hands-on Archives - Minimatikal

Posted on September 17, 2020May 18, 2022 by dale vito

japke watchgirl & the nomos club neomatik

Even though I am a 15 year old girl, my love for watches isn’t exactly new. Even in elementary school I built a simple clock with my dad and made a presentation about the history of telling time. My dad owning a microbrand watch shop and me helping out with the packing and shipping maybe was the start of it all.

Anyway, it wasn’t weird for me to wear mechanical watches to school from the age of 10. When I turned 14 last year, I asked a watch-box to store the watches I wear. Mostly loaners from dad’s shop with my favorites being some awesome Seiko’s (Cocktail Starlight and SARX055) and the Halios Seaforth’s (in various colors and even one with a bronze case that I actually got as present from Jason, Halios’ owner).

Obviously my friends in class use their phones, sometimes a smart watch or a Daniel Wellington, but in general they hardly have an interest in watches. I don’t mind. I love to share the passion with my father and to visit watch shops everywhere, also on holidays.

During one of those holidays in 2019 we visited a Nomos dealer in Munich. Up until then I really liked whatever I could get my hands on, but when seeing the Nomos watches in real life, a totally new and fresh spark ignited. I realized they were really ‘me’ and that feeling was strong.

Back home I started browsing the internet, checking Chrono24, watchrecon.com and various blogs, online magazines and review sites to learn more. Also, I knew my dad had some friends at Ace Jewelers and they kindly helped me to get a Nomos Orion poster for my bedroom. All the support helped me to save up all my money for a Nomos. In the meantime I created a separate watch account on Instagram to share pictures of the watches I enjoyed.

Minimatikal obviously has been a great source of information for me as well. Just when the saving got hard (there are lots of other things you can spend your money on when you’re 15), I received a package from Dale at ACE, sent via @NomiesForLife. In it was this fantastic Nomos Club neomatik Siren White for me to wear and enjoy. They even put on an S-sized strap knowing my wrists are tiny. I still don’t know how to describe the feeling. I mean, really? This isn’t exactly a shabby watch to simply send to a teenager, right? I was just totally confused, but very, very, very excited!

Asking cautiously what I could do with it, the answer was an easy “just wear it and enjoy it, don’t be afraid to scratch it”. Well, I am not too shy to follow good advice, so that is exactly what I did.

My first post on Insta of the Club was April 8^th. Since then my Instagram account has only grown with people who shared my love for watches and Nomos in particular. Even people whom I followed in admiration myself. I still feel a bit lonely as a teenage girl in a world that is dominated by mainly older men, but hey: someone has to change the balance, right?

Like for many of you reading this, also for me, it is nice to engage with others who share your passion online. Especially since my real-life friends simply couldn’t care less.

Back to the watch itself: the Club Siren White is exactly what it says: very white and fresh. I thought it was a great watch to wear on sunny days, with the light making the contrast between the dial and the red and blue accents stand out even more. It actually fitted my 14,5 cm wrist well considering the relatively long lugs. Maybe because I was used to wearing 40-41mm watches before. I would say it is “just on the edge”.

During (online) classes I took it off now and then to have a look at its amazing automatic movement and its decoration. I am not an educated watch maker, but anyone can see the difference between more standard Miyota, ETA or Seiko movements I was used to and this top grade finished movement.

Knowing that this ticks inside adds lots of value for me. It feels like carrying a hidden secret on your wrist. Just for me to know and enjoy.

With the grey nylon two-piece strap, I actually had no big issues wearing it with my regular outfits. Because yes, I’m a girl who likes her watch to fit her style. Even in quarantine.

After months of wearing it a lot (5 days a week on average), I finally returned it last week (August). It was really hard to leave behind, but I was very excited to exchange it for the Nomos I finally had been able to save up for. If you want to see which model I chose, have a look at my Instagram account.

Maybe Minimatikal will allow me to share the story behind my choice in another blog. In the meantime, you are welcome to follow me (or my dad as he is jealous of the attention his girl is getting)!

PS: can I just say I am truly overwhelmed by how the team of Ace and the people behind Minimatikal have supported my passion by their enthusiasm, cheering me on to stay a watch girl! So thank you!

Japke

Posted on May 22, 2020May 19, 2022 by dale vito

New: Ace x NOMOS Tangente 38 Amsterdam Limited Edition

Ace Jewelers introduces the NOMOS Tangente 38 Amsterdam, a limited edition of 45 pieces.

Earlier this week, we introduced the NOMOS Tangente 38 Amsterdam over at Ace Jewelers, our mothership. It’s the third watch in our ongoing Amsterdam series, and our fourth limited edition NOMOS in total – the first being the funky Orion 100 Years De Stijl. In this post I’d like to give a glimpse behind the scenes of its conception.

If you mention NOMOS’ watches to anyone with even the slightest interest in watches, the first model that springs to mind is the Tangente. Without any doubt it’s their most emblematic watch – in fact, NOMOS refers to it as ‘the archetypal NOMOS watch’. Yet, three limited editions in, we hadn’t touched upon this timeless classic. Well, there’s no escaping it now – our fourth would have to be a Tangente.

Now, this is where it gets hard. I know the word icon gets thrown around a lot, but as far as I’m concerned in case of the Tangente it’s warranted. And how do you improve upon an icon? How do you add your own character whilst respecting the original design? There’ve been a lot of limited edition Tangente models over the years, especially in the first decade of the 2000’s. Some of them I’d consider a success, others not so much. Many times with just a dash of colour, or a retailers name replacing the signature, whilst others featured more elaborate changes to the design.

One thing we didn’t want to deviate from was our Amsterdam-theme. We had done two Amsterdam NOMOS before, and to make it a proper series we felt we needed at least three. So this would have to be a Tangente Amsterdam, meaning dressed in the colors black, white and red. We’re getting somewhere here.

But how to incorporate these colours and make the watch stand out? Dark dial, white print, red seconds hand? Meh… But it suddenly hit me. One of my favourite releases of the past few years has been the Tangente 100 Jahre Bauhaus. Here the Tangente features an additional design element in the form of a contrasting minute track. It didn’t take long to put together a couple of design proposals based on the Bauhaus design, using the color codes of the Amsterdam series.

We sent them in to the NOMOS design team and it all went fast from there. NOMOS liked our proposals, sent back with their favourite with only a minor addition in the form of the XXX’s at 6:00, we approved (or rather, we were IN LOVE!). Fast-forward a couple months and here’s the prototype. WOW – it works even better in real life!

I must admit I never saw the Tangente as a watch for myself, although I greatly admired its design. Well, no longer. Although our prototype doesn’t run and I’m working from home (which might or might not be ‘dressed’ in my swimming trunks), I’ve been prancing around with it for a couple of days now – and yes, I’ll have mine – lucky #13 please ! It’s a proper stunner, full of character, powerful yet subtle and delicate. I simply love it.

The Ace x NOMOS Tangente 38 Amsterdam is available exclusively at Ace Jewelers.

Posted on April 2, 2020May 19, 2022 by dale vito

hands-on – @nomiesforlife’s Tangente Sport ‘Jump’

One on the most prolific NOMOS collectors of the Netherlands is without any doubt my buddy Michiel of @nomiesforlife fame. Today I’d like to share a few pics and a bit of background information on his latest acquisition; a rare 2012 Tangente Sport ‘Jump’.

The Tangente Sport was introduced around 2001 as NOMOS’ first take on a sporty -or sportier?- watch. It featured a case slightly more robust and sturdy than the regular Tangente, with water resistance increased to a much appreciated 100 meters.

I am not entirely positive when the Tangente Sport was discontinued, but likely it was around the time of the introduction of the Ahoi in 2013. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the ‘Jump’ was part of a final run of the Tangente Sport. It was released in 2012 alongside the ‘Skip’ and ‘Hop’ as part of the ongoing Wempe 100 project.

What’s with the weird names? Well, according to the original press release -which I’ve posted below- the ‘Hop’, ‘Skip’ and ‘Jump’ were made to mark the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. Their names reference the sequence of the Triple Jump, a track and field event that’s been part of both the ancient as well as the modern Olympics. Makes sense I guess? anyway, the watches look great.

Original press release:

FRI, OCT 12, 2012 15:56 CET- With the three new NOMOS sports models that will appear at the end of July to mark the Olympic Games, you’ll jump back and forth between them before deciding on one
Try a triple jump and take them all: in time for the Summer Games in London, NOMOS Glashütte has built three special sports models for the Wempe jewelry company—all of them fit to set records. Triple jump is also called hop, skip, and jump—three different jumps before landing in the sandpit. All three of these watches—each in a limited edition of 100—are perfect companions not only for sportiving [??? red.] activities. The new variants in the Wempe100 series provide a sporty flair even in a rough everyday life. For it’s no coincidence that the trio Tangente Sport Hop, Tangente Sport Skip, and Tangente Sport Jump (all based on NOMOS’ design classic Tangente Sport) all refer to the triple jump: with their shockproof stainless steel case, sapphire crystal (only a diamond is harder!), waterproof quality to 10 atm, and a reinforced strap made of Horween Shell Cordovan, the new models are prepared to set new world records. Thanks to the fluorescent material of the numerals and hands, they’re also good for activities at night: there is no overlooking the time on these watches. The Jump model—named for the third of the three leaps—even shows its caliber through the sapphire crystal back.

And finally, the price demands sporty speed, too: we are asking 100 euros less than for the normal models, so you’ve got to be fast.

The Tangente Sport moniker was revived last year with the Tangente Sport neomatik update, whilst Hodinkee did a limited edition based on the original Tangente Sport template.

Thanks for sharing these great pics Michiel, enjoy your beautiful new NOMOS!

Posted on May 3, 2019May 18, 2022 by dale vito

in our studio: NOMOS Tangente 33 duo

The NOMOS duo collection was launched at BaselWorld 2019 and earlier this week the first piece made its way to our parts – the Tangente. Of course I had to take a quick snap.

I love the Duo collection. The watches exude an air of calmness and elegance. The omission of the small seconds make it hard to get an idea of the size though. I’m not at all afraid to wear smaller watches, but at 33mm this Tangente is pushing it… Bummer! Please NOMOS – do one in 35.

The Tangente 33 duo is available at Ace Jewelers with either closed or see-through case back.

Posted on May 1, 2019May 18, 2022 by dale vito

in our studio: NOMOS Club Neomatik Siren White

This morning we received a NOMOS Club Neomatik Siren White (ref. 744). The watch is already en-route to one of our esteemed friends in the Middle East – but of course not before spending a few minutes in front of our lens.

I must say I am quite taken with this piece! The Club is my fav NOMOS and this might just be one of NOMOS’ best yet. The red and blue just pop against that gloss white dial. It just screams summer and makes me long for long hot days on the beach.

The NOMOS Club Siren White is available at Ace Jewelers.