Nomos Makes a Watch with Two Date Indicators for Some Reason

In Nomos’s own words, the “Tangente is often regarded as the quintessential Bauhaus watch.” The Bauhaus aesthetic, named for the German art school where it originated, is all about functionality, minimalism, and bringing beauty to industrial production. So it would seem un-Bauhaus-like to put two date indicators on a Tangente, but that’s exactly what Germany’s largest manufacturer of mechanical watches has done. Why? I don’t know. But here’s a quick rundown of the Nomos Tangente 2Date.

Nomos Tangente 2Date Specs

Model	Nomos Tangente 2Date
Reference Number	135.SB (White dial) 136.SB (Blue dial)
Case Material	Stainless steel
Case Size	Diameter: 37.5 mm Thickness: 6.7 mm Lug-to-lug: 47.7 mm
Movement	DUW 4601 (Manual-wind)
Functions	Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, ring date
Power Reserve	52 hours
Water Resistance	50m
Bracelet/Strap	Horween Shell Cordovan leather strap (19mm lug width)
MSRP (October 2024)	$2,760 (Solid caseback) $3,020 (Exhibition caseback)

Why Two Dates?

Of course Nomos has some artsy language about how the two dates help you “visualize” the date but really, I just think it comes down to the fact that Nomos’s “ring date” is neat-looking but not necessarily practical. The ring date is similar to an old-fashioned pointer date, except instead of a hand pointing to the date, there’s a colored mark on a rotating disc “highlighting” the current date through cutouts on either side of each number.

The ring date is actually pretty cool, but I can’t read the date as instantly as I can with a simple date window. So the Nomos Tangente 2Date gives you the appealing ring date aesthetic without sacrificing at-a-glance date readability. But, still, putting two date complications on a watch is pretty weird. To be clear: the dates are synced. It’s the same date; there’s no second time zone or anything like that. Just two dates.

Pricing and Availability

The Nomos Tangente 2Date is listed at $2,760 with a solid caseback or $3,020 with an exhibition caseback. Nomos offers complementary engravings for the solid caseback model. It’s not a limited edition, and you can order it directly from their website, which quotes 6 weeks as the delivery timeframe. The level of finishing they provide at this price point makes Nomos a popular choice as an entry-level luxury watch brand. Personally I would pay the $260 premium to see the “sunbeam ribbing” of the movement through a sapphire caseback. It’s a manual-wind model, so there’s no rotor blocking the view:

The Nomos Tangente 2Date is a bit of a head-scratcher, but it’s a good-looking watch nonetheless, with either a white or blue dial. It’s pure classic watchmaking sensibility combined with a modern not-entirely-sensible complication. I don’t think anyone was expecting a redundant date indicator as Nomos’s newest complication, but at least they’re doing something new.

More on German Luxury Watchmaking:
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A. Lange & Söhne Introduces Two New Datograph Dials at Watches and Wonders 2024