German watches
Based on their earlier Zurich World Timer watch, the new Nomos for Wempe Weltzeit 5th Avenue automatic timepiece features the same design of its dial, but swaps the original “Heimat” (“Home” or “Homeland” in German) inscription for “New York”. The reason for the change is simple: limited to just 100 numbered pieces, the watch was designed to be sold exclusively via Wempe New York Boutique located on Fifth Avenue, one of the busiest streets of Manhattan.
The watch is animated by the same Nomos Xi in-house caliber that not only features all the usual decor and design elements that one can expect from a watch made in Glashütte, but also sports a rather peculiar second time zone complication.
If you take a look at the timekeeper’s dial, you will notice whole four displays. There is a traditionally oversized subsidiary seconds indicator at 6 o’clock, the usual hour and minute hands in the center, a “city disk” visible through a circular aperture, as well as a smaller disk with military-style 24-hour scale on it.
The inscription “New York” near it quite clearly states that this is indeed our home zone and we’ll have to set it up first for the watch to work correctly. Then, when home zone is set using a small pusher at 7 hours, we can set up our local time using a larger push-piece at 2 o’clock. The name of our city must be selected against a small arrow at 12 o’clock.
What I really like about this device is the length of the hour and minute hands. Not that I am obsessed with size, but it looks like almost any worldtimer, with their outer parts of the dial usually displaying city disks of different designs, are often equipped with very short hour and minute hands that look almost like stubs compared to relatively large dials.
This particular model, as you can see, has its indices and minute track positioned at their usual place close to the bezel that allowed Nomos‘ designers to make the indicator proportionate to the size of the face. As usual for the German brand, all hands are made deliberately thin.
Although on these photos the watch looks a little too flat, I must admit that in real life the dial is deliciously three-dimensional (I still hope to see this particular watch in person, but I tried on my wrist the original Zurich World Timer and it was very impressive) and very easy to read. Of course, some people may complain about the lack of strips of luminous substance on its hands, but I could really live with it.
As I have already stated, the watch will sold only in New York at Wempe‘s single boutique, which is located on the famous Fifth Avenue. Despite its deliberately unpretentious appearance, the watch is quite expensive: Wempe, the German watchmaker’s old partner, plans to sell the gadgets at around $5800 a piece. Yes, I know: it hurts.
WWR Verdict
Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 1/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
See also: NOMOS Glashuette Tangente Alma Mater Special Edition Wempe 100
Photos: Nomos
Nomos for Wempe Weltzeit 5th Avenue watch specification
Price: $5800 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber Nomos Xi, adjusted to 6 positions, Made in Germany
Number of jewels: 26
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Movement decoration: Rhodium-plated, Glashutte ribbing on bridges and oscillating weight, Nomos perlage in black gold, blued screws
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, second time zone (GMT)
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 40.00 mm
Case height: 11.00 mm
Lug width: No data
Dial: Silvered, galvanized
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Blue
Hands: Brass, rhodium-plated, faceted
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Sapphire