Nomos held its 5th International Forum in Glashütte this week in a converted church on the top of a hill above the famous German watchmaking town. The company bought the building when it was dissolved by the Catholic church and it has been turned into a cool event space. White walls and great lighting made the experience feel almost like a “tech” reveal, and in a sense, it was just that.
After spending the morning touring the company’s component facility and assembly workshops in and around Glashütte, it quickly became apparent that the lovely people at Nomos weren’t exaggerating when they said that 95% of their movements are made in-house. We were even allowed into the workshop where they create their famous Swing-System escapement – the kind of area that is normally off-limits to the press.
Back in the church, a group of international journalists, retailers, and content creators eagerly awaited the brand’s latest timepieces and Nomos did not disappoint, kicking off proceedings with a brand-new in-house movement – the Calibre DUW 4601 – with manual winding and a quick-date correction feature. Ooohs and Ahhhs filled the church as this beautiful new movement was projected on the big screen. The first thing that caught our eye was the off-centred sunray stripes emanating from the Swing-System. These stripes continue onto the date ring, which cleverly fills the space between the movement and the case. The high level of finishing, blued screws, and scattering of exposed rubies add to the movement’s pleasing aesthetic.
The DUW Calibre 4601 was inaugurated in a brand-new Tangente model with a double-date display. Aptly called the Tangente 2date, this timepiece keeps all of the Tangente design codes and adds a twist in the form of two quick-set date displays. The first date can be found in an aperture at six o’clock with a unique numeral font so that the numbers 1 to 31 fit perfectly into the slightly tapered window. For the second date, Nomos has added a date ring around the periphery of the dial where two contrasting coloured dots appear around the date.
At first, you may wonder why Nomos has put two dates on this watch. After all, this is not a brand known for horological gimmicks. Firstly, it is a fun way to inaugurate this new quick-date movement by making the date stand out even more. Secondly, from a design point of view, it adds an interesting touch of colour and interest to the dial that differentiates it from its brothers and sisters in the Tangente line. And last, but by no means least, it gives a different visual perspective of elapsed time as the days of the month pass.
The Tangente 2date keeps the brand’s signature Bauhaus-inspired design with its 37.58 mm drum-shaped case, thin bezel, and slim lugs. It comes in a choice of two dial colours: A silver-plated version with black details and red dates, or sunray blue with white details and dates. The watch is water-resistant to 50m and is priced under CHF 3,000, which is surprisingly affordable for a watch with an in-house movement at this level.
This wasn’t the only piece to be released during the Forum, many more exciting models are in the pipeline for the near future, so stay tuned for more very soon.
