Nomos Glashütte: Tangente, Club, and German Bauhaus

The Nomos Story

Nomos was founded in 1990 by Roland Schwertner in Glashütte, Saxony, weeks after German reunification allowed the revival of the town's centuries-old watchmaking tradition. The founding team included designer Susanne Gunther and watchmaker Roland Schwertner, whose ambition was to produce Bauhaus-influenced watches at price points dominated at the time by Swiss and Japanese competitors. The first Nomos watches used modified ETA Peseux 7001 manual-wind movements, distinguished by exceptional finishing for the price and by austere, perfectly proportioned dials.

The defining move came in 2005 when Nomos introduced the Alpha, the brand's first fully in-house manual-wind calibre. Over the following decade, Nomos developed the DUW 3001 automatic (2014) at 3.2mm thick, the DUW 4301 with date, and the DUW 6101 with jumping hour. In 2018 the manufacture introduced its own in-house swing system (escapement plus hairspring plus balance wheel), becoming one of only a handful of watchmakers in the world to produce the entire mechanical heart in-house. The investment cost an estimated 11 million euros over seven years.

Modern Nomos produces roughly 20,000 watches per year across the Tangente (the signature minimalist three-hand), Orion (Arabic-numeral classical), Club (sport-casual), Ludwig (Roman numerals), Metro (designed by Mark Braun), and Autobahn (dashboard-inspired). Prices remain extraordinary for the specification: an automatic Nomos with a fully in-house Saxonia-finished movement, sapphire caseback, and exceptional dial work starts around 2,100 euros. Few brands in the watch industry deliver comparable value-per-feature at any price point.

Iconic Collections

Since 1992

Tangente

The signature three-hand. Flat dial, stick indices, printed minute track, and cathedral hands - a pure expression of Bauhaus design principles. Cases from 33mm to 41mm in steel, with the Tangente Neomatik hosting the DUW 3001 automatic movement. Among the most recognisable minimalist watch designs of the past 30 years.

Since 1992

Orion

The Arabic-numeral classical. A dressier interpretation with refined hour markers, a slightly narrower case, and an understated austere dial. The Orion Neomatik introduces the DUW 3001 automatic while preserving the classical proportions.

Since 2007

Club

The sport-casual tier. Slightly thicker case, bolder Arabic numerals, sapphire crystal, and 200m water resistance in the Club Sport Neomatik. A more youthful expression of the Nomos aesthetic, popular with collectors seeking a daily-driver Bauhaus watch.

Since 2005

Ludwig

The Roman numeral dress interpretation. Cleaner than a Patek Calatrava, with hand-finished cathedral hands and a silver-white dial. Available in manual-wind and Neomatik automatic versions. Among the best-value dress watches from a genuine in-house manufacture at any price.

Since 2014

Metro

Designed by Mark Braun. Distinctive red and blue accents on an otherwise monochrome dial, jumping seconds complication on the Neomatik variant, and cases from 35mm to 41mm. A more playful Nomos expression aimed at industrial design collectors.

Since 2018

Autobahn

The sport flagship. Dashboard-inspired dial with curved Arabic numerals and applied minute-track arcs, 41mm case with DUW 6101 automatic movement and date display. Nomos at its most contemporary, pushing the brand's aesthetic limits while preserving the core design language.

Heritage Timeline

1990

Roland Schwertner founds Nomos in Glashütte weeks after German reunification allows the revival of Saxon watchmaking. The founding ambition is Bauhaus design at accessible prices.

1992

Tangente launches, the signature three-hand that becomes the defining Nomos reference and establishes the brand's minimalist design language for the following three decades.

2005

Alpha debuts as the first fully in-house Nomos manual-wind calibre, ending dependence on modified ETA movements and elevating the brand to manufacture status.

2014

DUW 3001 automatic launches at 3.2mm thick, powering the Neomatik line and demonstrating that Nomos can compete with the thinnest self-winding calibres from any manufacture.

2018

In-house swing system enters production. Nomos becomes one of only a handful of watchmakers producing its own escapement, hairspring, and balance wheel end to end.

2021

Club Sport Neomatik launches with ISO 6425 200m water resistance and the DUW 6101 automatic, extending the Bauhaus design language into genuine sports watch specifications.