Hands-On anOrdain Model 2 (in White and Blue) Review
Get ready for this white dial anOrdain Model 2 to redefine your understanding of the words WHITE and SHINY.
Yesterday, I received a text from my wife saying: “Did you take the anOrdain with you?”. This is serious. To explain: never before had I received that question from my wife about a watch I had on the wrist for a review. Never before, I got that question about any watch. But this one she wanted to wear! Without further ado, let’s have a closer look at the anOrdain Model 2.
anOrdain Model 2
Recollecting my first moments with anOrdain
When I try to time-lapse my week with the anOrdain Model 2, I realize everything was just smooth, with memorable rewarding moments of joy in every stage of the process. Already the unboxing got me with details such as wrapping the watch in super thin and soft creamy paper with a decent vector illustration. It’s subtle details like that that make all the difference.
Extraordinary winding experience
I freed the watch form the wrapping paper and admired the Model 2 for a while before strapping it on my wrist. After a couple of long seconds of just gazing at it, I gently grabbed the crown and started to wind it. I haven’t been pleased by the feel of winding a watch for a long time. This feels good.
The tip-like crown guards slope down to create a v-shaped window for the crown to stick out. It is more guarded from above than below, allowing your index finger to turn the crown easily from the bottom. At the same time, your thumb glides over the crown from above, half stroking the smooth crown guards in the process. An experience that cannot be translated with any words. You have to try it.
The Dial
As you can hopefully see on the pictures (as photographing it is a b*&^), the enamel dial looks stunning. Delft blue pottery comes to mind. It almost looks liquid, like the white glazed topping on a cake. What I also like are the hands. They appear to be rising up from the recessed center part of the dial, creating this crater-like effect. The blue printing of the numerals and tips of the hands looks stunning. As you can see, there’s no second hand. For a dress watch, with such a beautiful enamel dial like this, that’s fine!
The round edge around crater-like center throws nice reflections on the porcelain-like dial.
The right decision
When I was choosing the color variant for a hands-on review, I was debating with myself between blue, moss green, and grey. Only a few moments before the final call, I decided to go for a clean white dial. And I tell you, I couldn’t have been happier. The anOrdian white is my new green, blue, red… whatever you choose. It attracts people as much as the boldest chronographs or diver watches I have. It is very versatile, I can wear it with most of my wardrobe pieces. A combination of easily accessible classy elegance and a modern sporty spirit anytime you want.
If your heart craves for more satisfying shots on dial production, go to www.anordain.com/pages/enamel
The Movement
Inside this anOrdain Model 2, we find the Sellita caliber SW210-1. This movement is an improved ‘clone’ of the ETA 2801-2 movement. It is a 19-jewels movement with Incabloc shock protector. Its ticking speed is 28800 vibrations per hour, and it has a power reserve of 42 hours. It is a hand-wound movement that does what it must do, no more no less. The ETA counterpart can be found in the Hamilton Khaki Fiel Mechanical, for example. The movement is not visible, as the watch has a solid case back. In this case, that’s fine, as the SW210-1 is not a movement you find yourself looking at all the time (exceptional finishing would probably change this, but that’s not applicable here).
Negatives, where are you?
Honestly, there is nothing to criticize about the anOrdain Model 2. Only if I try very hard, I might find some that could perhaps bother you. Like the 36mm diameter that fits my wrist (and height) perfectly and easily gives me the feeling of a 38mm. The movement could have been in-house, but then we would not be speaking about an 1100 GBP watch. Ah, I have one that bothers me. The name: Model 2. Really? I accept it, but I do not approve. Simply because the watch has so much attitude and emotion, it deserves a name underlining all that. Perhaps it was done on purpose, to let the watch do the talking. However, I miss a nice original name, but that’s about the only thing I miss.
Final thoughts
For me, I found the perfect dress watch. On a personal note, as a vintage watch hoarder, the anOrdain Model 2 reminds me that watch collecting doesn’t end with chronographs, divers, and quirky complications. The anOrdain Model 2 is worth every penny, with absolute potential to become a collectible piece.
