NOMOS Glashütte Minimatik watches

The Nomos Glashütte Minimatik is a slim 35.5 mm automatic in stainless steel that was new in 2015. Nomos first pitched it at women, but its size suits anyone who likes a compact watch, and the brand now presents it to men and women alike. Shortly after launch it won several major design prizes.

Inside is the DUW 3001, Nomos's in-house automatic calibre with the brand's own escapement, the swing system. The movement is 3.2 mm high and runs for up to 43 hours. The dial is a mix of the Nomos Metro and Club: generously spaced numerals, pearled indexes and a small seconds subdial. The case tapers gently towards the wrist, and the lugs, case and domed sapphire crystal form one continuous line. The caseback is sapphire too. Lug-to-lug is 42.5 mm, it takes a 17 mm strap, and it is water resistant to 3 atm, which Nomos rates as splash-proof.

The white-dial Minimatik (1201) has a silver-plated white dial with red hands and blue details. The Champagner models, the 1204 and the 1202 1st Edition, have a champagne-coloured dial instead. The Nachtblau (1205), called midnight blue in English, has a deep blue dial with rhodium-plated hands, a neon orange seconds hand and details in green and neon orange.

All of them use the same 35.5 mm steel case; what separates them is the colour of the dial and hands.