I have never seen a California dial with its mix of Roman and Arabic numerals come out of Glashütte. Have you?
Nope.
The 36 mm Nomos Glashütte Club Campus
But then so many things from Glashütte are pleasantly surprising, interesting, and excellent quality. And if we’re talking about Nomos Glashütte, then usually at extremely fair prices, too.
One of Nomos Glashütte’s major launches at Baselworld 2017 is the Nomos Club Campus. And while this line, which is aimed at the budding watch enthusiast, doesn’t usually catch my personal eye – my preference is the classic Bauhaus style of Nomos’s other lines, my favorite being the square Tetra – this model did for several reasons.
The surprising dial elements
Nomos more often than not works with very talented outside designers, but this one came about in a different way.
The origin of this design came right from Roland Schwertner, the man who founded Nomos Glashütte in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He must have had young people on his mind, for he arrived at the office one day to meet with his team of four internal designers with this modified California style in mind.
Nomos doesn’t do things the way other brands do. Ever.
The Nomos Glashütte Club 38 Campus on the wrist
The California dial style dates back to the 1930s, but it has only become popular again in recent times with the resurgence of vintage watches and especially Panerai’s rebirth. The California name refers to a dial refurbisher located in – where else? – California that became noted in the 1970s for working with this type of dial.
The distinguishing feature of a California dial is the juxtaposition of Roman and Arabic numerals, with a few dashes and perhaps a triangle at 12 o’clock thrown in for good measure.
The main two brands associated with this type of dial are Panerai and Rolex – historically the two were intertwined as Rolex manufactured Panerai’s movements – though Rolex has not to my knowledge used this design on modern watches. Panerai has, though, and a few other brands have followed suit.
But not many.
The Nomos Glashütte Club 38 Campus Nacht in party mode
Then there is the use of Super-LumiNova on the Club 38 Campus Nacht. This watch – whose predicate “Nacht” means “night” – is characterized by the generous use of lume. This may not sound unusual until you realize that Nomos Glashütte has used lume on a watch dial only a few times until now.
The Nomos Glashütte Club 38 Campus Nacht on the wrist
The Club 38 Campus and smaller Club Campus, whose stainless steel case comes in at 36 mm, also exhibit interesting vintage-like characteristics while still exuding youthful, modern freshness – a distinct specialty of Nomos Glashütte. These designs are specifically meant to appeal to a younger crowd.
Value for money
I’ve said this many times before, and I will say it again: few brands provide better value for money than Nomos Glashütte. And the Club line demonstrates this particularly well.
Nomos Caliber Alpha
The Club models are powered by Nomos’s own Caliber Alpha, a manually wound manufacture movement made right at the brand’s own factory in the heart of Glashütte. It features a number of typical watchmaking and decoration elements originating in the city.
I outlined how Nomos is able to manufacture its own beautiful movements for such low costs in How Does Nomos Glashütte Make A Beautiful Watch With Manufacture Movement For Under $3,000?
But here I’d like to provide a brief overview of just what good value for money the Club line is. When the original 36 mm model made its debut ten years ago in 2007, it retailed for €780 in Germany.
The Nomos Glashütte Club Campus on the wrist
A decade later, these new Club models retail for €1,000 (Club Campus) and €1,100 (Club 38 Campus and Club 38 Campus Nacht), including a free engraving on the solid stainless steel case back.
I don’t think there’s anything even remotely comparable for value on the market today.
Nomos Glashütte Club 38 Campus Nacht
For more information, please visit www.nomos-glashuette.com/the-watches/club.
Quick Facts Nomos Club 38 Campus Nacht
Case: stainless steel, 38.5 x 8.45 mm
Movement: manually wound Caliber Alpha, 23.3 x 2.6 mm, 43-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap: anthracite-colored velour leather
Price: €1,100 / $1,650
Nomos Glashütte Club 38 Campus
Quick Facts Nomos Club 38 Campus
Case: stainless steel, 38.5 x 8.45 mm
Movement: manually wound Caliber Alpha, 23.3 x 2.6 mm, 43-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap: anthracite-colored velour leather
Price: €1,100 / $1,650
Nomos Glashütte Club Campus
Quick Facts Nomos Club Campus
Case: stainless steel, 36 x 8.17 mm
Movement: manually wound Caliber Alpha, 23.3 x 2.6 mm, 43-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap: gray velour leather
Price: €1,000 / $1,500
