Hip to be Square: NOMOS Glashütte Launches a Quartet of Bold New Tetra Neomatiks
For its fourth launch of the year, NOMOS Glashütte is introducing four new limited-edition riffs on the brand's classic square watch, the Tetra.
If you know NOMOS like we know NOMOS, you appreciate the brand’s pared-down aesthetic. It’s not easy to master minimalism, but the Glashütte-based brand has found a unique niche in the hearts of watch lovers because it is as committed to experimenting with color and innovating with mechanisms as it is to keeping the display simple.
Today’s announcement of four new limited-edition versions of the brand’s signature square-shaped Tetra Neomatik collection represents a bold-ish break from tradition by introducing glossy enamel dials and a larger case size.
Local News
The brand’s CEO Uwe Ahrendt is always quick to attribute the brand’s distinctive point of view to its location. The timepieces are designed in Berlin, but they come to life in the manufacture in the tiny town of Glashütte in Saxony, less than half an hour’s drive away from the Czech border.
As independent watchmakers, NOMOS Glashütte is justifiably proud to announce that its Saxony home is now a protected designation of origin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the region’s watchmaking industry was revived. And only thirty years later, the German government has introduced a special designation making the region’s significance as important as Swiss-made is to its neighbors to the south.
The history of watchmaking in Glashütte is one of both tradition and resilience. The village has a population of around 7,000 but is also home to some of the most celebrated luxury watch brands, including Glashütte Original, Mühle Glashütte, and A. Lange & Söhne. While NOMOS wasn’t born until the 1990s, the Glashütte legacy informs every calibre it produces.
Boldface
With today’s announcement of the maison’s newest models, the Tetra neomatik 175 Years Watchmaking Glashütte, NOMOS wants to show off its legacy with a couple of bold statements. Let’s start with the dials.
NOMOS has long been celebrated for its use of color to contrast against the sharp shape of the square stainless steel Tetra case, usually with its dials featuring a matte finish (although they have experimented with metallic surfaces in the past).
Before now, NOMOS has produced around 30 different dial variations in its Tetra collection. But the time has come to experiment with an even bolder color concept. So, the brand is adding four new faces to the Tetra collection – white, red, blue, and black.
However, with these limited-edition Tetra neomatik 175 Years Watchmaking Glashütte pieces, NOMOS has introduced glossy enamel dials that make the color really pop. This premium treatment is partnered with a luxurious Cordovan strap and a deployant buckle.
These small but well-thought-out details add a hint of maximalism to this minimalist classic, so the Tetra neomatik 175 Years Watchmaking Glashütte can transition between office and nightclub seemlessly.
Making the Case
The other big news with these models is that the two-piece Tetra case has been bumped up in size from the standard edge length of 29.5mm to 33mm. The NOMOS team felt a larger dimension was the best vehicle for showcasing the rich hues and telling the story of the in-house, ultra-thin, made-in-Glashütte automatic calibre DUW 3001.
This mechanism employs the chronometer-grade NOMOS swing system, which is regulated to 6 positions for ultimate precision. Water-resistant to 30m, its bidirectional winding rotor also delivers 43 hours of power reserve.
At the same time, the calibre DUW 3001 is still quite streamlined. So, even with the wider case dimensions, the overall height is still a compact 7.3 mm, meaning the watch sits quite comfortably on the wrist.
As a result of these changes, the new limited-edition make the Tetra neomatik 175 Years Watchmaking Glashütte models represent NOMOS’ most extravagant Tetras yet. The eye-catching enamel adds an extra dimension to the watch’s flat silhouette (which, in turn, is inspired by the architecture of the Neomatik caliber). And even though the shape is edgy, the thinness allows the timepiece to slide easily under any cuff.
Pricing & Availability
Available now, the new NOMOS Glashütte Tetra neomatik 175 Years Watchmaking Glashütte is limited to 175 pieces for each color and priced at $3,860. For more information, visit the NOMOS Glashütte website.
(Images © NOMOS Glashütte)