Just When You Thought The Heated Date Debate Couldn’t Get Any Hotter, The Nomos Tangente 2date Shows Up

Every once in a while, you see a watch that raises more questions than it can answer. The Nomos Tangente 2date is such a watch. The biggest question is, “Why?” Since an answer isn’t immediately at hand, more and more questions arise. Is this a watch that can keep track of two different dates? Is this watch meant to be worn on a second date? What do you do on a second date? Everything is up for debate. And just when you thought the heated date debate couldn’t get any hotter, the Nomos Tangente 2date shows up.

Even Nomos itself has more questions than answers regarding the new Tangente 2date. This is from the press release: “Why have only a single date display when you can keep track of the days in two exclusive ways?” One answer would be because, from a functional standpoint, the latter doesn’t make any sense. The ring around the edge of the dial and the window at 6 o’clock both display the very same date. So, unlike a watch that shows a second time zone, this Tangente is not a second-date watch. I would even go so far as to say that if you wear this new Tangente on a first date, the chances you will land a second date are practically zero if the other person is into watches and a frequent contributor to the “date or no date” debate online.

The build-up to the Nomos Tangente 2date: the manifestation of a date obsession

The launch of the Tangente 2date proves that someone in a key position or an influential group of people working at Nomos has a date obsession. This obsession manifested first with the introduction of the Metro Neomatik 41 Update in 2021. Using wordplay in the name of a watch is a way to laugh away a problem causing some distress or discomfort. The Update is, in essence, a pointer date designed differently. Is it functionally better than an already-difficult-to-read traditional pointer date? Having two small colored surfaces flanking a tiny number isn’t exactly a leap forward in usability compared to a single hand pointing to a number. The Update comes across as a design exercise, not the most practical date watch.

Before combining the Update concept with a traditional date display, Nomos introduced another impractical date watch. I’m talking about the 2022 Ludwig Neomatik 41 “Roman.” Designed with Emperor Nero in mind, the date is displayed in Roman numerals. Therefore, on the 28th day of each month, the number XXVIII, in all its non-intuitive six-character glory, appears in the large date window. Call me a vandal, but although there might be some aesthetic beauty in a combination of ancient Roman numerals, I think it’s safe to say that the target audience for this watch lived many centuries ago.

Innovation or clarification?

Let’s stop digging into Nomos’s psyche for a moment and look at the new Nomos Tangente 2date, which comes in two versions. The first, ref. 135, has a clean white silver-plated dial with contrasting black printing and red date indicators, while the ref. 136 features a galvanized blue sunray dial with all printing in white. Both watches can be had with either a sapphire-equipped display back for €2,580 or a solid case back in all steel (the SB variation) for €2,360. Inside the 37.5mm by 47.7mm steel case, which measures 6.8mm thick with the display back and 6.7mm thick with the solid steel one, beats the hand-wound caliber DUW 4601. Nomos calls it an innovation, but you could also say it’s a clarification. Either way, it was developed and manufactured in-house in Glashütte.

The technical highlight of the caliber DUW 4601 is not the 52-hour power reserve or the stop-seconds function but the rapid date adjustment. Would you expect anything else from a double-date-display watch? The visual highlight is the fine sunbeam ribbing of the traditional three-quarter and date ring plates. This decoration radiates from the Nomos Swing System. You might have seen this traditional Glashütte-style finish before, but it was previously reserved for the exclusive movements of gold timepieces. Also present are a screwed balance cock and a blue balance spring. Lastly, you might also want to know that the watch has a 19mm lug spacing, and both references get a Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan black strap.

Contemplating the Nomos Tangente 2day and a possible successor

It’s hard to stop thinking about the sense or nonsense of the Nomos Tangente 2date. This new pair of double-daters also makes us wonder about watches coming from Glashütte in the future. What about a watch with two different day indications? Let’s call it the 2day to stay in line with the 2date. But that’s also because, although I like the name Day-Day, Nomos might get a call from the Rolex legal team.

So, the 2day it is. Obviously, this watch will show the day of the week in two ways. How about with the numerals 1–7 in a window at 9 o’clock and the day in writing in a window at 3 o’clock? But which day would correspond to number 1? The clear-cut answer is Monday because, according to the international ISO 8601 standards representing dates and times, that is the first day of the week. But if you’re from the USA, Canada, or Japan, you may beg to differ. In these countries, Sunday is officially considered the first day of the week.

If Nomos set out to cause a stir in the world of watches where details matter and strong opinions are not held loosely and silently, the Tangente 2date does an excellent job. The watch pours fuel on the flames of the heated date debate, and it raises questions you can’t answer. The Tangente 2date also makes you wonder if there’s more irrationality on the way from a place you believe is a stronghold of rationality.

Now, please let me know your thoughts on the provocative Nomos Tangentre 2date in the comments section. We also highly appreciate sharing ideas for future Nomos watches featuring functionalities done differently. We’ll make sure they find their way to Nomos HQ.