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Earlier this year, Nomos released thirty-one separate limited edition versions of their Tangente 38 Date. If you ask most collectors and enthusiasts, the Tangente is the brand’s most recognizable design, and is usually found in somewhat staid and traditional colorways. That’s what made these limited editions so interesting. Here, all of a sudden, were thirty-one widely different and colorful executions of a design that many of us know like the back of our hand.
We recently had four different examples of these LEs pass through our office, so we thought it would be a good excuse to send these watches out to our contributors to get their take. Here are first impressions from contributors Nathan Schultz, Griffin Bartsch, and Chris Antzoulis, as well as Managing Editor Zach Kazan.
Nathan Schultz – Mauvegrün
In just a few short years, Nomos transitioned from one of those best kept secret brands to becoming a prominent fan-favorite. Yet, as my enthusiast peers seemed to grow more excited with each minimalist release, my personal feelings toward the brand have remained relatively lukewarm. Don’t get me wrong, I find the elegant Bauhaus design at the center of their entire catalog to be charming. It’s just… subdued. Prior to Watches and Wonders 2024, their most exciting line was probably the Metro which features a colorful small seconds hand. But when the most vibrant (if you could call it that) dial is actually called “muted” red, it’s fair to say garnering excitement was not a top priority for this German brand known for craftsmanship and in-house movements.
With a well-established positive standing among collectors, Nomos didn’t necessarily have a reason to cater to someone like me that prioritizes smiles per dollar above all else. In fact, I would argue that such a change would run the unnecessary risk of alienating a loyal fan base that values a very specific design language over color and experimentation. But my crystal ball is often out of whack, and like the rest of the watch community, I was shocked when they released 31 colorful new dials with one thing in common: fun. Scrolling through the Nomos website used to resemble strolling the clearance section of clocks at Target littered with creamy colorways, minimal text and three un-lumed hands. Head to the Nomos site now, and it feels more like walking past the wall of paint swatches at a home improvement store. And, like a child inspired to stuff their pockets, I suddenly wanted each and every one.
