Small Is Beautiful: The Nomos Club 36 mm

A month ago, I bought a new watch. As I turned 35 this year, I decided to reward myself with a watch I’d been craving for a while. I’ve watched countless videos, both long and short, and I’ve read every Hodinkee article about the brand and its pieces, so in a nutshell, I’ve done my research.

This watch didn’t break the bank. I didn’t have to save for a couple of months to afford it. So… have I teased enough? Okay, this isn’t even a tease, as you’ve already seen the photos upon opening this post.

So, without further ado, let me introduce the new addition to my collection – the Club, reference 703.1, from the German brand Nomos.

You probably have a few questions. Let me give you some answers.

I must also emphasise that this is NOT a Club Campus, but the Club! The difference is mainly on the dial. The Club Campus has a reverse California dial, meaning there are Arabic numerals at the top and Roman numerals at the bottom. The Club, on the other hand, has no Roman numerals, as you can see in the photos.

I’ll admit that at first I called my watch the Club Campus. A few days after my purchase, I was checking the Nomos website for information on the calibre, and I noticed that my watch wasn’t listed in the Club Campus collection. Instead, it has its own collection, simply called “Club”. You live and learn.

Why a watch from Nomos Glashütte?

Easy. It’s a German brand, and I didn’t have any German watches in my collection before this one. As far as I understand, it’s made almost entirely in-house. Most importantly, the hand-wound, hand-finished movement, calibre DUW 4001, is designed and manufactured by Nomos. Additionally, the Nomos design language speaks to me. It’s clean and minimalist, just the way I like it.

Why the 36 mm Club and not something different?

Again, easy. I have a soft spot for small, vintage-sized watches. The other day, on the bus back from a business trip, I saw a guy wearing an Invicta. That was a piece you could seriously hurt someone with. It was big, bulky and ugly. I remember looking at his watch and then immediately glancing down at my own, and there I saw this elegant, white-dialed watch. It’s only 8.2 mm thick and measures just 44.3 mm lug-to-lug, with a small seconds subdial at six. It’s sporty, it’s elegant, and it’s German craftsmanship at its finest. Did I mention the size? I did, but I’ll mention it again.

Additionally, I chose a model with a sapphire case back. This being my first manual-wound watch, I wanted to see the movement. As you may notice in my photos, the finishing of the movement is spectacular, particularly at this price point.

Where did I buy it, and how was the experience?

Remember how, after acquiring my Tudor Black Bay 54, I said hard work pays off? I can wholeheartedly say the same about this one.

But that doesn’t answer the question. I bought this watch in Brussels at Prosper. Great service, a rich selection of brands and models, and knowledgeable staff. I managed to snag this piece without a reservation – a walk-in purchase, to use the proper watch-enthusiast lingo.

When I bought my Tudor, I didn’t get any Tudor merch, even though I saw plenty of people getting Tudor caps, notebooks and pens. I didn’t get any from Nomos either. Also, when buying a good watch, you normally get a glass of champagne, or at least a coffee. Now, I remember drinking an espresso when I expressed my interest in buying the Tudor, but when I arrived to collect my watch, there was neither an espresso nor a glass of champagne.

Guess what I got when purchasing my new Nomos? A glass of Louis Roederer champagne. Proper service with proper drinks. That was a nice touch. Since I was buying this watch for my upcoming birthday, a glass of Louis Roederer made the moment even more celebratory. So, my sincere thanks to the wonderful people at Prosper in Brussels.

Was it worth it, and have I received any feedback?

I’ll just say YES and YES. My colleagues and friends like it and, like me, they find it elegant, well-crafted and a joy to look at. They also think it suits me very well.

I’ve tried not to wear only my new watch this past month, but that has been a real challenge. Obviously, I still love and admire all my other timepieces, but I’m still in the honeymoon period, when the only watch I want on my wrist is the new one.

What’s next?

I’d like to visit Nomos in person. From what I’ve seen of their manufacture, it’s a remarkable place. They’re based in Glashütte, near Dresden in eastern Germany. So, if I want to sell this trip to my wife, I’ll have to package it with some additional attractions. In movie terms, a potential visit is only in pre-production. Let’s not forget that the same small town is home to one of the best watchmakers in the world – A. Lange & Söhne – as well as the German Watch Museum. I think I could sell this trip, right?

Conclusion

Remember when I recently went to Paris to go sim racing at the Alpine boutique and watch Formula 1 at the Palace of Versailles? I had my Nomos with me. It’s already been work- and travel-tested, it wears great, it looks fantastic and, most importantly, it brings me joy whenever I look at it, on both the dial and the movement side.