted—where watch culture meets curated craft.