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nomos watch review

Everybody knows watches or luxury watches are usually from either Switzerland or Japan. But there is another country that makes great watches that is pretty under the radar, and that is just north east of Switzerland, Germany.

German watchmaking, in general, really focuses on watches being as reliable as they can, along with fine watchmaking with exquisite techniques of polishing and beautifying watches. 

The brand that we want to focus on here is Nomos, a relatively small German brand that is slowly growing and loved by all watch enthusiasts around the world. Known for its distinctive look and relatively affordable prices, it’s no wonder it’s loved by so many worldwide, but we’ll get into more details in this article.

NOMOS Glashütte Watches in the Past

In this section, you should explain how NOMOS Glashütte watches were viewed in the past, how and where they were manufactured, etc. and a brief history about them.

Given its short lifespan in this massive, competitive watch world, the history of Nomos is still intriguing, to say the least. In January 1990, a photographer and a brilliant computer technician from Düsseldorf, Germany, named Roland Schwertner, gave birth to the brand we know today as Nomos Glashütte. 

Throwback to 1906, a company called “Nomos-Uhr-Gesellschaft, Guido Müller & Co” was also in the watch business where they started importing Swiss watches, and they decided to cheekily add the name “Glashütte” to their watches. 

You might wonder why I used the word “cheekily” in the previous sentence. Interestingly, back then, the name “Glashütte” was a prestigious inclusion and 50% of the watches’ caliber had to be made in Glashütte itself for the watch to meet the requirement. Clearly, Nomos-Uhr-Gesellschaft, Guido Müller & Co did not meet that requirement. 

A very familiar and renowned company, A. Lange & Söhne, took them to court and made them cease business operations. To prevent any confusion, the Nomos today has nothing to do with the Nomos that was previously mentioned. 

As of today, Nomos gladly and proudly included the name Glashütte, as 95% of the caliber is manufactured there. Thus, this made Glashütte, a tiny town in Germany with a population of merely just ~7000 people, one of the most prestigious places for luxury watchmaking. 

What really differentiates Nomos from other well known manufacturers in Glashütte is the aesthetics of the watches along with its affordable price point. Nomos has this unique Bauhaus design that was rarely seen back in the day.

This clean and modern aesthetic then slowly attracted many watch enthusiasts around the world when Nomos first released their watches in 1992 — the Tangente, Orion, Ludwig, and Tetra. 

Back in the early days of Nomos, most of their movements were outsourced, which were mostly Peseux/ETA 7001 based movements with an addition of Glashütte decorations. In 2014, the brand made a breakthrough and released its first-ever in-house escapement called the Swing system, also known as “Deutsche Uhrenwekre” (DUW, which also means German Clockwork). This helps reduce the thickness of the watch and also delivers great accuracy.

Nomos has certainly grown a lot as a relatively young company, and fast forward to today, the brand is striving to say the least.

NOMOS Glashütte Watches Today

Nomo Glasshute today

Today, Nomos is one of the leading watch brands in the world and has the most watches produced annually in Germany. It has grown to one of the largest luxury watch companies in Germany, with over 300 people in three different facilities at Glashütte and almost 20,000 pieces made per year.

Considering the brand is just 35 years old, it is impressive how they have grown into a goliath of a watch brand in such a short time. 

Nomos not only makes sexy, good-looking watches at an affordable price, but their dedication to creating in-house movements is what makes Nomos so impressive.

As mentioned previously, in 2014, they made the automatic Caliber DUW 4101, an in-house escapement, which was a huge leap forward for Nomos. 

For these very reasons, watch enthusiasts have really fallen in love with Nomos as a brand. Perfect for someone who wants a slight quirkiness in their watch design with an excellent finishing of the movement and a watch that is made uniquely in a small town with less than 10000 people. Nomos nowadays is seen as a watch brand that fills the gap in the more affordable luxury watch segment.

The Tangente is considered the brand’s flagship collection and is most famous for its Bauhaus aesthetic. The beautiful small seconds at the 6, quirky fonts on the alternating numerals, colorful dial colors to choose from, right angled lugs are what make the Tagente, the Tagente.

Powering this watch is the Automatic DUW 3001 for the bigger models and the manual winding DUW 4101/ Manual-winding Alpha for smaller models. The Tagente also offers a sapphire caseback to show off the movement.

The Orion can be seen as the cleanest and most classic way of portraying a Bauhaus design. Stark white dial, simple lined indices, blue lined hands, and the addition of a small seconds hand at the 6 o’clock complete the entire package to create this simple yet satisfying dial that is effortlessly beautiful.

Some models offer a date window at 6 as well, for people who want that bit of functionality, there is an option too. 

When it comes to the Ludwig, imagine the Orion but with Roman numerals. Okay, that might be slightly exaggerated, but most of the design elements on the watch are the same. What I really like about the Ludwig is how proportional the watch looks. 

The alternate Roman numeral indices and baton indices, along with an IIII instead of a traditional IV, make the watch look cleaner and less busy.

The blued small seconds hand and blued hands complete the package and provide a dressier touch. What I really like about the Ludwig is the minute/second track that gives it an extra vintage look. 

The Tetra is our first non-circular watch in this article and the watch features a very boxy-squared case. It also has a two-part stainless steel case with very cool-looking lugs.

The case of the watch also has a very thin bezel framing the dial. Speaking of dials, there are also tons of color options to choose from, and the indices and small seconds hand design language is very similar to a Tagente, offering a more casual and unique look. 

What Makes NOMOS Glashütte Watches Stand Out?

Nomos as a brand is unique in itself, not just because it’s made in Germany, which is not your usual Switzerland or Japan, it also has many other fantastic characteristics.

Among all watch brands, they usually come in a fairly standard watch case that has slightly curved, rounded lugs. But not Nomos. Nomos has one of the most unique-looking lugs in the watch industry. It has straighter and more angled lugs. 

Not all Nomos have this type of lugs, but models such as the Tagente have these unique lugs, which I really like as these days, any kind of inspiration and ingenuity is rarely found.

A lot of watch brands try to include fun designs on their watches, but it just makes it hard to read the time or is too much. Nomos is the opposite of that.

Nomos tries to include a few pop of color here and there, such as on the hands, numerals, etc, but not too much, and at the same time maintain that Bauhaus, classic aesthetic. 

Most fully in house watches these days cost a lot more than $3,000, especially from Switzerland. However, Nomos is able to maintain that affordability while at the same time, innovating on their in-house movements and finishing techniques. 

Should you get a NOMOS Glashütte Watch?

In this section, you should discuss whether it’s a good idea to buy NOMOS Glashütte watches, who they are for, what alternatives they have, etc.

Although Nomos has no long history, like other brands from the land of Switzerland, Nomos’ growth is undoubtedly one of the most impressive achievements a watch manufacturer can achieve. 

Furthermore, Nomos has definitely defined its looks, such that when you look at a Nomos, you know it’s a Nomos. The design language of the dials on Nomos is so unique to Nomos, and that makes it hard to find an alternative. 

However, Nomos’ design can be less sporty and less show-y, which is kind of the trend these days. But if you’re someone who’s super casual, or looking to get your first luxury watch that doesn’t want to break the bank, Nomos is great.

You get a reliable movement, a fully in-house German manufacturer, a very recognizable dial, and a fun watch to wear. 

The only brand that might be in competition with Nomos at this price point would be Tudor or Longines if you’re looking for Swiss-made watches. If you’re looking for something super sporty such as a hardcore diving watch or an ultra racing style chronograph, then Nomos might not be the brand for you.

With that said, is it a good idea to buy a Nomos? I wholeheartedly think that at this price point, it is arguably one of the best everyday watches out there you can find. 

Conclusion

Nomos’ design philosophy is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable in the industry and has always been loved by thousands of watch enthusiasts worldwide. 

With the vast collection that Nomos has, the ability for them to still maintain its design language with over 13 models with different functions is incredible. Maintaining the watch design language is impressive, but being so consistent throughout the collection is a whole new level. 

Moreover, being able to create in-house movements in their short history really sets the brand apart from their competitors, proving to the world that German watchmaking is here to stay. And for me, I would proudly welcome another addition to the list of luxury watchmaking countries.

In this video: Glashütte Original Sixties Annual Edition Fiery Orange Review

Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date

editor

October 8, 2018

From the Glashütte Original Vintage Collection, today we are looking at the Sixties Panorama Date featuring a varnish green dial. The Glashütte Vintage Collection is a group of watches that are modern interpretations of true design classics. Two exciting periods on the previous century serves as inspiration for these timepieces. The 60’s and 70’s models in the collection are contemporary interpretation of two dynamic decades who’s ideals, music, arquitecture and design changed the world forever.
Continue reading “Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date”

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