Introducing the Nomos Glashütte Minimatik 39 date

Intro

Nomos Glashütte’s 2025 first reveal is a new collection, which is breaking news for a brand whose latest new introduction was Autobahn. Nonetheless, the new Minimatik 39’s sleek lines and classic-looking attire set it apart from the aforementioned collab watch. Interestingly, the Minimatik 39 is the second timepiece to house the glorious DUW 4601 hand-wind calibre, which first appeared in the Tangente 2date, a timepiece we have extensively covered in our magazine and a video.

Combination of multiple sources or a brand new design language?

Judging by the press images, I opt for the first option. While we expect to meet with the new products during the upcoming Watches and Wonders, we can already spot several traits provided by current Nomos Glashütte watches, with the addition of some external sources of inspiration. The case shapes are soft and rounded, with the date window placed where you usually expect it to stand: at three.

I see plenty of Orion and Metro in there; Orion-sourced seem to be the extended lugs whose shape is very much “Cornes de Vache” yet in much more Saxon attire. Metro’s DNA can be seen in the dot indexes’ design, while the additional Arabic numerals introduce a new, rounded font to the one available so far, the Club’s.

Out of this layout, the brand’s designers created a squared date window enhanced by a golden ring placed on the inner side rather than on top of the dial, as often seen in horology. That’s an original take, executed in a Nomos Glashütte style that provides rich depth to the dial and complements the curved shapes of the bezel, glass, and dial. At six sits the brand’s signature running seconds counter.

Minimatik 39 is the second timepiece powered by the DUW 4601 calibre.

As stated above, the Minimatik 39 is powered by the glorious calibre introduced with the Tangente 2date. The DUW 4601 movement embodies a new generation of hand-wound mechanical movements equipped with the proprietary Swing System escapement.

Again, a beautifully finished movement helps keep the case stop at 39.5 mm in diameter and just 7.5 mm in thickness. While the Minimatik 39 cannot equal a Tangente 2date’s 6.7 mm thickness, it is nonetheless excellent value for money and the key topic of conversation when purchasing the watch. The 52-hour power reserve out of a calibre so thin is a great result, too.

Final thoughts

I’d switch to early thoughts and wait for the post-W&W analysis to provide more accurate evaluations. I think Nomos Glashütte offers an alternative design to the DUW 4601 geared towards those not in love with the Tangente. Minimatik 39 is a means to broaden the prospective buyer audience.

Coming in classic Nomos blue, silver, or a two-tone silver-gold variant, Nomos Glashütte adds an elegant three-hand timepiece with a superb mechanism and ultra-thin silhouette. At a listed price of 2,680 euros, it still prides itself on being a stunning value proposition despite the delta price being not negligible compared to its Tangente sibling.

(Photo credit: Nomos Glashütte)

Giovanni Maria Di Biase @Horbiter®