NOMOS Lambda

In mathematics, the Greek letter lambda (λ) represents eigenvalue, or "Eigenwert" in German. The word Eigenwert also translates to "intrinsic value," making Lambda an appropriate name for a gold watch. The NOMOS Lambda is available in 18-karat white or rose gold. Along with the Lux, it's one of the most valuable and expensive watches made by this Glashütte-based manufacturer.

However, the Lambda's delicate design is still decidedly NOMOS: It's simple, elegant, and linear – everything a Bauhaus-inspired watch should be. The indices, dots, numbers, and inscriptions look handwritten. The long, slender hands are all gold-plated, tempered blue, or rhodium-plated. In terms of dial color, you can choose from white, deep blue, or velvet black.

Every case is either 39 or 42 mm in diameter and contains the in-house caliber DUW 1001. Since this movement is only 3.6 mm thick, the Lambda remains pleasantly flat. It's truly the perfect dress watch to wear to the office or on special occasions. The manual caliber has an impressive 84-hour power reserve, meaning this timepiece can run for half a week before needing to be wound. The beautiful Glashütte three-quarter plate with sunbeam polishing, swan neck fine adjustment, and hand-engraved balance cock are all sights to behold. The balance cock is appropriately engraved with the words "Mit Liebe in Glashütte gefertigt" or "Lovingly produced in Glashütte." This combination of beauty and performance makes the DUW 1001 one of the top NOMOS movements.

The white gold NOMOS Lambda is the most expensive model and only available with a 42-mm case. You can choose between a white or deep blue dial. The version with a deep blue dial and thin, rhodium-plated hands feels particularly elegant. Watches with a white silver-plated dial feature either rhodium-plated or tempered blue hands.

The reference 931 combines a white silver-plated dial with rhodium-plated hands and costs around 15,500 USD new. Prices for pre-owned watches are significantly lower at around 11,500 USD. Plan to spend anywhere from 8,200 to 14,500 USD for a white gold Lambda with a white dial and tempered blue hands. Models with a dark blue dial demand between 10,300 USD pre-owned and 15,500 USD in mint condition.

The NOMOS Lambda in rose gold is generally more affordable, especially as a 39-mm timepiece. For example, you can purchase a never-worn watch with a white dial and tempered hands for around 13,000 USD. The same watch only costs a few hundred dollars more with gold-plated hands. A mint-condition piece with a velvet black dial and gold-plated hands also sells for about 13,000 USD. Pre-owned examples are currently hard to come by.

The 42-mm rose gold Lambda is only available with a white silver-plated dial. The model with gold-plated hands costs around 13,500 USD new and 8,900 USD pre-owned. Expect to pay about 14,000 USD for the version with tempered blue hands.

Like every NOMOS timepiece, the mechanical Lambda features a small seconds dial at 6 o'clock. A large yet delicate power reserve indicator draws attention to the top half of the dial. The hour and minute indices are equally fine and appear almost hand drawn. Domed sapphire glass protects the hands and dial and completes this timepiece's classic look.

The manual caliber DUW 1001 ticks away inside every Lambda. This movement is 32 mm in diameter, 3.6 mm thick, and boasts an impressive 84-hour power reserve thanks to its two barrels. Six of its 29 rubies sit in polished ring-shaped settings known as gold chatons. Tempered screws keep the rubies in place. A sapphire glass case back offers a view of the precious gems as well as the swan neck fine adjustment. The three-quarter plate is rhodium-plated and decorated with a sunbeam finish. Since it's adjusted in six positions, this movement is extremely accurate.

The Glashütte-based company uses black or dark brown cordovan leather to make its straps. This type of leather comes from horses and is both robust and water resistant. Every strap is sewn by hand and features a winged clasp in solid 18-karat white or rose gold.

It didn't take long for the Lambda to start collecting awards. In 2014, it came in second place for the Goldene Unruh, followed by first place in 2015. Readers of the German watch magazine "Uhren-Magazin" annually award this distinction to watches in various price categories. The "Uhr des Jahres" or "Watch of the Year" is put on by the German newspaper "Die Welt" and the trade magazine "Armbanduhren." The Lambda has won this publicly-voted award as well as the Red Dot Design Award , an internationally renowned award given out by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany since 1954. Like the other models in the NOMOS catalog, this gold watch has proven a favorite among both expert juries and the public.

The bestselling Tangente has had a following since its release in 1992 and continues to win awards and other accolades. The robust Ahoi is not only water resistant to 200 m (20 bar, 656 ft), but also sportier than the other NOMOS models. There's also the curvy Orion with its domed sapphire glass. At almost 40 mm, the Zürich is one of the largest NOMOS watches. It comes with one of three automatic calibers: the Epsilon, the Zeta, or the DUW 5201 with a world time function. The Zürich World Time is the perfect watch for any frequent traveler.