Introducing: Say Hello To The New Nomos Ahoi In 38mm
What We Know
Nomos’ version of a dive watch, the Ahoi Neomatik, is back in a smaller case size: 38mm (okay, well 38.5mm). To launch the new model, the brand has come up with two soft and summery dial colors – Sky Blue and Sand. I don’t know what beach they grabbed these colors from, but I want to go there.
It’s not a true ISO-certified dive watch (no dive bezel, after all), but the little whale above the sapphire caseback right next to the rating tells you this watch has 200 meters of water resistance. That’s pretty cool. But what’s inside the case is Nomos’ big pride on this release.
The DUW 6101 caliber powering the new Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date is a tremendous movement for the money. The automatic movement has three crown positions: the home position for manual winding if needed, the first for date setting, and the second for setting the time. The date can be safely set forward or backward – more complicated watchmaking than it sounds like, I promise.
But the DUW 6101 movement has been around for a number of years, so it’s existence isn’t worth a whole new celebration, no matter how cool it is. The real trick here is that this is the first time Nomos’ pride-and-joy movement is offered in an intermediate-sized case below 41mm.
The new Nomos Ahoi Neomatik 38 date is available now for $4,660.
What We Think
You’ve got to love when a brand does something you previously believed to be impossible. At least, that’s often the argument that companies use when asked about shrinking a watch. “The movement can’t be put in anything smaller,” they’ll say. Well kudos to Nomos because the new Ahoi looks (and wears) better for the change.
I had a chance to check out a prototype of the new Ahoi Neomatik in Glashütte earlier this year and while it’s taken me a little while to come around to the Bauhaus style of the brand, this watch was a big part of pushing me over the edge. The new smaller size wears well even though the skinny shape of the lugs makes them look longer than they actually are.
As with everything Nomos, every detail seems really well thought-out. The dials are a soft, matte color – a change from the really loud “Siren Blue” and “Siren Red” (less loud than a siren, who would have thought) that makes them much more versatile while still leaning into a summery color palette. With a color-matched date window and a pop from the orange hand, it’s fun without screaming about it.
Other great touches include the red crown stem so you can tell if the crown isn’t fully screwed down it would need to be to get the full 200m of water resistance. And retaining that water resistance is impressive, with the watch’s sapphire caseback showing off the adapted movement. We also don’t give enough credit for Nomos’ finishing at the price point, with their Glashütte ribbing and NOMOS perlage.
Someone asked me recently how I feel about Nomos. This watch is a perfect reminder of my answer: “They’re one of the best bangs for your buck on the market right now.” Now that the watch is finalized and ready for primetime, I’m hoping I get a chance to say “Ahoy” once again (the last time I’ll use that pun, I promise) and see how it shapes up in the metal.
The Basics
Brand: Nomos
Model: Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sand and Sky
Reference Number: 526 and 527
Diameter: 38.5mm
Thickness: 9.9mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Sky blue and sand
Indexes: Printed numerals and separate hour indexes
Lume: White SuperLuminova
Water Resistance: 200m
Strap/Bracelet: Textile strap dark gray, woven, waterproof
The Movement
Caliber: DUW 6101
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, Neomatik date mechanism, and bidirectional quick correction feature
Diameter: 33mm
Thickness: 3.6mm
Power Reserve: 42 Hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 bph
Jewels: 27
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Nomos swing system, Glashütte ribbing and Nomos perlage, golden engravings
Pricing & Availability
Price: $4,660
Availability: Immediately
Limited Edition: No
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You can learn more about Nomos Glashütte on the brand’s official website.
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