The NOMOS Minimatik: Extra Flat Thanks to the DUW 3001
The Minimatik is especially flat for an automatic watch thanks to the exceptionally thin in-house caliber DUW 3001. This movement features the NOMOS Swing System, which made waves in the industry when it premiered in 2014.
5 Reasons to Buy a Minimatik
- Automatic caliber DUW 3001 with the NOMOS Swing System
- Especially flat at only 8.9 mm
- Diverse dial colors like midnight blue and champagne
- The ideal unisex watch at 35.5 mm in diameter
- Sapphire glass case back with a view of the finished movement
Sensational Technology in Stylish NOMOS Packaging
The NOMOS Minimatik's name combines the words "mini" and "automatic." At only 8.9 mm thick, this Glashütte-made watch lives up to its name. The manufacturer from Germany's Ore Mountains has outfitted the Minimatik with the DUW 3001, which itself is only 3.2 mm thick and 28.8 mm in diameter. "DUW" stands for Deutsche Uhrenwerke or "German watch movements" and signifies that the caliber was made in-house. It took three years to develop the DUW 3001, which also features the company's proprietary Swing System. NOMOS partnered with the Dresden University of Technology to create this escapement. An escapement is comprised of a balance, balance spring, lever, and escape wheel. With the development of the Swing System, NOMOS joined an exclusive group of watch manufacturers capable of building their own escapements.
The Minimatik's design stays true to NOMOS' tradition. Like the Tangente, Bauhaus served as the inspiration for this no-frills timepiece. Designers from the renowned Swiss Studio Hannes Wettstein are responsible for the look of the Minimatik's tapered case. Other NOMOS watches designed by this studio include the Zürich and the Lambda. However, the Minimatik feels more feminine than these sister collections thanks to its slightly domed sapphire glass and soft curves. Even so, its 35.5-mm case makes it the perfect size for a unisex watch.
As with every NOMOS timepiece, a small seconds dial sits at 6 o'clock. The dial comes in champagne, midnight blue, or white. Hand-sewn straps made of black cordovan leather keep the white and midnight blue models on the wrist. This type of leather comes from a horse's hindquarters and is especially durable and water resistant. Champagne models are worn on cowhide leather straps.
Prices at a Glance
Model | Reference number | Price |
Minimatik Midnight Blue | 1205 | 2,800 USD |
Minimatik Champagne | 1204 | 2,800 USD |
Minimatik | 1203 | 2,800 USD |
How much does a Minimatik cost?
Most pre-owned Minimatik watches are in very good to mint condition. Prices for all three dial colors start around 2,800 USD. Cyan blue dots serve as the minute scale on the model with a white dial. A shimmering gold dot marks every fifth minute. The Arabic numerals at 2, 4, 8, 10 and 12 are dark gray in color. Three red hands contrast nicely against the rest of the dial.
The hour and minute hands of the Minimatik Champagne are plated in corrosion-resistant rhodium, while the small seconds hand is coated with a neon orange lacquer. The dotted minute scale also features this eye-catching color. Thanks to its champagne-gold dial, this model is especially interesting for women. The Minimatik Midnight Blue also has rhodium-plated hands and a neon orange second hand. Its Arabic numerals are beige, and the minute scale is mint green. This color combination lends this timepiece a sporty look.
The Neomatik Caliber DUW 3001
The DUW 3001 movement has a 42-hour power reserve and is composed of 157 pieces, including 27 gemstones. It takes a lot of skill to create such a flat movement. Almost every component fits in the 1-mm space between the plate and three-quarter plate. A bridge replaces the usual balance cock, giving the rotor plenty of room to move and wind the mainspring. In addition to a Glashütte three-quarter plate, this automatic caliber features tempered blue screws, Incabloc shock protection, and Glashütte ribbing—everything you'd expect from a NOMOS watch.
Developing such a flat movement requires the highest levels of precision. This is true for not only the caliber as a whole, but also for the individual components. It's almost a given that such a movement will be highly accurate: Tests conducted in NOMOS' own laboratories confirm that the DUW 3001 meets the standards for chronometer precision. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that this manufacturer equips several models with this movement. You can recognize these models by the addition of the word "Neomatik" to their names. For example, the Tangente collection contains Neomatik watches that, at 6.9 mm, are only 0.3 mm thicker than their manual counterparts. The cosmopolitan Metro, the more formal Ludwig, and the curvy Orion also take advantage of these thin automatic calibers. Since the DUW 3001 is produced in series, it remains relatively affordable. This is actually a bit of an anomaly: Extra-flat calibers with an in-house escapement are extremely rare and usually much more expensive.