Nomos Adds Two New Compact Tetra 27 to the Collection

Reducing the size of dressier watches certainly is a trend, but when it comes to Nomos, the brand has long been a strong advocate of compact cases. The German manufacture has never been shy of proposing 35mm or less cases, even for its more masculine models. After all, presence and style are not reduced to some numbers on a specification sheet. Among the most compact watches produced by Nomos is the Tetra 27, a collection that’s built around a square-shaped case, with far more wrist presence than one could expect. Today, the brand adds two new versions, with the all-time classic Tetra 27 white and the two-tone, two-handed Tetra 27 duo.

As said, Nomos watches can be pretty compact, and they were like this before this even was a trend. Take the brand’s most classic watch, the hand-wound Tangente… 35mm in diameter, ever since its launch in 1992. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Many of Nomos’ models are sized under 38mm, yet they still feel visually striking. With the Tetra, the story is a bit different, as we’re looking at a square-shaped watch. And geometry has its rules… At equivalent width, a round watch covers about 78% of the surface of a square watch. This is why most Tetra watches from Nomos are sized around 30mm, with some of the largest being the Tetra Neomatik, with a 33mm width. And as you can see in our hands-on article, they don’t feel small on the wrist.

Today, though, Nomos is adding two new versions of its smallest square watch, the Tetra 27, which now comes in two classic variations: the Tetra 27 white, a watch with what’s essentially the most classic dial possible at Nomos, and the Tetra 27 duo, a hours-and-minutes only model with a two-tone dial. Both share the exact same dial, measuring 27.5mm x 27.5mm, and only 6.1mm in thickness. “Their precise proportions demonstrate that fine watchmaking is not a question of size,” says the brand. And I surely agree. Framed by a narrow polished steel case and bezel, the Tetra is characterised by its double-stepped lugs, adding to the Art Deco touch that the square shape already implies. A sapphire crystal covers the dial, and you’ll have the choice of a solid steel back or a sapphire crystal back – second option highly recommended… The case is decently water-resistant considering the size, rated at 50m.

Moving to the dial, the Tetra 27 white features the quintessential style of Nomos. A silver-plated, galvanised dial with a small seconds counter, Arabic numerals and markers that are shared with the iconic Tangente, and blued steel hands to indicate the time. Contrary to the long-existing hand-wound Tetra 29.5mm (a watch that’s been around since the creation of the brand), this new 27 version features a flat, round small seconds sub-dial in place of the recessed square one.

The second version, the Tetra 27 duo, adds minimalism to the display but a bit more depth to the dial. A two-hand only model, its galvanised dial has a two-tone effect, as a light grey square marks its centre, and a matching grey field frames the minute track. This two-tone effect already existed in a 29.5mm version with small seconds, but now comes in a sleeker, more compact style.

Inside their cases, the Tetra 27 white and Tetra 27 duo share the same base movement, the hand-wound Calibre DUW 4001. An updated version of a classic, this movement is an evolution of the long-standing Alpha, itself an upgraded, in-house built version of the Peseux 7001. Still, it has changed a lot now, as it features entirely different bridges (¾ plate), a fine decoration (Glashütte ribbing, perlage, double-sunburst ratchet wheel, blued screws), an in-house escapement with blue balance spring, a stop-seconds (on the Tetra 27 white) and an elongated power reserve of 53 hours.

Worn on a black Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan strap, the new Nomos Tetra 27 white and Tetra 27 duo are released as part of the permanent collection. Prices range from EUR 1,660 for the Tetra 27 duo with steel back to EUR 2,120 for the Tetra 27 white with sapphire back. For more details, please visit nomos-glashuette.com.