Not Quite White
For the first two years we worked almost entirely with a white enamel called DW1 - of the 18 variants of white we'd sourced, this was a remnant of watch manufacturing in the UK; the name DW1 being an abbreviation for Dial White 1. Each enamel has different characteristics and by learning with one we could focus on consistency, finish and how to control warping.
DW1 was the one we became most comfortable with, but, several years later when we came to select our launch colours, we didn't include a white dial. It seemed like making another white enamel dial wouldn't be contributing anything new, so instead we chose this Iron Cream enamel. It's got the crispness of white but with a warmth and character that those 18 just don't have.
We're continuing to experiment with different whites and off-whites, but the Iron Cream remains a firm favourite.
More from the blog:
anOrdain x Windup Watch Shop – The Model 1 Precious Metal Series
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The dial colours of the Model 1 exude heritage, their rich tones calling on a universal penchant for tradition, all while remaining distinctly contemporary, and each has a story to tell...
British Watchmaking in the 17th and 18th Century: Britain’s ‘Golden Age’
The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries are often referred to as the ‘golden age’ of British watchmaking. The 1600s produced a plethora of highly skilled watchmakers...
Explore anOrdain watches:
Model 1 - Payne's Grey Fumé
£1,750
This smoky grey takes its name from the painter William Payne, who invented and popularised the practice of combining coloured paint pigments to create a deep, shadowy alternative to the...
Model 1 - Green Fumé
£1,750
By far the most popular of the Model 2 Fumé dials, its comparison to an aurora sky seems apt - especially given the play of light and shadow that the...
Model 1 - Plum Fumé
£1,750
This enamel boasts a deep garnet centre and impressive smoked edge. The irresistible warmth of this reddish purple makes it difficult to describe without adopting the vernacular of a sommelier.
Model 1 - Blue Fumé
£1,750
A favourite from our original lineup of Model 2 Fumé dials, the lighter hue of this Japanese enamel results in a vibrant tonal gradation from the bright blue centre out...