NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel
Angus Davies provides an in-depth review of the NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel. This is the largest watch from NOMOS measuring 41.5mm in diameter. It includes an impressive specification and is very competitively priced.
This detailed review of the NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel includes live images, specification details and pricing.
As a young boy growing up in Lancashire, grey school shorts were de rigueur and, despite living atop the spine of the Pennines, the arrival of winter did not preclude my knees being exposed to the elements.
I still recall rushing home from school to view my favourite television programmes. I ran with such vigour, frictional heat would permeate through the soles of my Clarks sandals. Knee-length school socks would succumb to gravity and gather round my ankles as I charged home with determined purpose. Nothing would prevent me getting home to watch firm favourites such as “Vision On” and, the pinnacle of my week, “Screen Test” with Michael Rodd.
Getting home at breakneck speed seemed a matter of major importance. Indeed, in my young mind some things seemed incredibly important. The cakes and biscuits my mother would buy were of major significance to me, a child with a penchant for confectionery from a young age. My favourites were Mr Kipling’s French Fancies and Jacob’s Club biscuits. Indeed, looking back I think television was the catalyst for a lifelong romance with sugary and fatty foods.
The BBC never showed adverts but, occasionally I decided to change channel on the television, I would see the adverts for mouthwatering delights. My preference for Jacob’s Club biscuits probably began when I saw the adverts for their chocolate covered biscuit bars. Every child at school would sing in chorus, “If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit join our club.” The widespread approval of the biscuits was evident as every pupil revealed which flavour their “mum” had packed in their bag for a mid-morning snack. My favourite was the orange flavour.
A key aspect which differentiated the Club from other biscuits was the thick layer of chocolate which enveloped its crunchy form. It conferred an abundance of added value which every child recognised.
Recently, I had the good fortune to place a NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel on my wrist and, unintentionally, I was transposed to my childhood. This is not to belittle the German watch, quite the contrary. It is just that I always associate the word “Club” with my childhood snack.
However, in a way there is some commonality between the two. Firstly, the watch from Glashütte is a mouth-watering prospect with its clean and comely lines and, secondly, it offers much added value for a comparatively modest sum.
Often, I am asked to recommend a watch to a friend or acquaintance. To answer is fraught with risk. A watch is very personal. It will exhibit a different feel to each individual depending on their stature, skin-tone, wrist-size and taste in clothing. Quite simply, there is no alternative to trying on lots of watches prior to making a selection. But, when pressed, I will always query the available budget, the rationale for purchase and a few details about the person’s lifestyle.
Whenever I am asked to suggest a few brands in the £2000 – £4000 price category, I always mention a handful of names including, without exception, NOMOS Glashuette.
NOMOS Glashuette deliver incredible watches for the money. I would suggest if you canvassed opinion from several of my fellow journalists with their intimate knowledge of horology, the German company would always be cited.
The brand has earned a reputation for offering Bauhaus-inspired design, wonderfully finished manufacture movements, all delivered at remarkably accessible prices. The NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel proves to be no exception, with an impressive specification offered at a very competitive price.
The dial
The dial colour is a dark anthracite-grey and is very striking in appearance. I would liken it to a beautiful lady walking into the room, you don’t want to offend your wife, but you just can’t help but look. It is stunning.
NOMOS Glashuette has always masterfully imbued its models with matchless legibility and this model proves to be no exception. It conveys the time with appreciable brevity. All functions can be readily interpreted in less than a second.
The hour and minute hands appear resplendent, presented in rhodium-plated form and lined with SuperLumiNova in common with the hour markers. They impart time with the effortless ease of an eagle floating on warm thermals on a summer’s day.
Hours are denoted with a mix of Arabic numerals for even hours and rectangular batons for odd hours, save for 6 o’clock where the date display resides.
Above the aforementioned date aperture, a small seconds display resides. Its recessed and snailed form engages with light in seemly splendour.
The minute hand is long and interfaces with the chapter ring which is marked with a combination of orange Arabic numerals, presented at each 5 minute integer, with simple strokes in between.
The NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel is the largest model from NOMOS. It measures 41.5mm in diameter and provides a large canvas that is eminently legible. Moreover, the brand has adeptly designed the dial with a judicious use of tasteful detail. The palette of hues selected is visually interesting without ever facing accusations of being outré or unduly busy. This is a very harmonious and elegant dial composition.
The case
The stainless steel case on the NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel is of bipartite construction and is highly polished on all of its surfaces. The polished surfaces may sound slightly extrovert in nature for this brand which has mastered the concept of restrained elegance. However, no need to worry, NOMOS has chosen wisely in picking a highly polished case for this model, it basks in light, shining brightly in ambient light but with a welcome air of decorum.
The screwed down case back features a sapphire crystal, allowing eyes to admire the gorgeous manufacture movement.
Watch straps seldom warrant many column inches but, then again, few watch straps look quite as splendid as the Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan strap gracing this horological gem. The leather is from Chicago and is taken from a specific area of the horse’s torso, the rump. This represents only an eighth of the whole skin of the animal, but it is the most prized. It consists of a fine-pored, smooth skin which delivers a peerless tactile feel and enhanced longevity.
Placing the strap on my wrist conferred a comfortable union with my arm.
The movement
The self-winding Zeta Calibre is made in-house at the company’s atelier, located near the town’s railway station. The region has become a centre of excellence with several watch companies crafting high-precision, high-quality timepieces.
Arguably, one reason for the remarkable value offered by NOMOS, is the widespread use of CNC machines. These machines allow the company to create many components using state of the art know-how, obviating the need, in some cases, to use costlier hand crafting techniques. Moreover, this also confers great accuracy, a welcome benefit when producing micro components.
However, NOMOS has not abandoned hand craftsmanship delivering a movement which incorporates many delightful elements.
The Zeta Calibre has a three-quarter plate which features Glashütte ribbing, a charming motif, comparable in concept to Côtes de Genève. Similar to the influence terroir has on the taste of wine, this local aspect of watchmaking from Saxony grants a delicious flavour, I gutsily quaff every time I see it.
The oscillating mass is open-worked, according a view of the components beneath. The crown wheel and duplex wheel are adorned with sunburst decoration. Perlage is visible on the main plate beneath the balance wheel.
Ordinarily, watches at this price level feature blued screws created using a chemical treatment. However, NOMOS has actually used the technically superior thermally blued screws which confer a hardness and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, they look beautiful and, together with the rubies, punctuate the three-quarter plate with attractive pockets of blue and red.
Closing remarks
Coming back to one of my other passions, confectionery and, in particular chocolate, I return to the Jacob’s Club biscuit. The abundance of chocolate encapsulating the surface of this biscuit has engendered a life-long allegiance to this product which has never waned with the passage of time.
The NOMOS Glashutte Club Automat Datum Dunkel is a superb timepiece, made more remarkable by its relatively modest asking price of £2240. It has an impressive specification and delivers a handsome mien. Indeed, this is a watch which, metaphorically speaking, has a lot of chocolate and I, for one, would consider joining this Club.
Technical Specification
- Model: NOMOS Glashuette Club Automat Datum Dunkel
- Ref: 774
- Case: Stainless steel; diameter 41.50 mm; height 9.78 mm; water-resistant to 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and caseback.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds; date.
- Movement: Zeta Calibre, self-winding movement; frequency 21,600 vph (3Hz); 26 jewels; power reserve 42 hours
- Bracelet: Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan strap presented on steel pin buckle.
- Price: £2240 (RRP as at 11.7.2014)
- Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Stewart’s The Watch Company, for kindly providing access to this remarkable timepiece.
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