It’s also Sunday morning, so it’s time for another article on our famous showdown. Last week we featured two rather expensive and difficult watches. New Rolex Land Residents and new 40mm Patek Philippe Cubitus. That’s why I’m looking for something that’s a little more affordable and easy to get this week. Both Nomos and Frederic Constant know how to excite watch lovers with great value in offering money and attractive designs. Nomos recently stole a show with Geneva watches and wonders at his new club, Sports Neomatik Worldtimer. Leave that to Frederick Constant’s Highlife Worldtimer and see what happens.
The Nomos Club Sport and Frederique Constant Highlife are all-steel sports watches with WorldTimer functionality. The two also have internal movements, costing around 4,000 euros. But there’s a good enough difference between the two, but Dern and Thomas point out to you. But first, let’s take a look at what happened last week.
Last week, Sunday morning showdown…
As mentioned before, we introduced the all-new Rolex land residents and the newly introduced Patek Philippe Cubitus in the 40mm battle last week. This matchup sparked considerable debate in the comments section. However, it is rather difficult to draw a clear conclusion from these comments. The vote results are also not very convincing. Some people couldn’t decide between the two, while others thought it wasn’t a fair comparison. In the end, Rolex won with 58% of the vote, but Patek Philippe, who returns home with 42%, isn’t a bad result, especially after all the slack he received when it was first introduced. Let’s see if this week’s showdown will be a clear winner.
Daan: Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer
Let me start by saying I have a lot of respect for the other person. I even said it as one of my favorites Watches and the mysterious Geneva release. The sports Neomatik Worldtimer from Nomos Club is slim, has a modest rug pan and has a great colour combination. What it lacks is the complexity of dates that can be useful in watches with WorldTimer functionality. But the watch looks good without it. Its clean, fun, typical Nomos design perfectly compensates for it.
Frederick constant, on the other hand, has something great on the sleeve along with High Life World Timer. In general, I think the brand’s Highlife collection offers a lot of value for your money. Plus, there’s a version that completely nails the look of the 70’s integrated bracelet, literally for everyone. There are many different three-hand people to choose from, including skeletonized ones, automatic chronographs, permanent calendars (less than 10,000 euros), and finally the WorldChannel.
It’s more classic but better classic
Highlife WorldTimer’s 41mm case has a modern yet elegant profile with clean lines and round sides. The top of the case has a brushed finish, with the sides and bezels with a polished finish. The integrated H-Link bracelet comes with a combination of the same finish and signed butterfly clasp. At 12.9mm, the case is much thicker than the Nomos Club Sports, which is 9.9mm thick. However, the caseback sinks well to your wrist, so you won’t be bothered while wearing it every day.
The Highlife dial has a typical WorldTimer layout, with city rings at the edges, a rotating 2-tone 24-hour scale, and a 6 o’clock pointer date subdial. Certainly, it’s more classic and a little less original than the Nomos, but it still looks great. I liked the red and white 24-hour scale of the Ace Jewelers Limited Edition, which is now sold out. However, the dark blue and brown options from the regular collection are also lovely. Plus, when purchasing a watch, I enjoy that Frederick’s constant always includes extra leather or rubber straps.
Manufacturing Movement
Like the Nomos Club Sport WorldTimer, Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer also has internal movements. It features Perlage and Côtes cardiovascular systems that are finished at the back, just like the oversized skeletonized rotors. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800VPH and holds a power reserve of 38 hours. The FC-718 movement has been in production since 2013. That means there was time to become a trusted platform for the brand.
If you’re looking for a sporty world timer, I think Frederick’s constant high life is a great option. The integrated bracelet is completely trending, and looking at the market, the price of 4,595 euros is very competitive. Yes, the Nomos is a bit cheaper at 3,920 euros, but it has a more quirky design that may not be your taste. Okay, Thomas, let’s hear it for your funky Nomos Club Sports Neomatik Worldtimer.
Thomas No Mos Club Sports Neomatik Worldtimer
Thank you, Darn! Frankly, there were few Sunday morning showdowns. Let me say this: I was pleased when you chose the High Life World Timer, Darn. In my humble opinion, this is not that much a contest. If it’s twice the price of Highlife, choose Nomos. My winner is very clear as it is actually 10% less than Frederick’s constant.
I don’t want to be bashing high life, but I need to mention some of the issues I have with that design. You say it nails the integrated aesthetic of the 70s, but I disagree. Yes, there’s a 70’s integrated aesthetic, but it’s not glued to the long shot.
Amazing designs often emerge when harmonious notes feature properly placed dissonant notes. In the case of High Life, that dissonance is the inward curved edge between the bracelet and the case. This is subjective, but you can see that these don’t work at all. They make the entire watch feel crammed and even. The curved lines do not resonate anywhere in the design, and stand alone as a lost attempt at the visual features that define them. That’s before we reached the dial. This proves to be overcrowded and derivative at the same time. Let me stop here before I get too troublesome. Instead, you need to focus on candidates.
Club SportsNeomatik Worldtimer
In comparison, Nomos is a master class in design. That visual hierarchy creates balance and clear gaze, focusing viewers’ attention on complications. Visually complex complications do not compromise on the readability of the watch slightly. Leave it to Nomos to reduce all frivolity. That way we become a must-have. Certainly, it can feel a bit cold about branded watches, but not when we’re talking about busy complexities like World Timer. This is where Nomos really shines.
Technically, NOMOS packs punches into smaller packages. Especially in complex watches, the water resistance of 100 meters from the sub-10mm case is always excellent. I’ve mentioned Highlife WorldTimer’s 38-hour power reserve, so please repeat yourself again: 42! That’s not important, but hey, that’s a free point for me, right?
Comparison of the brands behind Highlife WorldTimer and Neomatik Worldtimer
This gives you one final point. It’s a brand. Brands come in because these watches offer similar feature sets at similar price points. I have to ask: Do I consider myself a Nomos man or a constant man from Frederick? I really like Nomos. The brand feels more pointy, focused and clear. It appeals to me as a cooler factor. Certainly, I’m not necessarily the biggest Bauhaus fan. I often find styles that lack characters and are a bit delighted. But overall, Nomos feels very brave for me. It appears that the company is chasing something specific with a greater sense of determination and identity.
I know this is a battle between watches and not between brands. Still, I think this can get heavy at times. Sometimes you just need to feel connected to the brand and I feel that with Nomos. Combining it with good design, sharper prices and nominal features, the winner is very clear to me.
Voting will be held!
You have it! Two World Timers are fighting for your favor. Which of your choices from the Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer and the Nomos Sport Neomatik Worldtimer? Vote and share your motivations in the comments section below!
Nomos Club Sports Neomatik Worldtimer Vs. Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer
