NOMOS made a sundial! And one that can be worn as a pendant at all times… Hearing this might make you feel as if you’ve been tricked by a fox. “Why would a manufacturer of purely mechanical watches make a sundial?” But this is no joke. NOMOS watches are produced under the influence of the Bauhaus art movement, which advocates the philosophy that “form follows function,” and it is an open secret that they constantly pursue simplicity. And the ultimate simple watch, taken to its extreme, is none other than the “Sundial.”

The finished “Sundial” is a multi-layered ring. The left and right rings on the surface rotate in conjunction, sliding, and are marked with abbreviated month indexes. Grasp the small protrusion visible at the bottom of the main body, slide the left and right rings, and align the position of the hole in the center ring with the current month index. Then, with the part holding the cord pointing directly upwards, aim the hole at the sun. The underside of the ring slides in conjunction with the left and right rings on the surface, and has time indexes arranged on it. Sunlight passing through the hole creates a spot on this underside ring. The time indicated by the index at that position is the current time. Of course, since the position of the sun’s transit and the standard time differ by country and region, a dedicated version for Japan is provided, set to Akashi City in Hyogo Prefecture.

The price is surprisingly reasonable. While using 316L SS, considered the best for SS, its cost performance is likely the best among NOMOS watches. The documentation also states that regular overhauls are unnecessary, making it the ultimate maintenance-free watch. However, it is clearly stated that it cannot be used at night or during cloudy or rainy weather, so please be aware of this. Furthermore, the following specifications are described faithfully based on the data and images in the documentation, so please savor its unique high specifications and compact form.

Sundial. ∞ (Infinite) power reserve. Outer diameter 23.0mm. Width 10.0mm. Includes a cord for use as a pendant. ∞ (Infinite) water resistance. 15,750 yen.

BRAND HISTORY

NOMOS was founded in 1906 in Glashütte, Saxony, the mecca of German watchmaking. Although its history was temporarily interrupted during the turbulent post-World War II era, it returned to the watchmaking world in 1992, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, through the efforts of Roland Schwertner.

The brand continues to produce exquisite timepieces that are simple yet full of points of interest, such as their functional beauty, strongly reflecting the Bauhaus philosophy of “form follows function,” and their mechanical movements that inherit the unique styles of the Glashütte region, including the three-quarter plate.

The appealingly reasonable pricing also makes them ideal as an entry point into mechanical watches. This originality and excellent craftsmanship quickly propelled the brand to prominence within just a few years of its revival.

In 2005, they developed their long-awaited in-house automatic movement. They have established a highly efficient winding system, which has received exceptionally high praise from experts.

However, while continuing such steady evolution, they strictly adhere to their reasonable price range. In 2007, they also released an accessory inspired by the sundial, which appears to have been quite well-received.

【Year Founded】1906
【Place of Founding】Glashütte, Germany
【Main Series Names】Tangente, Tangomat, Ludwig, Orion, Tetra, Club
【Inquiries】Osawa & Co. Group Watch Division 03-5775-3932
Official Website: http://www.glashuette.com/