NOMOS Glashutte is loved by watch collectors for its simple aesthetics – its foundation in Bauhaus/Deutsche Werkbund design helped propel it to the stardom it enjoys today. This is in addition to its fantastic movements that exhibit an impressive degree of in-house manufacture, with its neomatik movements leading the charge in value-for-money watches. Fabricating much of the watch, even down to its “Swing System” (NOMOS Glashutte’s terminology for the escapement), the brand has mastered classical aesthetics and complex manufacturing of fine German watches. In 2019, the brand filled a gap that was missing in their collection – a highly water resistant sports watch in the form of Club Sport neomatik 42 Date, that came with a sunburst black dial, a version of its much lauded neomatik movement and a metal bracelet that was uncommon amongst NOMOS Glashutte watches of its time. For 2021, the brand unveils a watch that matches its proclivity for the water with a new dial colour, and a new version of its bracelet that enhances its feel on the wrist, and an even sportier appearance.
The Club Sport neomatik 42 Date now comes in a beautiful sunburst blue dial variation, with its pattern emanating from the centre of the watch. Bold Arabic numerals and markers are situated at the periphery of the dial, providing excellent legibility.
These along with the hands are luminescent in the dark, adding to its visibility in the low light conditions. A large date window can be seen at 3 o’clock – for the enthusiasts, a blue date wheel that matches the dial is what is used for the date indication, making it visible only when you are consciously looking for it. At 6 o’clock we see the small seconds indicator, and the notation of 1000ft underneath it. The Club Sport neomatik 42 Date, as the numbers suggest, is 300m water resistant (with a cute whale icon to indicate its deep-diving capabilities), and its 42mm case sporting a screw-in crown. Notably, the crown tube is a red colour, alerting the wearer that the crown is unsecured – a convenient reminder for the forgetful.
The case is beautifully soft, with its rounded edges, and slender lugs. What sets this watch apart from the original release of the Club Sport neomatik 42 Date is its bracelet. This iteration features a bracelet that now sports endlinks that enable the bracelet to sit flush with the case, giving it an even sportier and rugged look compared to the original release of the black dial version in 2019. The bracelet has brushed outer links, and polished inner links, giving it a sense of refinement with a play in its mix of finishes, and is fastened by a double push-button clasp.
Housed within the watch is the DUW 6101, a thin movement sitting at 3.6mm in height, built specifically for its timepieces larger than 40mm, and outfitted with the brand’s in house made escapement – the Swing System. In addition, the date indicator of the watch is able to be set forwards and backwards at your convenience, with only a 90 minute window in which the watch should not be set (author’s note: many watches feature a window of 6 hours where the date should not be set, so a 90 minute/1.5 hour window is incredibly short in comparison).
For those that love the NOMOS Glashutte Bauhaus aesthetic, but wanted a little bit of colour and water resistance, the brand has answered your prayers with the Club Sport neomatik 42 Date. It has everything you need and nothing superfluous in its design – high legibility during the day and night, a comfortable and stylish bracelet, and a movement that is constructed with the user in mind – in terms of its slimness as well as its functional date adjustment and accuracy. What more could you want from this sporty NOMOS?
Tech Specs
Case: Stainless Steel, 42mm diameter, screw in crown with “unscrewed” indicator
Dial: Blue sunburst, luminescent hands and markers
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet integrating into the case, brushed and polished finishes, double push-button clasp
Movement: DUW 6101, 3.6mm height, automatic winding, hours, minutes, small seconds, date, adjustable date forwards and backwards
Water resistance: 300m/1000ft