Credits: Article and images by Raman Kalra @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/09/23/nomos-club-sport-neomatik-owner-review-the-near-perfect-relatively-affordable-watch-for-everyone/
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You might be different, but my boxes tend to sit at the back of a cupboard untouched and take up storage space. Nomos has thought of this, and it is no surprise that it takes up minimal room given how compact everything is in the grand scheme of things. However, where I believe Nomos does have an edge is that the leather case can, in theory, be used as a travel case, or even somewhere to house your watch when you are not wearing it. By being accessible and portable, they are giving you something that you can actually use compared to other brands. In that sense, it is quite refreshing and appreciated.
Do I think you will get a bigger experience from other brands? Yes. There is no denying it. However, Nomos is still comparatively better than some competing brands. I don’t think too much of my Tudor unboxing experience for example. However, it is also worth bearing in mind that brands at a lower price point are becoming more competitive. Christopher Ward comes to mind having just spent some time with one of their watches, which arrived in a heavy, bamboo box that exuded quality. Given this, there can always be room to improve going forward, but for now, the value of the Nomos packaging is its long-term usability.
Dial
Nomos has a distinct aesthetic when it comes to the whole collection. The Bauhaus design language was used as a base, but the Nomos design team made small variations and adjustments to give them something unique. There are not many designs that can become synonymous with a brand, yet I firmly believe the Club is one that has.
Nomos Club Sport Neomatik 37mm
There are many dial variations on offer, not just in color but also a choice between the California dial or the dial found here with Arabic numerals. It is fantastic that a brand beyond Panerai has made the California dial as widely known, accessible and popular. It is a design I have admired for a long time, and by choosing that option, I believe you are picking the more playful variant. Typically, Roman numerals are found on dressier pieces, but here I find the California dial brings a sense of youthfulness and fun.
Saying that. I am equally as attracted to the Roman numerals, and I believe it brings an extra dose of versatility to the watch. Again, this can all be reversed as it will all depend on the dial color you opt for.
Moving on to dial colors, there are obviously bright options, although it is the more subtle shades of blue that draw me in. They manage to produce such interesting, individual shades. The one here is a deep blue with a tint of grey – hopefully, this can come across in the images. The minute track around the edge is delicate, and what isn’t so obvious at first glance is that the numerals at the five-minute positions are in teal.
Nomos Club Sport Neomatik 37mm
Moving inwards, the hour indices are well-proportioned and clear. The writing on the dial is sparse and what’s more, the “neomatik” branding is in a dark yellow, making it slightly less visible, helping to keep any intrusion to a minimum. Then there is the sub-seconds, shown through an electric orange hand that really jumps out of the dial. It continues to add to the personality of the overall watch. Through these small color choices made across the dial, Nomos demonstrates they have a real talent for working with color. They are all the exact shade where they work seamlessly well together and complement one another.
So many brands try to experiment with color and get it wrong, yet with Nomos it looks as though no experimentation was needed – it was always meant to be this way.
The final comment I will make on the dial is the spacing. Nomos has got it right. Spacing is not something I consider often. It is more noticeable to me when it is wrong, but very few watches get me to appreciate spacing for being right. For example, the spacing between the writing on the dial sits at a great position between the 12 o’clock index and the center of the dial, the size of the hour indices, the size of the sub-seconds register and the length and thickness of the hands. I don’t know how they reached these decisions, but I am grateful for it!
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Credits: Article and images by Raman Kalra @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/09/23/nomos-club-sport-neomatik-owner-review-the-near-perfect-relatively-affordable-watch-for-everyone/
