Nomos Glashuette  Tangente  Watches

NOMOS Glashütte Tangente: Classic Bauhaus Watches

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente collection takes inspiration from Bauhaus. And as such, the watches in this collection feature simple lines and a clean geometric design. Its classic appearance, distinctive typography, and refined design make it a collection that’s worthy of praise and admiration. The German watches in the Tangente line not only boast a straightforward design — these classic timepieces from NOMOS Glashütte also have precise movements that have earned considerable respect for the collection and the brand itself.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Watches 

How much does a NOMOS Glashütte Tangente watch cost?

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente is one of the most essential watches of the brand as it encompasses NOMOS Glashütte’s remarkable style and practicality. It’s an award-winning watch that bears the brand’s authenticity. There are numerous variations of the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente with varying styles, sizes, and complications.

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Ref. 101 is perhaps the most highly-acclaimed model. It’s the first model in the collection and serves as the blueprint for all the other Tangente watches. This classic watch has a modest case size of 35mm, making it a lightweight and practical dress watch. It has a flat stainless steel case with a galvanized, white silver-plated dial with a clean look. The watch has a two-handed central dial with a small seconds subdial at the 6 o’clock position to add interest while keeping the overall tidy look. You can purchase a brand new watch of this iconic model for around $1,900 USD.

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Ref. 139 is highly similar to the Ref. 101 but it sports an exhibition display at the back of its case. Its smooth manual Alpha caliber movement is viewable through the sapphire crystal case back. Like the Ref. 101, the Ref. 139 has a good power reserve of up to 43 hours. This model sells for $2,180 USD, with pre-owned pieces costing around $1,500 USD.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 33: Dainty Classic Watches for More Delicate Wrists

The original 35mm models are already small in comparison to the typical 40mm watch sizes, but NOMOS Glashütte caters to a wide range of wrists. For smaller wrists, the brand released the Tangente 33 watches, which come in a dainty size of 33mm. It keeps the clean details of the Ref. 101, but it’s even more lightweight than the 35mm models.

Aside from differing in the case size, the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 33 also differs from the Ref. 101 when it comes to the strap. The Ref. 101 has a black leather strap, while the Tangente 33 Ref. 122 and 123 have beige Velour leather straps.

The attractive NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 33 Karat Ref. 126 is another show-stopping timepiece in the Tangente 33 line. This model is quite stylish because of its unusual combination of a brushed, gold-plated dial and a polished stainless steel case. It also has a brown velour leather strap to complete its clean, vintage-inspired look. This watch showcases its movements through its transparent sapphire case back and costs around $2,040 USD.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 38: A More Robust Version of the Ref. 101

If you want a more robust NOMOS Tangente watch, then the Tangente 38 is a great choice for you. It’s a mid-sized model but its display is adequately large because of the watch’s streamlined appearance and small bezel. This model retains all the original details of the Ref. 101 within a well-proportioned case measuring 38mm. A NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 38 watch with a solid case back (Ref. 165) costs around $2,030 USD.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 38 Date: Classic Watches with a Date Display

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente 38 Date is an ideal watch if you want a little more practicality to your watches while keeping the size and straightforward aesthetics of the Tangente 38. This watch has the same charm as the Tangente 38 but has an additional date display at the six o’clock position, right below the small seconds subdial. It’s a convenient high-end watch that’s still fairly affordable at $2,780 USD. The refurbished version (Ref. 130.2) has an in-house caliber beta and costs a little more affordable. You can get the refurbished version at around $2,360 USD.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Power Reserve: A Tidy Timepiece with an Attractive Power Reserve Indicator

Most NOMOS Tangente watches have a power reserve of up to 43 hours — and the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Power Reserve tells you when your watch will be running out of power. It does so through a handy complication: a power reserve indicator at the 1 o’clock position. This complication acts like some sort of “fuel gauge” that tells you how much power the watch has left to run. 

The Tangente Power Reserve has a rather refreshing asymmetrical design, with the NOMOS Glashütte logo moving to the side to make way for the power reserve indicator. This complication has a minimalist design that goes well with the Tangente aesthetic. NOMOS also integrated its mechanism into the mainspring barrel to retain the watch’s slender appearance. It showcases remarkable and award-winning engineering that earned the brand quite a great reputation. 

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Power Reserve runs on the in-house caliber DUW 4301 movement and has a 43-hour power reserve. You can view this mechanical movement through the watch’s transparent sapphire case back. The NOMOS Power Reserve Ref. 172 costs around $2,760 USD.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Neomatik: Tangente Watches with Chronometer Accuracy

NOMOS Glashütte’s Neomatik calibers are known for their unique escapements — the NOMOS Swing System. This aspect provides the watches with the accuracy of chronometer movements, and it’s one of the most prized technological developments of the brand. The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Neomatik Ref. 175 runs on the ultra-thin caliber DUW 3001 movement and features this proprietary Swing System. It’s an impressive watch overall.

The Tangente Neomatik watches have a case size of 35mm, similar to the classic Ref. 101. However, it can also come in different watch sizes such as 39mm and 41mm. The Neomatik models are easily distinguishable because of their unique red or orange seconds hands, as well as the word “Neomatik” right under the NOMOS logo on the dial. Tangente Neomatik watches come in three different colors: the original silvery-white, champagne, or midnight blue. The Tangente Neomatik with the champagne-colored dial (Ref. 176) costs around $3,580 USD and is popular because of the contrast between its neon orange seconds hand, the champagne dial, and the cowhide leather strap. If you’re more into the original design, however, prepare to pay around $3,460 USD to purchase it.

Prices for the NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Sport Neomatik: Clean and Classic Sports Watches

Although the Tangente collection mostly features classic dress watches, it also has some sports watches. The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Sport Neomatik provides a perfect balance between aesthetics and comfort, all while showcasing up-to-date technology. This watch features a date display at 3 o’clock, the signature small seconds subdial, and it even has a water resistance of up to 305m. It’s a highly capable watch that runs on the in-house automatic caliber DUW 6101 movement with a power reserve of 42 hours. The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Sport Neomatik Date comes in either a white dial or a marine black dial. Both models cost around $4,980 USD.

NOMOS Glashütte Tangente: History and Design Details

In 1992, two years after the foundation of the German watch company NOMOS Glashütte, the brand introduced the Tangente collection. It debuted in the same year as the Ludwig, Orion, and Tetra collections. Featuring a clean and classic Bauhaus-era design, the Tangente quickly became a favorite among collectors and watch enthusiasts around the world. The NOMOS Tangente also earned its spot as the brand’s best-selling watch.

When it comes to design, the NOMOS Tangente is certainly unique. It has a straightforward design that’s no-nonsense and distinctly modern. The watch features tempered hands with a small seconds dial at the 6 o’clock position, as well as alternating numerals with highly recognizable typography. To add to the watch’s streamlined appearance, it also has a flat stainless steel case with small bezels. It’s eye-catching and ergonomic at the same time.

NOMOS Tangente watches vary vastly in size, with some models being as small as 33 mm and some having a more robust and sporty size of 41 mm. The quintessential Tangente watch, however, the Ref. 101, measures a good 35 mm in size, making it both lightweight and legible. Tangente watches can also come in other colors, such as silvery-white, champagne-colored, and even marine black. The Tangente remains NOMOS Glashütte’s widest collection of timepieces.

5 Reasons to Buy a NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Watch

1. NOMOS Glashütte Tangente watches are easily recognizable timepieces.

2. They have a distinctively clean and classic appearance reminiscent of the Bauhaus era.

3. NOMOS Tangente watches are German-made pieces made of the finest materials.

4. These high-end watches are fairly affordable and offer great value for money.

5. The collection is vast and offers a wide selection of colors, complications, and sizes.

Final Thoughts: Buying a NOMOS Glashütte Tangente Watch

The NOMOS Glashütte Tangente is truly an iconic collection of classic watches, acting as a bridge between fine arts and timekeeping. Its creative yet ergonomic design certainly has earned the respect of many, and it has the awards to prove it. The NOMOS Tangente is definitely a great investment that’s well worth your money.