Nomos Watch

Nomos Watch

When a doctor friend called Angus Davies for advice on buying a Nomos watch, he felt compelled to come to his aid. A series of watches were dispatched by the brand for evaluation and an enjoyable evening of trying on timepieces ensued.

This detailed account of buying a Nomos watch includes live images, specification details and pricing.

I often receive emails inviting me to recommend a wristwatch but the problem is no one timepiece meets the needs of every individual. I usually enquire about the would-be wearer’s lifestyle, the functions they desire and their physical stature before even attempting to make any suggestions.

On some occasions I am sent a picture of a watch and asked if a timepiece ‘would suit’ an individual, despite knowing little about the person in question. This can be tricky. Moreover, I would never advocate purchasing a watch based on a picture. Quite simply, there is no substitute for placing a prospective watch upon the wrist. My recommendation is always to try on as many watches as possible and be open minded to timepieces which at first glance may not appear suitable.

Recently, a good friend of mine, Dr. C, a consultant psychiatrist, contacted me and said he had seen images of various NOMOS watches and was very interested in making a purchase. Prior to selecting a watch he wanted the benefit of my experience of buying watches, albeit he admitted he was erring towards a Tangente Neomatik.

I decided to contact the delightful lady who works in the Press Department at NOMOS Watch to request a selection of samples for appraisal. I thought that my friend Dr. C would benefit from my years of experience of frittering away my children’s inheritance on watches for myself.

The samples arrived, each in their own leather case, save for one model which was delivered in a wooden box. Each NOMOS watch is detailed below with a brief discussion of its specification and some of the comments expressed during the evening of evaluation.

Nomos Metro 38 Datum Stadtschwarz

The Metro 38 Datum Stadtschwarz is a little bigger than its name would imply, measuring 38.5mm in diameter. The dial is a subdued shade of greyish black and there is a smattering of peppermint green detail augmenting interest. The hand-wound DUW 4101 is beautifully presented delivering a high standard of finishing atypical of this price point. I personally like the daily cathartic ritual of winding a hand-wound watch, but accept for many would-be buyers, an automatic movement proves more practical. £2460 (RRP as at 7.12.2016)

Nomos Metro Neomatik Nachtblau

The Metro Neomatick Nachtblau is comparatively small by today’s standards, measuring a mere 35mm in diameter. We both felt it looked a little small when placed on Dr. C’s wrist. The dial is a beguiling shade of blue, but the domed glass did seem to suffer some glare inhibiting ease of read off. The DUW 3001 movement is, once again, exquisitely finished and, despite being only 28.8mm in diameter and a mere 3.2mm in height, offers the convenience of automatic winding. £2960 (RRP as at 7.12.2016)

Nomos Tangente Neomatik

The Tangente model has been in the collection for a while, but the Tangente Neomatik is a relative newcomer to the NOMOS family of models. The dial is brilliant white with delightful hints of cyan encircling the dial (minute markings). The small seconds subdial is snailed, adding additional interest to the dialscape. Surprisingly, despite measuring 35mm in diameter, the same as the Metro Neomatik Nachtblau, the dial seemed larger when worn, probably owing to the flat sapphire crystal. Moreover, we both found the dial easier to read and appreciated the lucidity of the large Arabic numerals. The model features the aforementioned automatic DUW 3001 calibre – see earlier comments. £2580 (RRP as at 7.12.2016)

Nomos Ahoi Atlantik Datum

NOMOS was courageous when it went off-piste and launched a diver’s watch, the Ahoi. Initially, the model was offered solely with a brilliant white dial. The Ahoi Atlantik Datum arrived later and features a dark ‘Atlantic blue’ dial which at times appears black. The dial also includes a date display above 6 o’clock. The dial is eminently clear, proving simple to read. The large numerals are especially well defined and the flat crystal mitigates any glare. The colour of the dial looked especially attractive against the dark skin tone of Dr. C’s arm and would also prove very versatile when pairing the watch with both casual and formal attire. Measuring 40mm the watch looked optimally sized for Dr. C’s wrist. Moreover, he did express some concern about the height of the watch beforehand as he is usually accustomed to wearing a much slimmer timepiece. However, when affixed to his arm, the height of 10.64mm was no longer cause for concern. The model does feature an older movement than the aforementioned models and as such lacks the impressive in-house Swing System. However, the Zeta Calibre is still an in-house movement and, typical of NOMOS, it is beautifully finished, especially considering the modest price point. £3540 (RRP as at 7.12.2016)

The result

Dr. C took his time to look at each model closely. Prior to the ‘test evening’ he liked the idea of a ‘nacht blau’ dial and also liked the simple lines of the Tangente Neomatik.

While Dr. C liked the scale and colour of the Metro 38 Datum Stadtschwarz he did prefer the idea of an automatic movement. The domed sapphire crystal was less problematic than on smaller models but lacked the clarity of those timepieces equipped with a flat glass.

The Metro Neomatik, whilst sharing the same diameter as the Tangente Neomatik, appeared too small when worn by Dr. C.

However, there was one clear winner which Dr C fell in love with, the Ahoi Atlantik Datum. The size of this watch suited the doctor’s taste while according high levels of comfort. Moreover, the scale of the case meant the dial was also larger, making it easier for the myopically challenged doctor to read. The doctor appreciated the beautifully adorned movement and the convenience of automatic winding. Lastly, the dial and strap seemed to coordinate with the doctor’s skin tone.

Closing remarks

Dr. C is becoming increasingly interested in horology and like many individuals he is an avid reader of articles both in print and online. After seeing images of the NOMOS watches he committed the cardinal sin of swearing undying love to one watch, the Tangente Neomatik, without actually trying it on.

While Dr. C liked the Tangente Neomatik when affixed to his wrist, he preferred the look of the Ahoi Atlantik Datum. This justifies my rationale for always trying on a watch prior to making a purchase.

And the next step? Well, Dr C is intending to order a Ahoi Atlantik Datum from his local stockist and, based on my experience of NOMOS watch, I suspect he will be very pleased with his choice.

Related links

• www.nomos-glashuette.com