Anders & Co. AC1 Chronograph

Article by Marc Levesque; photography by Brent Robillard

AC1 Chronograph

In 1994, my obsession with watches was in its infancy. Back then, I was still in school but worked part-time at a bookstore to fund my watch purchases, and… um, studies. My knowledge of horology was limited to what I could find in the mall where I worked. I had my eye on a specific Michel Herbelin Safari 200m dive watch at the corner jewelry store that I frequently visited and eventually acquired. However, that is not the story I want to share today.

One day, while unpacking the daily magazine delivery, I discovered a larger-than-normal stack—it was the Annual Watches 1994. My manager saw them and said I should return the magazines and not display them, insisting that no one would buy them. However, I ended up buying one! I then returned the others, as she was correct; it was expensive, and there was no market for it in our location. For years afterward, I became obsessed with the watches showcased inside. That magazine is sitting on the coffee table right now, behind me as I type.

Anders and Co AC1 Chronograph Watch Review — ^{Anders and Co AC1 Chronograph @calibre321}

I was amazed by the bold designs of Alain Silberstein, the unique dive watches from Lucien Rochat, and many other brands that are no longer in production. One of the watches I admired most was a Corum Chronograph with a salmon dial. I knew it was a timepiece I couldn’t pull off; it was more suited for a gentleman, while I was just a young whippersnapper. Dive watches were more my style, and I still have a strong affinity for them. However, that Corum sparked an ongoing curiosity about salmon-dialed watches.

A couple of months ago, I came across a salmon-dial chronograph on Instagram from a brand called Anders & Co. It features a twin-register configuration with applied black numerals, markers, and hands. The sharp contrast, along with the stunning salmon color, really piqued my curiosity. I knew it wasn’t a watch I would wear daily, but due to its movement and even better price point, I decided it was finally time to satisfy my desire for one of these watches.

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Key Features of the Anders & Co. AC1 Chronograph

Case and dimensions

I was immediately impressed by the vintage look and feel of the watch once I finally had it in my hands. Anders & Co. did a fantastic job replicating the appearance of an acrylic crystal using sapphire glass. The specifications are also spot on, with a diameter of 38mm, a thickness of 11.5mm, and a lug-to-lug measurement of 47mm. While these measurements differ slightly from those on the brand’s website, I obtained them using my handy-dandy calipers. It may not be significant, but it’s worth noting that the watch is less than 9mm thick if you exclude the large, boxed crystal.

Crystal & Dial

The watch features a 33mm crystal framed by a 2mm wide polished steel bezel, which gives it a nearly all-dial appearance. Despite its size, it wears more like a 40mm watch, which I personally appreciate. While it’s labeled as having a rose-coloured dial, it resembles a salmon hue more closely. On the outer edge, there is a tachymeter scale that gets distorted due to the curvature of the crystal; however, I consider this a design feature rather than a flaw. After all, who uses a tachymeter anyway? I think it looks fabulous!

As you approach the dial’s center, you’ll notice a railroad track minute registry, blacked-out applied markers, and the numbers 12 and 6 correctly positioned. No numerals were munched during the creation of this dial. Both the central and subdial hands are also blacked out. The contrast and readability are impressive, and I particularly appreciate how the minute hand extends to the end of the minute track. More companies should pay attention to this small but significant detail. Due to its design and inspiration, I don’t mind lacking luminescence

Movement

The movement of this watch is one of the key reasons it appealed to me. The Seiko VK64 hybrid meca-quartz chronograph movement powers it. Essentially, the timekeeping is regulated by a quartz crystal, which is powered by a battery. However, the chronograph features many mechanical components that enhance its functionality. This means you benefit from the accuracy of quartz, while also enjoying a sweeping second hand and the satisfying mechanical snap when engaging the chronograph. It truly offers the best of both worlds.

I have previously written about this movement in several watches. Still, I forgot that the subdial at 9 o’clock functions as the 60-minute totalizer, while the one at 3 o’clock serves as the 24-hour register for the time. At first, I thought the watch had an issue since nothing was moving. However, I quickly realized what it was, and honestly, something refreshing about owning a watch without a constantly running seconds hand. It feels freeing for someone like me who is usually obsessed with accuracy.

Quibbles

I have a couple of concerns regarding the AC1 Chronograph. The first is the presence of a phantom date position on the crown. When you pull it out to the first position, you can turn it and hear the date wheel or, if it’s absent, the clicking of the date advancement mechanism. I’m unsure if Seiko offers a version of this movement without the date feature, but honestly, it’s an issue I can overlook for this price.

The second concern is more significant. The watch has only 30 meters of water resistance, which is insufficient. At the very least, it should have a rating of 50 meters to ensure that activities like washing hands or accidentally falling into water would be safe. With just 30 meters, I’m left worrying about getting caught in the rain! As this will not be my daily wear watch, I will ensure it stays dry. However, the company should consider improving this in future models or updated reissues.

Strap & Bracelet

The Anders & Co. AC1 Chronograph comes with a brown 20mm genuine leather strap that features a nicely brushed steel tang buckle. The strap is quite supple and easily conforms to my wrist. However, I prefer to wear it differently. When I received my Marathon SAR last year, it included the original bracelet, a three-piece rubber strap, and a Geckota straight-end jubilee-style bracelet. The jubilee bracelet was mounted on the watch, which didn’t look great. However, it looks spectacular when paired with this watch.

Unfortunately, I did not provide Robi with the bracelet to photograph, as the watch does not typically come with it. However, I can say that the circular lug profile pairs beautifully with the circular end link. Additionally, the combination of brushing and polishing on the bracelet complements the watch nicely. Regardless of opinions about this bracelet design, its comfort is undeniable. This is what the AC1 will live on moving forward. I love it. For photos of the watch on this bracelet, please check out my Instagram account.

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 30mm Diameter 47mm Lug to Lug 22mm Lug width 11.5mm Thick Screwed Case Back 30m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Double-domed Sapphire Crystal Rose-coloured Gloss Dial Applied Arabic Numerals & Baton Markers Leaf-style Hands Printed Tachymeter
Movement	VK64 Mecaquartz
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet, or Leather Strap

Anders and Co AC1 Chronograph

Final Thoughts and Pricing

One downside of having an extensive watch collection, which is continually expanding, is the need to reset each watch when I want to wear one. I own a small single watch winder that helps keep my favorite watch wound, but unfortunately, the others wind down thoroughly. This is where my collection of excellent quartz watches proves helpful. My previously mentioned Marathon is quartz, my beloved Timex Q, and my new Anders & Co. AC1 Chronograph. I know I can grab one of these on a whim and go.

The era of quartz snobbery is behind us. Companies like Anders & Co., RZE, Brew, Autodromo, and many others are revitalizing interest in quartz watches. Additionally, the meca-quartz movement is impressive. Did you know that Jaeger-LeCoultre used to manufacture this type of meca-quartz movement for their watches? Even IWC has used it in their timepieces.

Three additional dial colours are available for the AC1 Chronograph, all of which look fantastic. However, if you are curious about salmon hues like I am, you might want to consider getting one like I did. My thirst for this unique colour has been happily quenched, and it only cost $622 USD. I honestly think it’s a small price to pay for so much watch.

About the author

Based in Montreal, Quebec, Marc has been an enthusiastic watch collector for well over three decades. Having witnessed and participated in the birth of the internet watch community, he has played a role on multiple watch forums and his articles have appeared on-line and in print since the late 1990s. Today his passion for all things horological is as pronounced as it has ever been, while he continues his never-ending search for watch next. You can follow him on Instagram.

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