Nomos Ludwig Automatik Review











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Nomos is a company famed for its understated Germanic designs, particularly those with bold Arabic numerals. Their Tangente, Tangomat, Ahoi and Tetra designs all feature these trademark number markers. When not employing Arabic numerals, Nomos uses no numerals at all, like in their Lambda, Zurich or Orion lines. How about some options for those who prefer Roman numerals? Well, Nomos has already thought of that, and has the complete Ludwig collection to satisfy every Bauhaus need you could want. From big to small, hand wounds to automatics, with or without a date--the Ludwig is one of the most comprehensive lines Nomos has, all featuring their beautiful interpretation of Roman numerals. Today we're going to look at perhaps the most popular Nomos Ludwig, the Nomos Ludwig Automatik.



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The Introduction



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​ The Nomos Ludwig, as I mentioned above, is the only model available from Nomos, at least at the moment, with Roman numerals. Clearly the Glashutte manufacture has a powerful preference for Arabic numerals, but it doesn't mean there are any compromises in the Ludwig line . The Ludwig Automatik , the specific one we're examining in this review, is basically the Tangomat for fans of Roman numerals, but at the same time, it's more than that--we'll dive into the subtle differences throughout that help differentiate it from other Nomos options.





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Although Roman numerals are consolidated into a single line of watches, Nomos compensates by giving that line a lot of diversity. Unlike almost every collection in Nomos (aside from the Club), the Ludwig is available with both automatic and hand wound movements. Today we're looking at their excellent Epsilon automatic movement, the company's first in house automatic. It's also available in automatic form with a date in the form of the Zeta.



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The Face



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The Ludwig has all the great styling you've come to expect from Nomos. It is as understated as a watch can be, but the way Nomos does understated is quite different than some of the competition. Where another designer would have created a boring watch, Nomos makes the Ludwig so understated that it's actually profoundly striking.



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We'll first touch on all the great design elements you're used to in a Nomos, but then we'll expand to the more subtle changes they've made for the Ludwig. Perhaps the most striking element of a Nomos watch is the empty space on the dial--you're stunned by what isn't there.



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Every single Nomos watch includes a seconds subdial and this is, of course, no exception. Like the Tangente, Tangomat and Orion, this features a very fine guilloche texture, separating it from the evenly finished dial.



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The hands are identical to those used in the Tangente and Tangomat as well. These thin stick hands are heat blued to create that gorgeous super dark blue finish. Heat blued hands have the unusual property that they appear black in all but direct light. where they glow bright blue, making them rather dynamic.



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Now that we've got the Nomos basics out of the way, let's address some of the changes. First, and most obviously, are the Roman numerals. These used, of course, instead of the Arabic numerals Nomos normally employ, and they appear to be quite in line with Nomos' styling in general--there are virtually no flourishes, just perfectly straight lines. Another difference, far less obvious, is the railroad track around the dial, a feature not seen in the Tangente and Tangomat.



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One very interesting change is that the Ludwig has a 6:00 numeral, unlike every other Nomos that I'm aware of. Why? Beats me, but this does eliminate the unusually empty space on other Nomoses without a date, so I think this is actually a positive change. Obviously, the 6 is removed if you opt for the datum (date) version.



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So while the Ludwig is very similar to the Tangente and Tangomat, it's not simply the same watch with Roman numerals--it does have a few small touches on the dial to make it stand out, albeit subtly.



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But, subtle changes notwithstanding, the Ludwig is classic Nomos through and through. Austere to the very core, yet somehow striking in its simplicity, it's the ideal compliment to the Nomos fan who has a preference for Roman numerals.



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The Case



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The case on the Ludwig, or as it is relevant now, the Ludwig Automatik, is a bit more rounded than the Tangomat it competes with. The case is more similar to the Orion, with a relatively curvy case back and lugs.



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The lugs aren't the perfectly even, straight lines you'd find on the Tangente or Tangomat--I think that more people will find this comfortable than the alternative. They bend more organically.



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It's very svelte at just 8.4mm, as is any Nomos, although it is just a hair thicker than the comparable Tangomat, which is 8.3mm. For comparison, an Omega Aqua Terra is about 50% thicker.



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The crown is a bit different than the Tangomat as well--it's a little more complex. The Tangente/Tangomat's crown is a flat wheel, but the Ludwig's is more three dimensional--it has a slight protrusion out of the middle. It's merely an aesthetic difference, but it's always nice to see a watch company that doesn't run to the parts bin when it comes time to make a different model.



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The Ludwig Automatik is 40mm, among the largest offered by Nomos, and it will wear a little larger than that due to its all-dial looks. The bezel is more rounded than the Tangente and Tangomat as well--not a flat a surface.



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The Movement







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The Ludwig Automatik is powered by the in house Epsilon movement, the simplest and thinnest of Nomos automatic calibres.



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It's a thing of remarkable beauty, with Glashutte ribbing and that beautiful German sunburst on the watch wheel, all accented by blued screws. It's probably the prettiest movement you can get in this price range.



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The rotor is also beautiful, but for the most part, it does the smartest thing it could do and gets out of the way. Thanks to major skeletonization, it never seriously interrupts the view of the rest of the movement.



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Bidirectional winding is accomplished by a unique switch gear system, or at least it is today. A similar system was used by Jaeger LeCoultre until JLC largely switched over to unidirectional winding. This system, along with perhaps Seiko's magic lever, is among the most elegant solutions and, as far as I know, the only bidirectional system you can actually see while it's working through the case back. Basically, those two small gears are mounted on a rotating wheel. When the rotor rotates clockwise, the wheel rotates so that one of those two small gears is winding the mainspring. In the other direction, it rotates away, and the other wheel is in contact. As you know, any two gears in contact must rotate in opposite directions. Because of this property, regardless of which direction the rotor rotates, the mainspring is being wound.



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The design of the Epsilon is basically identical to all other Nomoses, sans perhaps the high-end Lambda and Lux models. A balance cock secures a smooth balance/Triovis fine adjustment mechanism. This approach to fine adjustment is nice in that it doesn't require a regulator index to be placed on the balance cock which gives it a super clean free sprung look. This is a very similar design to that employed by many Vacheron Constantin and Girard-Perregaux movements so it has a lot of fans in the high-end Swiss watch world.



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Another thing that separates Nomos movements from the pack is their 6 position adjustment, a trait shared by a tiny number of elite watchmakers that includes Grand Seiko, Patek Philippe and Jaeger LeCoultre. Gravity has an impact on the rate of a watch, an issue that is greatly complicated by the fact that the movement's position, relative to the force of gravity, is constantly changing as we wear the watch through the day. Positional adjustments are those performed to even out the rate of a watch over many positions relative to earth. 5 position adjustment is the standard among fine watchmaking and is the approached used by leaders like Omega and Rolex among many, many others. Essentially, other than the three names I mentioned above, a high-end watch will always be adjusted in 5 positions. But Nomos takes it a step further to even out the effects of gravity with an extra position and it's literally the most affordable movement on the market today that does this.



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In fact, as far as I can tell, the Epsilon is simply peerless in its price range. I genuinely think this is the single best three hander auto in its price range when considered holistically--the combination of a gorgeous movement, meticulous adjustment, a sophisticated bidirectional automatic winding system, and a slim profile is a package that you're not going to see often at any price range, and, to the best of my knowledge, never (outside of Nomos) in this price range.



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The Video



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The Conclusion



​ See our high definition video here





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​ All similar things are a little different. In a rush to judgment, it's easy to dismiss the Ludwig Automatik as a Tangomat with Roman numerals, and for the most part, that's an accurate portrayal, but to do so risks missing the subtle nuances throughout.





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The biggest changes on the dial are the addition of a 6:00 numeral and railroad minute markers. Combined with the Roman numerals, it gives it a slightly more classic look.



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The Ludwig's case is a little different as well, and I think I might prefer it to the Tangomat's. It's smoother, rounder, more natural. Stylistically, I think I prefer the crown of the Tangomat to this one, if only slightly, but I suspect this will be the more comfortable watch to wear for long periods.



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The movement is not new to Nomos and is identical to its equivalent in the Tangomat range. But nothing needed to be updated here--it's a reliable, accurate and beautiful movement, truly "best in class."



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As per me personally, I've always been more in the sans-numeral camp, and when I do buy a watch with numerals, they're usually of the Arabic variety. But I'm glad this line exists for the many, many fans of Roman numerals in the watch world. While it appears that Nomos, as a company, prefers Arabics as well, it's nice to see that they offer a Tangente/Tangomat equivalent for the Roman numeral lover, as I've met many collectors over the years that strongly adhere to their specific preferences on numerals.



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