The Low-Down

Nomos, from the Saxony watchmaking stronghold of Glashütte, has updated its Autobahn series with a new “Director’s Cut” limited edition from its designer, Werner Aisslinger.

A Director’s Cut implies this is the edition the Director truly intended as his oeuvre, and, assisted by Tina Bunyaprasit, like all directors, Werner Aisslinger has thought deeply about the disarmingly spare and clean looking watch before you.

The Autobahn dial is inspired by the instruments of legendary sports cars from the 70s and 80s, an era of spectacular vehicle bodies and silhouettes and also interior designs and dashboard instruments.

Each watch is limited to just 175 pieces. Why 175? It ties in with the 175th anniversary of Glashütte watchmaking. It was in 1845 that Ferdinand Adolphe Lange first arrived in Glashütte with a visionary concept to not only aid the declining region but to establish an organized and galvanized watchmaking industry.

The other clever concept behind these limited edition watches is that they are each named after a German autobahn. The three new colors, A3 in white-orange red, A7 in blue-yellow, and A9 in black-gray are distinctly more eye-catching than the existing versions. The colorways are designed to echo those of vehicles from the 70s and 80s. Incidentally, the orange red luminous ring of the white version of Autobahn, A3, shines brightly in the gloom of a night spent behind the wheel.

The NOMOS Autobahn comes in three new dial colors and comes on a sleek new rally-style butter soft bracelet with independent articulation for each link. As with the previous models, the watch features a 41mm stainless steel case that houses a vibrant, concave dial with a semi-circle of Super-LumiNova blocks and a patented date system at 6 o’ clock.

The Autobahn is powered by Nomos’ in-house DUW 6101 automatic movement, which is decorated with Nomos perlage and Glashütte ribbing with a power reserve of 42 hours. Introduced in 2018, it’s the first Neomatik movement to feature the date complication. The movement is regulated in six positions to chronometer standards, and is designed to give superlative timekeeping for years.

But there is still more thinking behind the design. NOMOS has earned innumerable accolades for its designs over the years with a design language that draws deeply from the well of the Bauhaus school of design. Clean, precise, and almost stark, the vibrant touches of color bring each 41mm watch face vividly to life.

IMHO

The ‘Director’s Cut’ Autobahn, like all good Director’s Cuts, add flavors and ideas that may have been missing or edited out in other editions. Here everything has come together to make the limited edition series memorable, from the discerning choice of retro colors, to the stylish sport strap. Like drivers on Germany’s iconic autobahns, where Beamers race along the endless stretches of tarmac at whichever speed they choose, the ‘Directors’ didn’t hold back, and the inner workings of the watch can be viewed through the sapphire caseback.

These are truly full throttle versions of the much admired Autobahn series and they are likely to be snapped up quicker than an Autobahn lane change.

Tech Specs

Movement: In house Nomos Calibre DUW 6101, automatic winding patented date mechanism, 42 hours power reserve
Case and dial: 41mm, stainless steel, bowl-shaped dial in white, black or blue
Strap: Steel sport strap with folding buckle
Price: USD 4,800 on bracelet