Hands-On With The New Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date In Classic Atlantic Blue
One year ago, I went hands-on with the then-new Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date collection. Two versions of the newly sized Ahoi debuted then, one in clear Sky blue and the other in beautiful Sand gold. The introduction of those two new models also meant the discontinuation of the 40mm Ahoi. That meant a larger Ahoi was no longer available in Nomos’s classic Atlantic blue colorway. That changes now, though, as the Glashütte brand has decided to reintroduce the high-contrast and specially lumed navy-blue dial for the Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date. Let’s take a quick look.
You could say the Ahoi is Nomos’s beefed-up and rugged version of its signature Tangente model. The Ahoi’s case and lug design are just as minimalist as the Tangente’s. However, the watch is a bit thicker to withstand higher external pressure, and it has a guarded screw-down crown. This is so that it can achieve an advertised and dive-ready water resistance rating of 200 meters. Granted, the Ahoi is not a dive watch per se since it doesn’t have a unidirectional bezel. Nevertheless, it is one of Nomos’s sportier watches that can take a beating and doesn’t mind a dive in the pool or sea at all.
The Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Atlantic
As mentioned, last year, Nomos introduced the Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date. It’s the bigger brother of the 36mm Ahoi Neomatik and debuted in Sky blue and Sand gold. Nomos used both of these colors for the very first time, and the metallic Sand option, in particular, was quite “out there.” When I saw the press release for this more classic-looking Atlantic blue version, I thought it made a lot of sense. This navy hue is a nice counterbalance to the brighter Sky and Sand options. Besides, a darker dial always looks great on a sportier watch.
In terms of specs, there’s not a lot of news here except for a few hidden rubies (more on those later). The stainless steel case still measures 38.5mm in diameter, 9.8mm or 9.9mm thick (depending on which case back you choose), and 49mm from lug to lug. The case itself is a very simple circle, the lugs are minimalist, angular additions, and the crown guards add some bulk and toughness to the overall design. However, the Nomos Ahoi is still a very Bauhaus-inspired watch with fine architecture and a dial to match.
Atlantic blue
The Atlantic colorway isn’t a completely new option for the Ahoi. The discontinued 40mm version had this same design, and you can also buy the 36mm version with this outfit. Interestingly, it’s a lot more exciting in person than you might suspect. First of all, the matte dark blue tone is quite sophisticated. It stands in great contrast to the bright white elongated numerals and hour markers. In addition, there are a few colorful accents to spice things up. The most noticeable one is the fire-red sub-seconds hand. Then, there are 12 yellow luminous hour markers, each with a subtle teal outline. Finally, there’s the gold “neomatik” text under the Nomos branding on the top half of the dial.
Nomos has put all these elements together very thoughtfully, and the look works so well with the Ahoi’s sportier character. Just like last year’s models, there’s a large date window at 3 o’clock with the same dark blue background and white numerals. It’s still a bit out of place there at the edge of the dial. Thankfully, the ton-sur-ton execution makes it less annoying. In addition to the lume on the yellow markers and the central hands, the elongated numerals and indexes are also luminous. This is a unique feature of the Atlantic version, and it adds another element of sportiness to the Ahoi.
DUW 6101 automatic movement
Similar to the Sky and Sand models, the Atlantic Blue version houses the DUW 6101 automatic movement. This is an in-house-built caliber that offers a power reserve of about 42 hours. The rotor is skeletonized, so you can get a good look at the nicely decorated movement through the case back. That’s only if you opt for the exhibition case back, of course. A nice feature of this caliber is that the quick-set date can be set both forward and backward. In addition, it also has a smaller “danger zone” in which you shouldn’t change the date — from 23:15 to 00:45.
When I looked at the DUW 6101 inside the new Ahoi Atlantic, I read that it featured 42 jewels. This came as a surprise to me as the DUW 6101 inside the Sky and Sand versions only had 27 jewels. I asked Nomos about this, and the folks there admitted to having added a few rubies. Five of them support the date ring, so there’s less friction and no risk of it getting stuck after lubrication. Another 10 rubies serve to optimize the double ratchet wheel, which converts the bidirectional movement of the winding mechanism into unidirectional movement. All these extra jewels ensure that the date mechanism needs less servicing and the automatic winding system works more efficiently.
The Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date in Atlantic blue is the first Nomos watch with the new version of the DUW 6101. The Sky and Sand versions will follow suit, just like other models in the Nomos portfolio.
Final thoughts
I didn’t expect this up front, but if I had to choose my favorite of the Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date models, I think this Atlantic blue version would win. The Sky and Sand ones are very nice and might’ve been more unexpected from Nomos. But the “new” Atlantic blue option feels more authentic to the brand. Yes, it’s simple, but that’s Nomos for you, and with the colorful accents, it has a well-considered design. I also think it’s the colorway that best suits the sportier Ahoi, especially on the dark blue textile strap. By the way, those straps are still unprecedented among other textile straps on the market.
The new Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date in Atlantic blue is available now for €3,520 with an all-steel case back and €3,820 with an exhibition case back. For more information, check out the official Nomos website.
Let me know in the comments below what you think of the new Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date in Atlantic blue.
