One of my all-time favourite watchmakers has returned to their minimalistic “dive” watch, delivering it with new mid-size case dimensions and two stylish dial colors taken directly from the beach. Let us introduce you to the new NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand watches…
The NOMOS Ahoi
NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik - Credit NOMOS
When it was launched at Baselworld in 2013, the NOMOS Ahoi collection felt like an unexpected move from the German watchmaker. It was the first time NOMOS had set foot anywhere near the realm of sports watches, formerly focusing on extra-thin, minimalist dress watches. Of course, the NOMOS Ahoi doesn’t feel out of place anymore. It’s casual aesthetic and in-house movements have become a staple in the brand’s expansive portfolio and ultimately made way for other sporty NOMOS watches like the Club Sport.
The compact sports piece is described by some as a “divers” watch. I say “divers” with the little asterisks because I truthfully don’t consider the NOMOS Ahoi a real diving timepiece. Yes, it’s water resistant to 200 meters, but other than that, it offers very little functionality for underwater exploration. I mean, where’s the rotating bezel and vivid lume? That being said, NOMOS themselves don’t call the Ahoi a diver’s piece either. They do, however enforce its water resistance for shallow diving, and I’ll admit it definitely has a neat design that suits being by the water.
NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik - Credit NOMOS
The NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky & Sand Watches
The new NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand watches arrive with many of the familiar Ahoi characteristics we’ve come to know and love, including a clean, colourful display, prominent crown guards, and squared lugs for a nautical-inspired textile strap. There are some noticeable changes however, the most obvious being the addition of two beach-inspired dials and the less obvious being a change in case size.
Sitting nicely in the middle of the NOMOS Ahoi Atlantik watches launched last year with their 36mm and 40mm cases, the new Ahoi Neomatik 38 sits on the wrist at 38.5mm wide. The distinguishable sporty architecture stays the same, offering brightly polished stainless steel surfaces, sharp angles and a slim height of 9.9mm. A 200 meter water-resistant rating is assured by the screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, protected by its two angled crown guards and a screw-down case back. As is often the case with NOMOS watches, the models can be ordered with either a closed steel back or an exhibition one of sapphire crystal. This same glass is used on the front of the NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand watches, domed and treated with anti-reflective coating on both sides.
NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik - Credit NOMOS
No surprise, as someone who loves a colorful watch dial, my personal favorite feature of the new NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 watches is the two displays. Still conforming to NOMOS’s signature minimalistic style, the dials are finished in a beautiful pastel-blue shade or a subtly grained gold or “sand” color. Both dials feature NOMOS’ famous Arabic numerals in black along with stick markers, a large date window at 3 o’clock, and a snailed small seconds counter at 6 o’clock. An extra pop of color can be found on the small second's hand finished in bright orange. The dials also offer small rectangular-shaped luminescent markers at each hour position and Superluminova across the length of the central hour and minute hands.
Powering the NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 Date Sky and Sand watches is the automatic winding proprietary neomatik caliber DUW6101. It makes use of NOMOS’ ubiquitous Swing System, an innovative, in-house-devised escapement with a distinctive tempered blue balance spring. It also features their patented date mechanism, which allows you to make quick adjustments to the date in both directions. There’s also a decent 42-hour power reserve, 27 jewels and a frequency of 21,600vph. If you choose a NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik 38 watch with an open back, you’ll be able to enjoy some of the decoration on the movement, including Glashütte ribbing and tempered screws. The watches are completed by textile straps in dark navy or grey with stainless steel NOMOS wing buckles.
NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik - Credit NOMOS
Specifications:
- Case Dimensions: 38.5mm diameter, 9.9mm height
- Case Metal: Stainless steel, polished
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in with crown guards
- Case Back: Exhibition or closed
- Water Resistance: 200 metres
- Movement: neomatik calibre DUW 6101, in-house, automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Frequency: 21,600bph
- Dial: Sky blue or sand with Superluminova markers and hands
- Strap: Navy or grey textile with NOMOS wing buckle
- Price: £3,520 (closed back), £3,820 (exhibition back)
NOMOS Ahoi Neomatik - Credit NOMOS
