Nomos Celebrates Diversity And Its First Physical Appearance At Watches And Wonders With The Colorful Tangente 38 Datum
What should a watch brand do when it physically attends Watches and Wonders for the very first time and wants to be noticed? I think that’s exactly the question the people at Nomos asked themselves. Their answer was to launch 31 new and colorful versions of the brand’s signature Tangente 38 Datum. Yes, you read that right — 31 different versions. Some color combinations are more modest and obvious, while others are a lot more extravagant and surprising. The idea is that you can choose exactly the version that best suits your personality.
Since 1991, the Tangente has been a bestseller for Nomos. It’s available in many different sizes, with and without a date, and there’s even a more water-resistant Tangente Sport. However, I never realized that the Tangente certainly isn’t the most colorful Nomos line. Yes, the watches are available with white, black, gray, or beige dials. But the Tangente is definitely not as colorful as, say, the Nomos Club collection. Well, that’s about to change because the fairly young Glashütte-based brand is introducing 31 different colorful versions of its Tangente 38 Datum. Each one is limited to 175 pieces. Let’s join the celebration!
The Nomos Tangente 38 Datum
But before we get to all those different colors, let’s cover the basics first. At the moment, there’s only one Tangente 38 Datum available on the Nomos website. That’s the reference 130 with a white dial, black printing, and blued screws. This is the model that serves as a starting point for all those 5,425 limited editions (175 per color combination). The Tangente 38 Datum has a 37.5mm stainless steel case, which is only 6.8mm thick and spans 47.7mm from lug to lug. The dial has a very clean layout with even numerals, a small seconds register, and a large date window at 6 o’clock.
That big date window is thanks to the DUW 4101 hand-wound movement inside. As the date disc is placed around the movement, it also keeps the overall thickness very low at just 2.8mm. The in-house produced caliber runs at a frequency of 21,600vph, features 23 jewels, and holds a power reserve of 42 hours. In the case of the 31 limited editions, the movement has also been regulated to run within chronometer standards (between -4 and +6 seconds a day). You can take a look at the movement through the sapphire crystal on the exhibition case back. On the stainless steel rim around it, you’ll find the name of your specific version and its individual LE number.
31 unique and colorful versions
That’s right; every one of the 31 different and colorful versions has a unique name. A (usually) German name, that is, like Delfin, Pompadour, Poporange, Schlossgrün, Sportbunt, Chili, and Tiefseegrau. They all feature one, two, or three colors — one on the minute track, one on the center of the dial, and another on the sub-seconds dial. Some might even add a fourth color for a nice accent here and there. Some versions feature a ton-sur-ton date disc, while others have a deliberately contrasting disc. At the time of writing this article, I have only seen pictures of the abovementioned versions.
Schlossgrün and Pompadour
Of those, Schlossgrün is most definitely my favorite. But I’d also love to see what Super Sardine and Schneesturm look like. And this is exactly the great thing about the Tangente 38 Datum limited edition. You can choose the one version that you think suits your personality, style, or maybe even mood best. Depending on the version you choose, you’ll get either a dark or light gray textile strap with your Tangente. Of course, you can always switch it out for a strap of a different material or color. Any strap with a 19mm width should fit between the Tangente 38’s lugs.
Delfin and Poporange
Let’s celebrate diversity
I really like these fun and abundant limited editions of the Nomos Tangente 38 Datum. Would I have liked to see a completely new watch instead of just a different version of a pre-existing model? Yes, but I also feel this stunt is very much what Nomos is about. In Dutch, we often say, “Just act normal, then you already act crazy enough.” I feel this saying matches very well with what Nomos is all about. Its watches are clean and have a no-nonsense attitude about them. These colorful editions add just the right amount of excitement to the usually quite serious Tangente lineup.
Sportbunt
I also feel it shows courage not just to launch five different versions but a whopping 31. That gives you ample opportunities to choose the version that best represents your personality. In addition, this stunt is a great way to grab the attention away from the other brands exhibiting at Watches and Wonders. The next step would be to offer customers the possibility to design their ideal Nomos watches, just like you can do with a new pair of Nike sneakers, for example. But I guess that’s a whole other operation at a scale that’s not feasible for Nomos. That’s why these 31 colorful versions are a great alternative and a beautiful way to celebrate diversity.
Cheaper than the regular Tangente 38 Datum
These limited-edition Nomos Tangente 38 Datum models are available now from the Nomos website and authorized Nomos dealers. They can be yours for a price of €1,925. That’s €395 less than the regular version of the Tangente 38 Datum with an exhibition case back. Nomos explains it as a discount of €175 on the watch and, on top of that, the sapphire back as a gift, which is worth €220. Whatever explanation suits you, it’s a welcome surprise that the limited edition is cheaper than the regular one.
For more information on the Nomos Tangente 38 Datum Limited Edition, check the official Nomos website.
Let me know what you think of this bold statement from Nomos and which color combination is your favorite!
