Anders & Co adds its signature stone dial to its chronograph

Russell Sheldrake

The young Swedish brand, Anders & Co has started to make a name for itself through the shapely and accessibly priced dress watches with bright stone dials, the AC2. However, its first-ever model, as the name would suggest, was the AC1 chronograph. A smart, vintage-inspired timer that brought classical design elements with a Japanese mechaquartz movement into a package that feels far more premium than its price tag would suggest.

Now, Anders & Co is combining its origins with what it is most known for today, as five different natural stones take on the visage of the AC1 Chronograph dial alongside a host of other updates that show how quickly this brand is maturing. This is not your standard, sporty chronograph; this is a complication that sits on the verge of being a dress watch in the best way possible.

The dial

The most striking element of these five new pieces is the semi-precious stone dials. As mentioned above, this has become somewhat of a calling card for the brand, as they have made the most of the recent trend by making these colourful minerals available at prices that seem unthinkable. While stone dials have often been the preserve of dainty dress watches, we have started to see a real uptick in chronographs and sports watches taking on these dressy dials. Just look at the Tiger’s Eye GMT-Master II or meteorite dial Daytona from Rolex. This not only proves how versatile these natural materials can be, but also the willingness of the buying public to accept them in more sporty models.

This brings us to the new AC1 Chronograph stone dial collection. And we have five naturally occurring stones being used here, each with their own character: white mother of pearl, black onyx, red jasper, turquoise, and bloodstone. With each one being so different, they imbue the watch with a completely different vibe each time, meaning that everyone is going to come away with their own favourite. Or, you could be driven to collect all of them, so you have the exact one you need depending on your mood and outfit. Personally, I’m a big fan of the depth and variety you can get from bloodstone with those red veins running through the deep green.

We have a new handset being deployed here, upgrading from the leaf hands we had on the original to now having sharp Dauphine hands that feature a thin strip of lume down their centre. This swap makes the watches feel ever so slightly more modern, despite the continued use of two Breguet numerals at 12 and 6 for most of these models except the red jasper, which features Easter Arabic numerals at those spots, something Anders & Co has done in the past.

The rest of these dials remain unchanged with the tachymeter and minute scale printed around the outside and a two sub-dial layout for the 60-minute and 24-hour counters. A fairly standard, but still quite vintage layout for a chronograph today that feels even more dressy thanks to the applied hour markers that are filled with lume and minimal logo printing, leaving plenty of space on what could become a very cramped dial thanks to the smaller case size.

The case

Speaking of the case, we have the exact same proportions here as we did before, measuring 38mm across, 11.1mm thick, and a super wearable 46mm lug-to-lug. However, that does not mean the case is entirely unchanged. There are subtle yet effective changes to the case that show the brand is paying attention to every detail of this watch.

The lug geometry has been shifted so that they now appear to be shortened and have less visual impact when on the wrist. The brand has also updated the finishing across the entire case. This is something I find small, young brands can often overlook or just get plain wrong, so it is good to see Anders & Co taking this into consideration, as it greatly affects how the watch looks and behaves as you wear it out and about.

The tasti-tondi pushers and crown have also seen subtle upgrades to what feel like more premium versions of what we saw in the previous generation. We also get an upgraded level of water resistance from 30m to 50m, giving you that added level of security when wearing this watch. Overall, this case is still recognisable as the same AC1 we had before, but now with a notable number of tweaks that make it feel more premium in the hand and more practical on the wrist.

The movement

Inside this watch, we have the Seiko VK64 mecaquartz chronograph movement. This is a calibre that has been taken up by microbrands as a wallet-friendly way to get a chronograph on your wrist, whilst simultaneously keeping the reliability of quartz running the watch without a second thought. You still get the tactile feel of a mechanical chronograph mechanism without having to pay for the mechanical base calibre underneath it.

One feature that this movement lacks, which you would expect on most chronographs, is a running seconds. Instead, you get a 24-hour counter, which some view as overkill for a chronograph, but here it likely extends the battery life by a long way, and means you don’t get the deadbeat seconds of a quartz movement that many in the watch world try to avoid. This also has the added benefit of keeping the dial a bit cleaner.

The strap

All of these models come standard with a black grained leather strap attached with a pin buckle. A minimalist choice; however, thanks to the 20mm lug width, you have the option to swap this out for so many other options from third-party suppliers. My preference here would be a subtle suede strap in a colour that complements the colour of stone you have for the dial, or if you want a real impact, go for a strong contrast.

The verdict

There is an obvious contradiction in this watch. A dressy chronograph seems to fly in the face of convention when it comes to what we know chronographs are built for in the modern era. However, it is in this contradiction that I find my enjoyment with it. The vintage aesthetic of the Anders & Co AC1 has always placed it apart from your standard tool watches, making this feel like a dress watch with extra functionality to me. As long as you are on board with a mechaquartz movement, this is a watch you should definitely consider if you are wanting something a little different with plenty of personality.

Anders & Co AC1 Chronograph stone dial collection pricing and availability

The new Anders & Co AC1 stone dial collection is available now direct from the brand. Price: 6,900 SEK (£537 at time of writing), 7,490 SEK (bloodstone) (£583 at time of writing).

Brand	Anders & Co
Model	AC1 Chronograph
Case Dimensions	38mm (D) x 11.1mm (T) x 46mm (LTL)
Case Material	Stainless steel
Water Resistance	50 metres
Crystal(s)	Domed sapphire front
Dial	White mother of pearl, black onyx, red jasper, bloodstone, turquoise
Strap	Black leather, pin buckle
Movement	Seiko VK64, mecaquartz
Functions	Hours, minutes, chronograph
Availability	Now
Price	6,900 SEK (£537 at time of writing) 7,490 SEK (bloodstone) (£583 at time of writing)