There’s something really cool about seeing a small independent brand slowly figure itself out in real time. That’s probably why following Anders & Co over the past year has been genuinely interesting for me personally. Alex, the founder, and I have had countless conversations about watches, collectors, design language, and where the brand should head next. And honestly, one topic kept coming back every single time: mechanical watches.

Because no matter how good a quartz watch is, enthusiasts still look at a mechanical release differently. It adds credibility. It shows intent. It tells collectors the brand actually wants to play in this space seriously.

The AC2 Volcán Manual Wind is exactly that moment for Anders & Co. And I honestly think it’s the release the brand needed.

This week marks 1 year of Time-Telling’s relationship with Anders & Co. So let’s make this special.

I already liked the AC2 before this version came out. The proportions were right, the case had personality, and unlike a lot of microbrands trying too hard to look “luxury,” the AC2 always felt pretty restrained and confident in itself. Nothing about it felt forced. But moving the platform into a mechanical direction completely changes how people see the watch.

The good news is they did it properly. Honestly.

The biggest surprise for me when handling the watches was how thin and sleek they still feel on the wrist. That’s usually where brands mess up when they convert a quartz watch into a mechanical one. Suddenly the case becomes chunky, the proportions get weird, and the elegance disappears. For example, the crown becomes huge all of a sudden, and they justify it with “ease of grip”. None of that bs happened here.

At 6.65mm thick with an open caseback, the AC2 still feels sleek and balanced on the wrist, which is seriously impressive considering they’re using the ETA 7001 manual wind movement.

And honestly, the ETA 7001 was the right call.

There are brands that throw in a mechanical movement just to say they did it. This doesn’t feel like that. The 7001 actually fits the watch. It’s thin, reliable, classic, and has the kind of history enthusiasts respect. More importantly, it keeps the proportions intact, which was essential for the AC2 platform.

And the experience of winding the watch genuinely adds something. It sounds simple, but it changes your relationship with the piece. The AC2 suddenly feels more alive. You interact with it differently. It becomes more personal than just grabbing a quartz watch and throwing it on. Which I don’t mind! It feels great to know your watch is 10000% accurate.

The three dials also each bring a completely different vibe.

The grey dial is probably the most versatile one in the lineup and maybe my personal favorite overall. It has enough texture and depth to keep things interesting. Depending on lighting, it can feel sporty, industrial, or surprisingly dressy. That’s hard to pull off. A lot of textured dials today look overdesigned.

The white crackled dial is probably the most unique of the three. It has this slightly vintage feel that works really well with the polished Breguet numerals and dauphine hands. The texture gives the dial personality without making it look busy. And that’s important because the watch still feels clean and wearable every day. Doesn’t disturb legibility either.

Then there’s the salmon dial, which I think will probably end up being the fan favorite. Salmon dials are everywhere right now, but most brands either go too pink or too copper. Anders & Co actually found a really tasteful middle ground here. The metallic enamel finish catches light beautifully without becoming flashy or trendy looking. It feels mature. Great for every skin tone as I mentioned on my instagram reel.

One detail I really appreciated across all three watches is the small seconds display at six o’clock. It completely changes the personality of the AC2. The original quartz version looked clean and minimal, but the small seconds complication instantly gives the watch more mechanical character. Watching that subdial move is a constant reminder that this is now a proper hand-wound watch.

The finishing also deserves credit because this is usually where smaller brands expose themselves a little. But the AC2 feels well thought out. The brushing and polishing transitions are clean, the case sides have a nice presence, and overall the watch feels more expensive than you’d expect at this price point.

What I also respect is that Anders & Co didn’t suddenly try to become a completely different brand just because they went mechanical. The DNA is still there. The watches still feel restrained and Scandinavian in the way they approach design. The movement just elevates the whole thing.

And honestly, that’s why I think this release matters: The AC2 Volcán Manual Wind gives Anders & Co another level of legitimacy with enthusiasts and collectors. It feels like the brand crossed an important line here.

And after all the conversations Alex and I have had about the direction of the company, I genuinely think there’s still a lot more potential ahead. I’d love to see this same approach applied to other models like the AC1 because that case design absolutely deserves a mechanical version too.

I’d also love seeing the brand experiment with more interesting movement choices down the line. Not because the ETA 7001 isn’t good, because it absolutely is, but because Anders & Co clearly has the design maturity now to support something even more ambitious in the future.

That’s the exciting part.

The design language already feels established. The proportions are there. The identity is there.

Now the mechanical credibility finally is too.

Some watches arrive with the whole fanfare of a launch, press releases flying around, and a dozen Instagram reels ready to flood your feed. Others? They slip into your life through something far better: friendship. That’s how the Anders & Co AC2 Volcán in Bronze Jade landed on my wrist, before the rest of the world even saw it. The brand’s founder gave me an early look, and from that first moment, I knew this one was going to stick.

The Volcán isn’t loud or over-designed; it’s confident enough not to scream for attention. The bronze case immediately sets the stage. Warm, alive, destined to patinate over time (which is already happening as we speak). But the real show is the dial. Jade, not just “green.” Natural stone that feels rich, layered, and unpredictable. In some light, it’s deep forest; in others, a lighter glow, like it’s breathing under the sapphire. It makes you look twice, and then again, because no two moments on the wrist feel identical. That’s not marketing fluff, that’s the kind of subtle detail collectors dream about.

At 37mm across and just 5.65mm slim, the Volcán wears like it was designed to disappear under your cuff and reappear just when someone asks, “Wait, what are you wearing?” That thinness comes thanks to a Miyota quartz tucked inside. Some purists will sniff at quartz, but in this case, it’s the right call. The movement keeps the watch razor-slim, maintenance-free, and honest. This isn’t a piece pretending to be a tool watch, it’s a refined daily companion, happy to follow you from a coffee shop to a dinner without fuss.

Living with bronze is always a story in itself. Fresh out of the box, it shines warm and crisp. Weeks later, it starts to darken, soften, and carry your life on its surface. Pair that with jade, and the watch feels alive, evolving. It’s the kind of watch you don’t just wear, you grow into it. And that feels very Anders & Co.A family based on continuit, just like I said about the AC1.

Of course, watches like this can’t live in a vacuum; pricing always comes into play. The Bronze Jade Volcán is set at 6,700 SEK (roughly €600 or a bit over $600 depending on where you’re based). In today’s microbrand scene, that puts it in interesting company. Plenty of brands at that price point offer stainless-steel cases with sunburst dials and maybe a Miyota automatic. Few give you a natural stone dial, bronze case, and this level of finishing. Against other microbrand dress-leaning pieces, the Volcán feels different,more personal, more intentional.

And that’s exactly why this watch works. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. It just delivers texture, character, and wearability in a package that feels rare at this price point. For us at Time-Telling Magazine, the Volcán Bronze Jade is more than just another microbrand release. It’s a reminder of why we do this: because watches are personal, because friendships shape this hobby, and because sometimes the best pieces don’t just launch, they arrive as secrets shared between friends.

I’ve been around watches long enough to know when one’s just a fling and when it’s a full-blown horological crush. You know the type—where you’re checking your wrist more to admire the dial than to tell the time, and you start timing things just for the joy of pressing a pusher. That started the moment I unboxed the Anders & Co AC1.

Let me take it back to when and where it started. This isn’t one of those giant heritage maisons or obscure Swiss indies charging a kidney and a half for a manually wound minute repeater. No, Anders & Co is a fresh face from Sweden, founded in 2024 by Mr. Alexander Larsson. This wasn’t some VC-funded hype machine either. Mr. Larsson’s story has roots. He was the U.S. brand manager for David Candaux, one of the most respected names in high-end independent watchmaking. But when COVID pulled the rug out from under his job, Larsson packed up and moved back to Sweden with a mission: make well-designed, vintage-inspired watches that real people could afford.

He named the company after his grandfather, Anders. Class move for sure. Even the brand’s logo has a story since it’s inspired from Pucon, a Chilean town close to Larsson’s heart. 

The Anders & Co AC1 Chronograph.

As of today, the AC1 Chronograph is their debut piece. And frankly, they could’ve stopped there, mic-dropped, and left the room. It’s that good. Mine? The Rose dial configuration. That dial… oh, that dial. It’s not just “Rose”, it’s the kind of Salmon dials that you only see with Patek or other high watchmaking names. It changes tones in different light like it’s got moods. And the Breguet numerals? Come onnn… That’s a flex. They give the whole thing this old-world charm without getting mainstream-y.

Specs-wise, it’s hitting all the sweet spots: 38mm in diameter (finally, someone’s listening), just over 11mm thick, double-domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating (More on this in a bit), and a Seiko VK64 Mechaquartz beating inside. Yes, mechaquartz. I can already hear a few mechanical-only purists sneering, but this movement hits the perfect note: quartz accuracy with a satisfying mechanical chronograph snap. You push the button, and you feel it. It’s tactile.

Once you own a few mechanical chronographs, you’ll learn to appreciate the loyalty of a Mechaquartz piece.

Wearing it? Effortless.

I’ve got mechanical divers, Swiss chronos, and a couple dress watches that probably think they’re royalty. But since the AC1 arrived, they’ve all taken a back seat. The AC1 slides under a cuff, shines in the sun, and starts conversations with people who don’t even know what a tachymeter is. It’s a vibe.

The case is stainless steel, the finishing: Crisp. It’s not over-engineered or trying to be something it’s not. It just works. Every element—from the 20mm leather strap (thank you for keeping it standard, Anders & Co) to the 3 ATM water resistance—is well considered. It feels like it was designed by someone who wears watches, not someone trying to reinvent them.

It’s not just me who noticed that the brand clearly cares. They’re not mass-producing this thing to death. Limited runs, thoughtful details… 

What really got me, though, is the community they’re building. Anders & Co isn’t just selling watches—they’re building a club, a vibe, a little corner of the internet (and the world) where people care about design, details, and stories. I registered early, shared a bit of my collecting journey with them, and it felt like talking to fellow watch nuts—not customer service bots in disguise. I even had the chance to talk to the founder ! 

Speaking of building a club, Anders & Co is now involved in the world of sailing. A sport I personally adore (Can’t wait for them to invite me on a sailing trip haha). I’ll let Mr Alexander tell you about it:

Yes, absolutely, we’re based on the west coast of Sweden, where sailing is quite big. We’re in Marstrand, which hosts a stop on the World Match Racing Tour. I got to meet Chris Poole there last summer after he won the event. He’s really into watches, so the ambassadorship came about pretty naturally.

My grandfather Anders was also very into sailing, so this all feels kind of full circle. It was a bit of a spontaneous partnership, since most of our designs have leaned vintage, but it’s opened the door for us to start working on high water resistance watches in the future, which we’re really excited about.

Everything about Anders & Co feels personal. It’s a tribute. A family story. A passion project that actually delivers.

Aside from the amazing dial and the very useful chronograph complication (I like to time everything guys, I’m a freak), the double-domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating makes the watch what it is. I’m not being dramatic, let me explain. 

With this type of crystal, one is able to appreciate some of the finest details on the dial. For instance, the ripple effect on the subdials would not have been apparent if the glass wasn’t so smooth and anti-reflective. The curved edges magnify the tachymeter scale, which allows me to nerd out on every millisecond. 

A Traditional Chronograph Design Identity.

A thought I shared in my recent Instagram Reel has stuck with me. This watch scratches my itch for a Patek Philippe ref.1463 “Tasti Tondi”.

YOU SEE IT RIGHT !? The Breguet numerals on 12 and 6, the tachymeter scale, the double domed sapphire…

I’m not saying that the AC1 is inspired by this reference whatsoever. What I’m saying is: This 2024 chronograph respects traditional design elements that make it feel and look like a proper luxury watch. 

Mr Alexander is no newcomer, which explains how fine this watch is.

Would I call it my favorite watch? Currently, yes. Today, right now, the AC1 is the one. It’s on my wrist as I write this, and it’ll still be there when I step out later—whether I’m grabbing coffee or heading into a work meeting. It just works.

So yeah, consider this my love letter to the AC1 Chronograph. Not because it’s flashy. Not because it’s hyped. But because it’s the rare kind of watch that reminds you why you got into this hobby in the first place.