The minimalist, brutalist sensibilities of Bauhaus and glamour rarely mix, but that doesn’t mean they can’t – or that they shouldn’t. And while Nomos Glashütte are synonymous with that first (the German watchmaker very much wear their inspirations on their sleeve) they’ve taken the opportunity of the festive period to update their Orion with a pair of new silver and gold dials.
The base models here are the Orion 33mm and 38mm models. The former most would consider a women’s watch though honestly if you have a taste for early vintage you’ll probably appreciate it’s sleek if diminutive feel. The larger version on the other hand is, for me at least, the perfect size, especially for what’s looking to be a dress watch.
Mechanically, they’re exactly the same, surprising given the pretty dramatic size difference. The movement in question is the manufacture Alpha calibre with a 43-hour power reserve, which means there’s going to be a bit of spare space in the 38mm version. It also means there’s no performance difference, which is reassuring if you’re considering the smaller option.
The main difference between the two is dial side. The 33mm boasts a striking gold dial – proper gold, no champagne here – with contrasting silvered indexes and hands in the Orion’s typical Bauhaus language. The 38mm on the other hand inverts things for a subtler yet no less glamorous silver dial with contrasting gold indexes and hands.
Both dials on the Nomos Glashütte Orion Silver and Gold offer tone-on-tone subdials, with a difference in finishing rather than colour to highlight them. The result is a pair of Bauhaus-turned-dress watches that hew close to the design movement’s minimal sensibilities but add a touch of party-ready elegance. They’re hard not to love.
Price & Specs:
Model: Nomos Glashütte Orion Silver and Gold
Reference: 379 (silver), 359 (gold)
Case/Dial: 38mm diameter x 8.9mm height, stainless steel case, silver dial
32.8mm diameter x 8.5mm height, stainless steel case, gold dial
Water Resistance: 30m (3 bar)
Movement: In-house built NOMOS Alpha calibre, manual winding, 17 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power Reserve: 43h
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap: Grey or anthracite leather
Price/availability: £1,460 (gold) and £1,740 (silver)
More details at Nomos Glashütte.
