SpotlightQ&A – 10 Facts you probably didn’t know about Nomos Glashutte

Nomos made a buzz in April 2017 after announcing their launch in India, which was a big deal because that made Nomos the second German watchmaker after A.Lange & Sohne to have ever stepped foot on Indian soil. With a presence in over 50 countries worldwide and a strong growth in the Asian markets in 2016, it was just a matter of time.

In fact, we pretty much covered the launch and history of the brand in our earlier article, but I’m sure there are many who haven’t been ‘formally introduced’ to the brand yet. Nomos Glashütte is a popular brand and I’m sure spoken about a lot in recent times. I’ve put together some Q&A’s that will kill all doubts and help you familiarize yourself and know exactly what the brand is all about. So here’s your official icebreaker:

1. When did Nomos start and where are they from?

Nomos was born in Glashütte (a small town 3 hours away from Berlin) in 1990 (27 years ago) by Roland Schwertner who is still at the helm of the brand. Nomos began their journey at a rented flat with just 4 watchmakers. Today, Nomos Glashütte has 300 employees out of which 260 work in Glashütte itself! The rest of their employees work in their design office back in Berlin.

2. How big is the brand today?

Nomos started small but with big aspirations and they didn’t waste much time moving in that direction. Their first four models were developed within 4 years after extensive research, but their biggest breakthrough came in 2005 when Nomos developed their first in-house calibre. Today they have almost 10 in-house calibres powering all their watches and all have achieved chronometer level accuracy.

Coming to numbers, Nomos today is the largest watch producer in Germany – no other brand makes more mechanical watches than Nomos Glashütte in Germany & the brand exports to over 50 countries worldwide, with an increase in demand worldwide by 24% (end 2016).

3. Why are they so popular around the world?

Because they make superior mechanical watches for a minimal price, and also because Nomos pulled off the unthinkable, something no other watchmaker in the world has ever managed to do. All their in-house movements are built from scratch by Nomos without a single part being outsourced. The balance spring, escapement, even the screws are made entirely in their factory in Glashutte. Imagine all this coming from a biggie like Omega or Rolex, the costs of their watches would skyrocket! But despite all this, Nomos has managed to keep their watches super affordable.

4. Are all their movements in-house?

Nomos initially sourced most of its parts from Switzerland, which led to a lot of criticism within Glashütte (and Germany) because they had “Glashütte” on their dial. The “Glashütte” designation of origin can only be used on a dial when at least 50% of a caliber’s value is generated in the town. But they changed that quickly.

Today, Nomos Glashütte makes all ten of its calibers in Glashütte and 95% of its value belongs to its faithful town. And yes, all their movements are purely in-house.

5. What is the Nomos Swing System?

Made in 2014 – in cooperation with the technical university TU Dresden, the Nomos Glashütte escapement technology is called the ‘Nomos Swing System’. The system took almost 7 years of research and +12 million euros in investment; the result of which was a path-breaking innovation never attempted before by an independent watchmaker.

Today, all of the brand’s movements are equipped with the Nomos Swing System that is tested rigorously and promises accuracy to chronometer levels on every watch!

6. Did they really break the Swiss monopoly?

Yes. Nomos were the first to break away from the Swiss monopoly with their very own Swing System. Nomos achieved complete technological independence from any Swiss supplier of essential parts and relied on no one for external know-how while developing their escapement. It’s a feat no other watchmaker in the world has achieved so far.

7. How do they keep their costs low?

Despite having a full-scale manufacture and a design team in Berlin, Nomos charge a minimal amount for their watches. There are two reasons for this – Nomos follow the ‘Deutscher Werkbund’ concept, which is based on the idea of combining timeless design with outstanding craftsmanship and long-lasting quality for an affordable price. But that’s about principle.

Coming to practicality, Nomos keeps it simple without any sort of luxury fluff when it comes to marketing or presentation of their products. Instead of making commemorative boxes, Nomos provides high-quality leather carrying cases. The brand just doesn’t need all that extra stuff and you can see it clearly on their watches.

8. Who designs their watches?

As mentioned earlier, Nomos has a small design team based in Berlin who work in sync with the engineers. The best part about their designs? None of their designs are thought over strategically. Instead, the brand has given complete freedom to their workers to make deliberately simple and fun watches. A very organic and honest approach goes behind each timepiece, which is really unique and clearly visible in their watches.

9. What are their most popular collections?

Nomos Glashütte’s catalog includes 12 collections with almost 100 different watches. The ones launched in India are within the price range of 1 to approximately 3 lacs. The Club Ahoi, Neomatik, Minimatik and Metro are their coolest and best-selling watches.

10. How to spot a fake Nomos watch?

This one’s quite simple. Each Nomos watch comes with individually signed envelopes that have a personal note from the CEO, along with all certifications. Additionally, Nomos picks their own points of sale and service centres in different countries. If you’re looking for a Nomos watch in India, you’ll find it only at Ethos Watch Boutiques.

Do you know something more about Nomos that isn’t mentioned here? Share it with us in the comments section below!