You can almost hear the discussions at Nomos’ headquarters in Glashütte. The first model that appeared was the 42mm Clubsport. This was the German brand’s first true stainless steel sports watch. Although this release was well received, some felt it was a bit large for some people, so the brand decided to introduce a smaller 37mm size for the Club Sport Neomatik. I was calling it a home run in terms of size, but apparently some people disagreed, so Nomos introduced an even larger 39mm version. Today, the curtain opens on another new size. Please take a look at the NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik with a 34mm case. Apart from the new diameter, there are also three new dial colors: gold, rose, and purple.
I think the conclusion from all of this is that there is no perfect size. There are different people in the world with different wrist sizes. Some people like to wear large watches, while others prefer small watches. That’s why it might be wise to offer the same watch in different sizes. Anyway, I don’t really care for small watches, so I was happy to see the new 34mm NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik.
New 34mm Club Sport Neomatiks placed on either side of their 39mm siblings
34mm NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik
Let’s move directly to the dimensions, because besides the new colors, there is the most noteworthy thing to note today. The diameter of the all-polished case of the new Club Sport Neomatik is an astonishing 34 mm. The distance from lug to lug is just over 41mm, and the thickness is 8.2mm, including the slightly protruding dome-shaped sapphire crystal. In particular, the diameter and span between lugs may sound small to some people. However, when I wore the new Club Sport Neomatik 34mm on my 17cm wrist, it fit pretty snugly (more on that later).
Like other watches in the Club Sport Neomatik series, the 34mm model comes with an Oyster-style bracelet. The center links are polished and the outsides are brushed. Each end link has a quick release spring bar and another that allows you to set fine adjustments. The push-button-operated folding clasp feels sturdy, but the all-polished shell is prone to scratches. Turning the watch over reveals the blue screws, gold details and red rubies of the in-house automatic movement DUW 3001.
This is the same movement that powers the 37mm and 39mm NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik. It operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and comes with the latest 37 jewel count. When fully wound, it has a power reserve of 43 hours. Apart from the colorful details, the bridge and rotor also feature Geneva (or Glashütte) stripes.
Choose from gold, purple, or rosé
Each size of Club Sport Neomatik has a different choice of dial colors. The new 34mm version is available in gold, purple, and rosé. All three options feature a sunburst effect. While using the gold and purple versions for a short time, I noticed a slight difference in the finish. The sunburst effect on the gold dial looks more pronounced, while the purple dial appears to have a slightly matte finish over the sunburst brushed finish. Based on the press photos I’ve seen of the rosé version, I think it resembles a more prominent gold finish.
My favorite here is definitely the gold version. Particularly in sunlight, the deeper lines of the sunburst bring out the various gold hues of the main dial and azure-finished sub-seconds register. The purple dial is no slouch either, but I prefer the deeper texture of the gold version. Of course, the distinctive Arabic numerals ensure optimal readability even in low light conditions. NOMOS watches usually have some colorful details on the dial. However, like other Club Sport models, only the “neomatik” text is printed in a contrasting color.
34mm Nomos Club Sport Neomatik on wrist
The combination of gold, purple and rosé dial colors and smaller size suggest that the 34mm Club Sport Neomatik is aimed more at women than men. I guess so, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the 34mm gold dial version on my 17cm wrist. Like the 37mm Club Sport Neomatik, it reminds me a bit of wearing a Cartier Santos Galbe, mainly due to its all-steel construction. But while wearing the smaller Club Sport, I also remembered the 34mm Breguet 5907.
This goes to show that size is very personal and you should simply wear what feels good. I haven’t worn the watch with the strap yet, but it might make it feel a little smaller if I do. By the way, the bracelet tapers from 18mm to 16mm in width. So it doesn’t feel that narrow.
I also noticed that the 34mm Club Sport Neomatik comes with a screw-down crown. This came as a surprise as the 37mm and 39mm equivalents are not waterproof, although all three versions are water resistant to 200 meters. Another nice feature is the red ribbon that indicates the crown is not fully screwed down.
final thoughts
I really like the new 34mm NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik, especially the gold dial version. It’s a small size, so it was very comfortable for my 17cm wrist. But most of all, I like that this isn’t a poorer version of its big brother. It offers the same in-house manufactured automatic movement, the same 200m water resistance rating, and the same easy-to-use bracelet. I’m still not a big fan of polished center links, but an all-polished bracelet looks a little strange when paired with an all-polished case. Perhaps it’s time for the folks at Glashütte to give their cases a little brush too and make them look a little sportier.
The new 34mm NOMOS Club Sport Neomatik costs 2,780 euros with display case back. This is a little smaller than the slightly larger version. Overall, I think the price is reasonable for a well-made watch with a unique face and a high-quality movement. Finally, I’m also curious to see what sizes Nomos introduces next in the Club Sport Neomatik lineup. Is it smaller than 34mm or larger than 42mm?
Let us know what you think about the new 34mm Nomos Club Sport Neomatik in the comments section below. Which of the three colors do you like best?
