In the last 5 years, a small company in Glashutte by the name of Nomos has become the darling of the watch world. Making their name as a completely in-house manufacture that delivers amazing value for money, Nomos has become the go-to watch for many from seasoned collectors who appreciate the philosophy of the brand to first-time buyers. If I had a penny for every time someone answered the question of ‘I’m on a budget, which watch should I buy? with the word ‘Nomos’, I would be a very rich man.
The watch here is a very special Nomos. It was produced in 2016 and designed and made exclusively for Hodinkee. I don’t need to tell you that when Hodinkee releases a special edition made for them, they sell out, often within hours. While the Metro line is a staple of Nomos’ offerings, this, in particular, is unique in a couple of ways.
Produced in a limited edition of only 100 pieces, it was the first no-date Metro with a manually-wound movement. It is powered by the Alpha calibre, which was the first in-house movement ever created by Nomos. What’s most interesting is that this is the first Metro to ever be chronometer-certified. It was officially certified by the Glashutte Observatory under the guidance of the Thuringen and Saxon State Bureaus of Standards. The entire process took 15 days and the watch was tested in five positions and three temperatures where it achieved a timekeeping accuracy within+6/-4 seconds a day. As a result, this Nomos Metro comes with a chronometer certificate from the Thuringen and Saxon State Bureaus of Standards along with its timekeeping results. Furthermore, you are reminded of this feat with the very subtle grey ‘Chronometer’ writing on the dial, distinguishing itself from all the normal Metros out there.
Housed in a 38.5mm stainless steel case, it features a polished finish, wire lugs and a domed knurled crown. At 7.75mm it is remarkably thin and easily slips under a cuff. It has a super clean design with a classic Bauhaus style dial and black syringe hands.
The most remarkable thing about this watch, after all of those specifications, is the price point. You will not find a higher quality, in-house watch at this price out there. Not to mention, it looks stunning too.
This Nomos Metro Chronometer for Hodinkee has a power reserve of 43 hours and it water resistant to 3ATM. It comes as a full set with box, papers and both black shell cordovan and deep blue suede straps.
