The date, finally solved
By Sam Okafor, London ยท
Most date windows are a small hole cut wherever there's room, and then forgotten about. Nomos has done something better here. The date runs round the very edge of the dial as a ring, and the current one is framed by two small red markers. You read it like a slide rule.
I think this is the most interesting date display on any watch under ten thousand dollars, and it does more than solve a problem. It restores the Tangente's symmetry, because there's no window punched through the dial at three. The white field stays completely open from the centre to the minute track, which is a real pleasure.
The case grows to 40.5 mm and 7.9 mm thick, and the Tangente language survives the scale-up well. 50 m is slightly better than the usual Nomos figure. The automatic movement has 42 hours, which is fine.
Two quibbles. The red markers are tiny, and if your eyesight isn't good you'll lean in to read the date. At 4,400 to 4,800 dollars it also costs more than twice a basic Tangente. And 40.5 mm will look large on a small wrist with long lugs like these.
Still, if you need a date and you care about how it's drawn, nothing else at this price comes close.