Nomos Worldtimer Vs. Frederique Fixed Worldtimer

It’s Sunday morning once more, so it’s time for one more installment of our well-known Showdown. Final week, we featured two slightly costly and hard-to-get watches — the brand new Rolex Land-Dweller and the brand new 40mm Patek Philippe Cubitus. That’s why we’re going for one thing slightly extra reasonably priced and available this week. Each Nomos and Frederique Fixed know methods to excite watch fanatics with their nice worth for cash choices and enticing designs. Nomos not too long ago stole the present at Watches and Wonders in Geneva with its new Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer. Let’s put that up towards Frederique Fixed’s Highlife Worldtimer and see what occurs.

The Nomos Membership Sport and the Frederique Fixed Highlife are all-steel sports activities watches with worldtimer performance. The 2 of them additionally function an in-house motion and value round €4,000. Nonetheless, there are greater than sufficient variations between the 2, which Daan and Thomas will level out to you. However first, let’s check out what occurred final week.

Final week, on Sunday Morning Showdown…

As mentioned, we let the all-new Rolex Land-Dweller and newly launched Patek Philippe Cubitus in 40mm battle it out final week. This matchup stirred up fairly some dialogue within the feedback part. It’s fairly onerous, although, to attract any clear conclusions from these feedback. Identical to the voting outcomes aren’t very compelling both. Some folks couldn’t resolve between the 2, and others thought it wasn’t a good comparability. In the long run, the Rolex gained with 58% of the votes, however the Patek Philippe going dwelling with 42% isn’t a nasty end result, particularly after all of the slack it obtained when it was first launched. Let’s see if this week’s Showdown could have a transparent winner.

Daan: Frederique Fixed Highlife Worldtimer

Let me begin by saying that I’ve loads of respect for my opponent. I even talked about it as one among my favourite Watches and Wonders Geneva releases. The Nomos Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer is slim, has a modest lug span, and is available in nice shade mixtures. The one factor it lacks is a date complication, which might come in useful on a watch with worldtimer performance. Nonetheless, the watch does look nice with out it. Its clear, enjoyable, and typical Nomos design completely make up for it.

Frederique Fixed however additionally has one thing nice up its sleeve with its Highlife Worldtimer. Normally, I feel the model’s Highlife assortment provides loads of worth to your cash. In addition to, it completely nailed the ’70s built-in bracelet look, and there’s a model for actually everybody. You’ll be able to select between many alternative three-handers, together with a skeletonized one, computerized chronographs, perpetual calendars — for below €10k — and, lastly, the worldtimers.

Extra basic, however good basic

The Highlife Worldtimer’s 41mm case has a contemporary but elegant profile with clear traces and rounded flanks. The highest of the case has a brushed end, whereas the edges and the bezel function a cultured end. The built-in H-link bracelet comes with the identical mixture of ending, and a signed butterfly clasp. At 12.9mm, the case is rather a lot thicker than the 9.9mm thick Nomos Membership Sport. Nonetheless, the case again sinks properly into your wrist, so it doesn’t hassle you throughout everday put on.

The Highlife’s dial has a typical worldtimer structure with a metropolis ring on the sting, a rotating two-tone 24-hour scale, and a pointer date sub-dial at six o’clock. Certainly, it’s extra basic and rather less authentic than the Nomos’s, however it nonetheless seems nice. I appreciated the purple and white 24-hour scale on the now sold-out Ace Jewelers restricted version. Nonetheless, the darkish blue and brown choices from the common assortment are additionally beautiful. As well as, I get pleasure from how Frederique Fixed all the time contains an additional leather-based or rubber strap once you buy the watch.

A manufacture motion

Just like the Nomos Membership Sport Worldtimer, the Frederique Fixed Highlife Worldtimer additionally has an in-house motion. It options perlage and côtes circulaires ending on the again, seen by the exhibition case again, identical to the outsized skeletonized rotor. The motion runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and holds an influence reserve of 38 hours. The FC-718 motion has been in manufacturing since 2013, which means it has had time to change into a dependable platform for the model.

If you happen to’re searching for a sporty worldtimer, I feel the Frederique Fixed Highlife is a wonderful choice. Its built-in bracelet is absolutely on-trend, and its worth of €4,595 could be very aggressive once you have a look at the market. Sure, the Nomos is slightly cheaper at €3,920, however that one has a extra quirky design that may not be your style. All proper, Thomas, let’s hear it to your funky Nomos Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer.

Thomas Nomos Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer

Thanks, Daan! Frankly, few Sunday Morning Showdowns had been as clear as this one for me. Let me put it this fashion: I used to be delighted once you picked the Highlife Worldtimer, Daan. In my humble opinion, this isn’t a lot of a contest. I’d decide the Nomos if it had been twice the Highlife’s worth. Since it’s truly an excellent 10% lower than the Frederique Fixed, my winner could be very, very clear.

I don’t need to find yourself bashing the Highlife, however I ought to point out some points I’ve with its design. You say it nails the seventies built-in aesthetic, however I disagree. It has a seventies built-in aesthetic, sure, however it doesn’t nail it by a protracted shot.

Nice design typically emerges when one thing harmonious incorporates a well-placed dissonant word. Within the case of the Highlife, that dissonant is the inward curved edges between the bracelet and the case. That is subjective, however I discover these don’t work in any respect. They make the complete watch really feel crammed, dented even. The curved line has no resonance anyplace within the design and stands alone as a misplaced try at a defining visible function. That’s earlier than we get to the dial, which I discover concurrently overcrowded and by-product. Let me cease right here, earlier than I get too nasty. I ought to give attention to my candidate as a substitute.

The Membership Sport Neomatik Worldtimer

By comparability, the Nomos is a masterclass in design. Its visible hierarchy creates steadiness and a transparent sight line, focusing the viewer’s consideration on the issues. The visually intricate complication doesn’t compromise the watch’s legibility one bit. Go away it to Nomos to chop away all frivolities so we find yourself with the necessities. Admittedly, that generally leaves me feeling a bit chilly concerning the model’s watches, however not after we are speaking a few complication as busy as a worldtimer. That is the place Nomos really shines.

Technically, the Nomos packs extra punch in a smaller package deal. 100 Meters of water resistance from a sub-10mm case is all the time good, particularly in sophisticated watches. Because you talked about the Highlife Worldtimer’s 38-hour energy reserve, let me one-up you as soon as extra: 42! Not that it issues, however hey, it’s a free level for me, proper?

Evaluating the manufacturers behind the Highlife Worldtimer and Neomatik Worldtimer

This leaves me with one last level: manufacturers. The manufacturers come into play since these watches provide related function units at related worth factors. I’ve to ask: Do I see myself as a Nomos man or as a Frederique Fixed man? I’ve a powerful choice for Nomos. The model feels extra pointed, centered, and clear. It has extra of a cool issue and enchantment to me. Admittedly, I’m not essentially the most important Bauhaus fan. I discover the fashion typically missing character and feeling a bit joyless. Total, nevertheless, Nomos feels a lot braver to me. The corporate appears to be chasing one thing particular with higher dedication and a way of id.

I do know this can be a battle between watches, not between manufacturers. Nonetheless, I feel this weighs in generally. Typically, you simply must really feel a reference to the model, and I really feel it with Nomos. If I pair that with the superior design, sharper worth, and nominally higher options, the winner could be very clear for me.

Forged your vote!

There you have got it! Two Worldtimers vying to your favors. Which might be your decide from the Frederique Fixed Highlife Worldtimer and Nomos Sport Neomatik Worldtimer? Forged your vote and share your motivations within the feedback part under!