NOMOS Autobahn neomatik 41 date in sports gray

Reader discretion advised: I always get excited about a new release by NOMOS. So far, I have never been left wanting for more, and it’s much of the same from the latest wristwatch series coming from the German Watchmaker.

The new watch is nicknamed the “Autobahn” – named after the famous German highway network that has no set speed limit - and it was presented for the first time at Baselworld 2018.

You are not obligated to drive fast on the German autobahn, but the temptation is always there to press down on the throttle and test the sporting limits of a car.

The same applies to this new Autobahn neomatik date timepeice. In all likelihood the watch will not be worn as a sports watch but it nevertheless gives you that option if you so choose. In fact, this is probably one of the sportiest watches to come out of the NOMOS workshops.

The new watch bears the design marks of world-renowned product designer Werner Aisslinger. His works can be found in museums around the globe, including at the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Fonds national d’art contemporain in Paris, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. You might have also recognized Aisslinger’s work in other projects like the futuristic hotel designs, and the Loftcube living space.

Werner Aisslinger worked with his colleague Tina Bunyaprasit and the NOMOS design department for over four years on this special timepiece. Apparently the duo is fond of speed, because everything about this watch expresses movement.

The most striking part of the watch is the dial. It sports a series of curves, one around the lip of the dial and another on the sub-seconds dial. The curved lines remind me of the banks on high-speed corners, designed to allow more speed to be carried during a turn.

A classic looking NOMOS Autobahn neomatik

The ring in the centre of the dial reminds me of an odometer on sports cars, which adds a nice pop to the already dashing dial. But it really comes to life at night, thanks to superluminova-coated bars that make the watch highly legible at night.

In another subtle nod to speed, the elongated date window at six o’clock displays three days at once for yesterday, today, and tomorrow, hinting at the forward march of time.

The motor powering the new sporty timepeice is the new neomatik date caliber DUW 6101. The movement is apparently the second most complex neomatik, and that’s in part because of the additional date function.

The decently decorated movement delivers up to 42 hours of power reserve and its regulation system, which is adjusted to six positions, ensures high precision.

The watch is protected between sapphire crystals on both sides, allowing for great views of the movement. They also ensure up to 100 meters of water resistance, adding to the sporty DNA of the watch.

The Autobahn is available in three versions. At the more classic end we have a white silver-plated dial, which is well in line with the usual offering from NOMOS. The racing version comes in a sporty shade of gray, while the third model comes in deep midnight blue.

While the watch series is orientated primarily towards men, I bet that plenty of women will be interested in this watch. I think its minimalist and clean design has a universal appeal, and the 41mm stainless steel case isn’t too imposing.

When it’s all said and that, this watch brings the best of Germany: the inspiration from the fast-paced autobahns and the engineering and execution from the quite streets of Glashütte.