Like Swiss Chocolate and Champagne, a Glashütte watch is one that can only bear the name if it’s made in the small town in Saxony, Germany. It’s a tradition that dates back to watchmaker Ferdinand Lange in 1845.  Over 175 years later, watches that bear the mark of Glashütte are still prized luxury items.

Nomos is one of the relatively newer brands to come from Glashütte (a mere 33 years old), but always honors the deep heritage of the region. Now, Nomos brings a celebration of the local craft with three new Orion Neomatik watches. The Orion Neomatik is a special edition timepiece in 46, 39, and 44mm sizes, and each limited to 175 pieces.  Each watch is engraved with a number noting its position in this limited run.

Nomos has dipped back nearly two centuries for inspiration in designing these watches. You’ll see golden indices on white silver-plated dials and blued steel hands.  The 36 and 39mm versions measure 8.5 and 8.7mm thick and are powered by the automatic DUW3001 movement.  The larger 41mm watch is slightly thicker at 9.4mm. 

The style is both simple and unusual at the same time. Simple in the easy-to-read essentials, and unusual in the tempered blue hands as they sit just above the gold indexes. This combination gives the watches a strong, classic look with the perfect splash of modernity.

The crystal is slightly domed, but not so much as to take away from the sleek look.  On the reverse side is another crystal allowing you to see the elegant innerworkings of the watch.  You’re not just looking at a precision piece of work, but also peering into the rich history of Glashütte.

The limited Nomos Orion Neomatik is a perfect salute to the tiny German town and the deep connections it has in the long heritage of watchmaking.