Hands-On: NOMOS Glashütte’s Tangente 2date Seamlessly Blends Form & Function

The Swiss watch industry might have the legacy and reverence of the watch community but fervent enthusiasts might be well-aware of Switzerland’s neighbor to the north. Known for its minimalist styles and superb functionality, German horology has become highly respected for its Bauhaus philosophy and a history that dates back to the mid-19th century.

Emblematic of the nation’s design ethos but with modern sensibilities, NOMOS Glashütte might be newer than its cohorts but has nevertheless climbed the ranks to become a quintessential player of the German industry. NOMOS is also on the more accessible end of the luxury spectrum with its handsome yet understated dress watches like the ones found in its Tangente series. Debuting in 1992 as one of the brand’s first-ever collections (along with Ludwig, Tetra, and Orion), Tangente has always seemed to have one foot in the past and one in the present. That could never be more true than it is with the Tangente 2date, which also happens to be eyeing the future. We were able to get hands-on with the fun new timepiece to see why it’s really special.

Spec Sheet

What Makes It Tick?

Available in both white and navy blue dial versions, the Tangente 2date is a stunning watch even before you get to what truly makes it unique. Powered by a new in-house DUW 4601 manually-wound movement, as seen through the exhibition caseback, the marquee feature here is the dual-date function, adding a special ring date display to the traditional date window. 

The outer ring of the dial features the numbers 1 through 31, each with a cutout on either side, indicating today’s date just like the aperture at the 6 o’clock spot. When the clock hits 12am, the date window at the bottom changes simultaneously with the white fills next to the date on the outer rim. It’s interesting that the filled-in cutouts surround the current date around the ring, rather than just keeping to a single cutout on one side which would have obfuscated the date. 

Embodiment of Bauhaus Philosophy

One might question exactly why NOMOS felt the need to showcase the date in two ways. However, upon wearing the watch, I found myself using both displays to read the time, depending on what I was doing. But mostly, I loved how the outer ring display allowed me to visualize the temporal relativity of the date. Sometimes the 19th day of a month might cause you to feel disheartened with all you’ve yet to accomplish, but literally seeing just how much time you have left (11 or 12 days!) can give you the motivation you need to tackle your monthly goals.

Nevertheless, heightened practicality isn’t to say that design theory isn’t on display either. Falling in line with the Bauhaus philosophy of function over form, the Tangente 2date makes sure to justify its new marquee feature rather than relegating it to that of a gimmick. NOMOS adjusted the proportions of its date window and date typeface, all to pair better with the cutouts of the date ring. They also carefully spaced the numerals on the date ring so that the single- and double-digit numbers don’t look disproportionate when you look at them, and that the dial doesn’t feel cluttered as a whole.

Precision & Comfort

Despite having such a quirky complication at its core, the watch is very subtle and classy too. While it won’t be as large as, say, the sportier Club Sport line, the Tangente 2date does serve a purpose with its dimensions in that it gets you more range in terms of style. Intended as a dress watch, the 2date isn’t too aggressive on the wrist and can be transposed to more casual outings as well. The 37.5mm diameter keeps things modest without being too small either. I would personally opt for the white on dressier occasions because it really pops on the wrist (our photographer also loved how well it photographed) but the blue dial version might be appealing if you want more subtlety depending on what you’re wearing or what you’re doing. Both watches are adorned with black Horween Cordovan leather straps.

I also loved how the watch felt wearing it all day. Considering the 37.5mm diameter and 6.7mm thickness, I figured the 2date would be rather comfortable but it wears even better than I expected, especially when you realize its case is made of stainless steel. The thin lugs bend slightly at a 45º angle to hug the wrist while also leading the leather straps downward over the wrist.

I’m not always a fan of leather but the one here was very malleable and soft against my wrist. The green hue on the backside is a nice touch. Looks-wise, the black topside looks great with the white dial. I’d probably swap this with a brown leather strap for the blue dial version.

The one downside I noticed on both pieces is how easily the sapphire crystal took to smudges. While adding to the aesthetic balance, especially when contrasted with the angled lugs, the flat crystal design admittedly makes any smudges or oil marks more noticeable.

Verdict

Certainly a beautiful timepiece, whether you choose the white or blue variant, the Tangente 2date is also unique in terms of function and practicality. It could have easily become a gimmick but NOMOS made sure that every last detail served a purpose, either for the user’s legibility or the watch’s aesthetic balance. On the wrist, the 2date is highly comfortable with its dimensions and its signature angular lugs. The leather straps might be divisive, depending on which dial variant you get, but there’s little not to love with these meticulously crafted dress watches.

Priced at $2,760, the Tangente 2date is currently available from NOMOS’ website right now.

Recap

NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 2date

NOMOS Glashütte enhanced its Tangente dress watch with a unique dual-date function, featuring an outer ring that also displays the day of the month. However, the German watchmaker proves that this is far more than just a gimmick, finding function for your wrist as well.

Purchase from NOMOS: $2,760