Introduction
At this time of the year, the newly released timepieces are usually hitting the stores. If we exclude a couple of brands, it is the first time we can get up close with new products that we could exclusively enjoy through a digital Watches and Wonders 2021 broadcast so far. As we recap that event, I see that most mainstream watch brands focus their product launch on the second half of the year while introducing mainly range extenders and new colour palettes in H1 instead. So did Nomos Glashütte, at first sight, except for a new timepiece carrying the “Metro” namesake, the Nomos Metro neomatik 41 Update.
Nomos Glashütte Metro neomatik 41 Update: the details
Nomos Glashütte has applied the “Update” recipe to a Metro, which is, therefore, housing the same calibre, layout, and complication you’re used to on a Tangente. The Metro product line is hitting the spotlight and welcomes a superb addition, thus offering an alternative to those loving the Update concept, less so when paired with the edgy date-marine-black-hands-on/" target="_self" rel="noopener">Nomos Tangente. Metro and Tangente are sitting opposite ends of the spectrum; sharp edges and rigorous Bauhaus-inspired traits contrast with rounded shapes, curved sapphire glass, and wire lugs you’ll experience on any Nomos Metro instead. They share the trademark squared and flat case side.
The Update moniker is synonymous with a patented date complication mechanism which is unmistakably Nomos and turns asymmetry (the date window) into symmetry and style. The days of the month are displayed on the outermost part of the dial, which is hollowed and covers a bi-directional rotating disc the wearer can adjust in either direction via the winding crown. The disc holds an orange label surrounding the month’s current day, printed on the dial.
As simple and visually intriguing as it gets, the Update date display is not any different from a “pointer date” option, the main difference being you won’t need any other central hand, and the dial is uncluttered. I often think of Nomos designers comparing different concepts and mock-ups during the development phase before approving one that complies with the brand’s vision, proves their ingenuity and how they place user experience in the first place. However, the annular date display is as distinctive as mind-blogging when placed alongside a Tangente Update, and I’m going to explain why.
Once you’re wrapping a Nomos Metro neomatik 41 Update around your wrist, you’ll notice how elegant and proportioned is the dial, but, in contrast, there are plenty of numbers so that you’ll end up turning your eyes to the minute track rather than the tiny days of the month. Also, the silver-white treatment makes things even harder since the day-of-the-month reading is not standing out; in comparison, a Tangente Update is less crowded, and the association of baton indexes and Arabic numerals helps to get all the info required at first glance. Thumbs up to the slim syringe-shaped hour and minute hands; they’re rare today, and they add to a Metro unique style.
Case and strap design confirm how Nomos is obsessed with usability and comfort; Be ready to frequently check your wrist since you’ll forget wearing the Nomos Metro neomatik 41 Update. At 40.5 mm in diameter and just 9.1 mm in thickness, the watch tapers the wrist and holds tight thanks to a nylon strap as soft as it is stretch-resistant. As a reminder, bear in mind that reduced thickness was paramount during the development of the neomatik class of mechanical movements.
The calibre DUW 6101; pricing and final thoughts
The Nomos Metro neomatik 41 Update houses the top-ranking calibre DUW 6101, whose gold engraving on the winding mass is a nice touch and pairs with the “Golden neomatik” inscription on the dial for an enhanced premium feel. A Nomos Metro neomatik 41 Update retails for 3500 Euros which sits above the average selling price across the brand’s full range. Among the pros, I’ll list the design that I love – they nailed it- and the perceived quality. Instead, I’d improve readability; designers came up with a stunning dial, but additional colour options and perhaps a slightly different size/ratio of the numerals would help get the most of the day-of-the-month display.
(Photo credit: Marco Antinori for Horbiter®)
Gaetano C @Horbiter®
Instagram – Gaetano Cimmino
