Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Nomos Ludwig Neomatik Limited Edition x Doctors Without Borders
Ludwig’s sophisticated blend of minimalism and classicism is earmarked to raise funds for a good cause.
Nomos, the independent German watch brand based in Glashütte, the cradle of Germany’s finest watchmaking traditions, was founded in 1990 and has earned a merited reputation for high-quality craftsmanship, in-house movements and minimalist designs. As the largest producer of mechanical watches in Germany, Nomos is also keen to lend a helping hand to humanitarian associations like Doctors Without Frontiers/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In fact, since 2012, Nomos has been producing limited editions to raise funds for MSF. Having raised over EUR 1.3 million to date, Nomos reaches out again this year with a limited edition of its classical Ludwig dress watch – in two case sizes – that is estimated to raise around EUR 125,000 for the German office of the humanitarian aid organisation. Like earlier editions of Doctors Without Borders, the distinguishing feature on the dial is the red Roman numeral XII.
Founded in Paris in 1971, Medécins Sans Frontières was started by a small team of doctors and journalists and is today a Nobel Prize-winning organisation. The mission of MSF is to deliver emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and natural and human-made disasters in more than 70 countries. According to Christian Katzer, executive director for MSF Germany, the EUR 125,000 raised by sales of the Nomos Ludwig “could help provide therapeutic food to treat 4,460 acutely malnourished children – for example, in northern Nigeria and Sudan”.
The watch selected to support the organisation this year is the Ludwig, the brand’s most classical collection launched as part of Nomos’ inaugural 1992 lineup. Combining the brand’s signature minimalism with classical Roman numerals, a slender bezel and case, straight, screwed lugs, a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock and slim hands, the Ludwig is a sophisticated, well-proportioned watch. The Ludwig is available in five case sizes, with or without a date window and powered by hand-wound or automatic movements.
The Ludwigs chosen to support MSF come in 36.4mm and 38.5mm polished stainless steel cases with a slim height of just 7mm – each case size is limited to 250 pieces. The serene white enamel-like dial displays slender black Roman numerals combined with baton markers, a slightly recessed small seconds counter at 6 o’clock and a discreet minutes track. Standing out in red, the Roman numeral XII alludes to the collaboration with MSF. Replacing the traditional ‘Made in Germany’ inscription at 6 o’clock is ‘Ärzte ohne Grenzen’, the German for Doctors Without Borders.
The golden printed ‘neomatik’ on the dial refers to the Nomos DUW 3001 in-house automatic movement. Marking the brand’s tenth in-house calibre (total 12), the DUW 3001 is ultra-slim with a height of just 3.2mm, a crucial specification in the pursuit of slim dress watches like the Ludwig. The movement, which is equipped with the Nomos swing system, has a frequency of 21,600vph, delivers a power reserve of 43 hours and displays attractive finishings like Glashütte ribbing on the three-quarter plate, tempered blued screws and perlage.
Both Ludwig references are paired with a Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan black strap and a steel pin buckle. Limited to 250 pieces in each case size, the Ludwig 36.4mm retails for EUR 2,880; the larger Ludwig 38.5mm for EUR 3,050. More information at Nomos-Glashuette.com.
