anOrdain Model 1 Porcelain Is Where Traditional Craft Meets Contemporary Design

Glasgow-based anOrdain‘s, philosophy has long been expressed through its distinctive handcrafted dials. Now, the independent watchmaker is taking another significant step with the Model 1 Porcelain, bringing together traditional clay-based porcelain, contemporary typography and an unmistakably anOrdain approach to design.

At the heart of the new watch is a crisp white porcelain dial, produced in-house and paired with a set of custom numerals created exclusively for anOrdain by internationally renowned typographer Kia Tasbihgou. It is a fascinating meeting of disciplines – horology, ceramics and typography and one that gives the Model 1 Porcelain a character of its own.

From Clay To The Wrist

anOrdain’s journey into porcelain began in 2022, eventually leading to the launch of the Model 2 Porcelain two years later. Rather than using the pre-manufactured zirconia ceramic sheets commonly found in watches described as porcelain or ceramic, anOrdain takes a more traditional approach. Its porcelain dials begin with clay, drawing on techniques more closely associated with pottery than conventional watch manufacturing.

The process is anything but straightforward. A single ceramic specialist produces between 30 and 40 porcelain dials each month, while rejection rates can reach as high as 90%. The result is a production process in which patience and precision are just as important as technical skill.

It is this willingness to accept the demands of the material that makes the finished dial so intriguing. And it also says something important about anOrdain itself: increasing production does not necessarily have to mean abandoning traditional craftsmanship.

A New Language For The Dial

For the Model 1 Porcelain, anOrdain turned to Kia Tasbihgou for something particularly important, namely the numerals. Tasbihgou has worked across the worlds of design, fashion, music and publishing, with clients and collaborators ranging from Frank Ocean to Vanity Fair. His approach brought a fresh perspective to the watch, unburdened by some of the conventions that can influence traditional watch typography.

The result is a playful interpretation of the numerals that feels simultaneously familiar and unexpected. There is also a fascinating horological connection behind the design.

Conversations between Tasbihgou and anOrdain led towards the remarkable details found on historic Breguet pocket watches, providing an unexpected bridge between centuries-old watchmaking and contemporary graphic design. It is precisely the kind of juxtaposition that works particularly well on the Model 1 Porcelain.

Detail And Contrast

At anOrdain, the dial is not treated as an isolated component. The hands and numerals are developed together as a complete composition.

On the Model 1 Porcelain, this philosophy is especially evident. The traditional hour hand features an off-centre hole that echoes the form of the dial’s distinctive “0” numerals. Meanwhile, the angular minute hand provides a more contemporary counterpoint, reinforcing the geometry of the typography.

The polished steel hands are heat-blued, creating a rich visual contrast against the white porcelain and blue printed numerals. It is a deceptively simple combination of white, blue and steel. Yet the balance between the traditional material and modern graphic language gives the watch considerably more visual depth than its restrained palette might initially suggest.

Lewis Heath, founder of anOrdain, cites the blue-and-white visual language of Porto and particularly Rem Koolhaas’ Casa da Música, as an influence, describing the watch as a playful contrast between the traditional and modern worlds.

Handmade From The Inside Out

The attention to craft doesn’t stop with the dial. The Model 1 Porcelain will also introduce anOrdain’s first small-batch, in-house leather straps. The company’s bespoke leatherworker, Abbie, can spend as much as three days producing a single strap. While that level of individual craftsmanship is perfectly suited to bespoke work, it is clearly difficult to reconcile with larger-scale production.

Last year, anOrdain therefore established its own textile department and began experimenting with producing straps in small batches. The straps accompanying the Model 1 Porcelain represent the beginning of that journey, with the ambition that they may eventually accompany every anOrdain watch.

It is another example of a modern independent watchmaker bringing more of its production under its own roof – not simply for the sake of being “in-house”, but because doing so allows the brand to control the character and quality of the finished object.

The Model 1 Watch

Measuring 38mm in diameter, the Model 1 Porcelain has a 46mm lug-to-lug length and a case depth of 11mm. Its 316L stainless steel case combines brushed and polished finishing, while the white glazed porcelain dial sits beneath sapphire crystal with three layers of anti-reflective coating.

Power comes from the La Joux-Perret G101, with an A1 version featuring a decorated G101 also available. The thermally treated steel hands complement the blue typography, while a screw-in caseback and 5ATM water resistance complete the package.

Two versions will be offered:

Model 1 Porcelain – G101: £2,200 + VAT / $2,950

Model 1 Porcelain – A1 decorated G101: £2,520 + VAT / $3,400

Both carry a five-year warranty.

Limited By Craft, Not Marketing

Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the Model 1 Porcelain is its availability. The first release will comprise just 70 watches, with further small batches scheduled to appear monthly. Unlike anOrdain’s enamel watches, the porcelain models will be available to order without joining the existing enamel waiting list.

Existing anOrdain customers will also receive 24-hour priority access before the general release. The Model 1 Porcelain officially launches today, with the first watches expected to ship within two weeks of purchase.

For collectors accustomed to seeing independent watch brands compete through increasingly complicated movements or ever-more exotic materials, anOrdain offers a refreshing alternative. Here, the attraction is the dial, material, typography, hands, and perhaps most importantly, the human involvement behind each one.

The Model 1 Porcelain demonstrates why anOrdain has become such an interesting name within contemporary independent watchmaking. It isn’t attempting to imitate traditional Swiss watchmaking, nor is it using craftsmanship simply as a marketing proposition. Instead, the brand is taking genuinely traditional techniques and asking how they can be interpreted through a modern design language.

The collaboration with Kia Tasbihgou is particularly successful. His numerals give the watch a distinctive personality, while the porcelain dial provides the perfect canvas for the blue typography.

At £2,200 + VAT, the Model 1 Porcelain also occupies an interesting position. This is not simply another microbrand mechanical watch. A significant part of its value lies in the time, experimentation and rejection inherent in producing the dial itself.

In an industry increasingly obsessed with specifications, anOrdain reminds us that sometimes the most compelling part of a watch is what happens before it ever reaches the wrist.

The anOrdain Model 1 Porcelain is now available, with existing customers receiving 24-hour early access.

For more information please visit anOrdain