Getting to Know Nomos: 6 Important Nomos Watches


Nomos watches are well-known in their native Germany, but not nearly as familiar to watch lovers in the U.S. as other Glashütte-based watch brands such as A. Lange & Söhne and Glashütte Original. Nomos watches, in fact, have their own distinctive look (the brand has won several international design awards) and are fairly reasonably priced despite the fact that they all have in-house movements made in the traditional Glashütte style. As the brand becomes more prominent in the U.S., we offer six Nomos watches that you should become familiar with.

Nomos introduced its first diver-style watch, the Ahoi, in 2013. The Ahoi Atlantik Datum, launched the following year, carries the theme further with its lacquered “Atlantic blue” dial. The Ahoi Atlantik Datum contains the self-winding Nomos Zeta caliber, which powers the time, small seconds, and date display (“datum”). The watch’s case is 40 mm in diameter and features a sapphire exhibition caseback, fitted with six screws, as well as a screw-down crown. The hour and minute hands are gold-plated, with green Super-LumiNova inlays; the small seconds hand has a red lacquered finish. The Ahoi Atlantik Datum is water-resistant to 200 meters and comes on a distinctively nautical-looking black textile strap with a winged clasp.

Nomos Ahoi Atlantik Datum
Nomos Ahoi Atlantik Datum

 

The elements on the dial of the Nomos Lambda Rosegold are designed to resemble the motion of a mobile. The big arc-shaped indicator at the top displays the generous three-and-a-half-day power reserve, made possible by the two mainspring barrels in the movement, Nomos’s in-house, manual-winding Caliber DUW 1001. The 18k rose gold case is 42 mm in diameter and just 8.9 mm thick and features a see-through caseback. The hands are gold-plated and the granulated dial is silver-plated. The Lambda Rosegold comes on a hand-stitched brown cordovan leather strap with a rose gold clasp.

Nomos Lambda Rosegold
Nomos Lambda Rosegold

 

Nomos’s Lux Weissgold collection is notable for its cushion-shaped case made of 18k white gold (weissgold in German) and for the simplicity of the dial, which reminds one of an old-style kitchen timer. The Lux’s case is 40.4 mm x 36 mm; the dial is galvanized and white silver-plated with a periphery of printed eggshell blue. The hands are rhodium-plated. The watch, powered by Nomos’s manual-winding caliber DUW 2002, is mounted on a hand-stitched shell cordovan black leather strap; the clasp is the same white gold as the case.

Nomos Lux Weissgold
Nomos Lux Weissgold
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  1. Charlie Thomas

    I bought a Tangente while in Germany this past summer. Looks nice, but that’s about all. Stopped running on the flight home less than a full day after I bought it. Returned it to NOMOS for “repairs” and they sent it back non-functioning again, apparently failing to bench test it first. After 3 months of inaction on their part, I had to get the dealer (Palm Jewelers in Wetzlar) involved. After another month NOMOS said they’d try to fix it again. 4 months after my money had been spent, not to mention the serial aggravation involved, not even an offer was made of replacing it in kind. Returned to the dealer for a full refund. The NOMOS is in no way a “fine time piece” nor is firm itself interested in the product or customer once they have their money from you. A miserable experience. Stay away!

    Reply
  2. Ricardo L

    It would be great to hear where folks are buying this brand.

    Reply
  3. macewindufan

    lovely watches… i feel that the brand is rather under-appreciated. Mention how many design awards the Metro won?

    Reply
  4. Good article on a brand offering better designs than many of the major manufacturers whose ads I don’t really want to help pay for!

    Reply
  5. Richard Driscoll

    Prices please with you’re reviewing watches.
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Torsten

      The Zürich Weltzeit is also available with a blue dial. The dials are now in English. Price is around 4,300 EUR (in Germany) but you may get a VAT refund. I bought mine with a grey velour leather strap that gives the watch a distinctive look.

      Reply
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