This is an in-depth article about my Nomos Tangente 35mm watch,

What you need to know, who it’s for, and whether you should buy one.

Tl;dr? Go ahead and buy one.

So, you want to buy a luxury watch…

The Nomos Tangente may not be the first watch you think of if you’re considering a luxury watch.

Here’s why.

If you’re looking for a dress watch and want to push the boat out, perhaps you’d look at:

• Something from A.Lange and Söhne like a Lange 1, Saxonia or Odysseus
• Something from Patek Philippe like a Calatrava, Perpetual Calendar, or Split Seconds Chronograph
• Something from Jaeger-Le-Coultre like a Reverso, Master or Duometre

If you’re looking for a tool watch perhaps you’d look at:

• Something from Omega like a Speedmaster, Seamaster or Planet Ocean
• Something from Doxa like a Sub 200, Sub 200 T Graph or Sub 300 Carbon Aqua
• Something from Rolex like a Submariner, GMT Master 2 or Explorer

If you’re looking for an everyday watch perhaps you’d look at:

• Something from Tudor like a Black Bay, GMT or Pelagos
• Something from Bremont like a Solo, Project Possible or U2
• Something from Oris like a Divers Sixty Five, Aquis or Big Crown

So, you can see why there’s a lot to choose from, and where the confusion lies.

If you’re in a position to buy the watch you want, know which watch you want, or know when and where you’ll wear your watch then the decision is easier.

However, for the rest of us, buying a luxury watch is a considered purchase and takes a lot of time and research.

So, that brings us on to Nomos.

Who is Nomos?

Unusually for a luxury watch manufacturer, Nomos is German, not Swiss, and hails from the famous watchmaking town of Glashütte, south of Berlin, near Dresden, in what was previously East Germany.

The designation ‘Glashütte’ is as protected as things like Champagne, and there are strict controls over what defines a Glashütte watch. A watch manufacturer can’t just relocate to this region and put Glashütte on the dial.

Nomos puts the fun back into watches, watchmaking, and watch ownership, and puts a fantastic watch on your wrist for comparatively little money compared to other luxury watch brands, no matter which model you choose.

So what is it about the Nomos Tangente?

Starting at £1,500 the Nomos Tangente is:

• More than many people would spend on a watch
• More than many other great-value watch brands (like Seiko)
• More than a similarly-styled quartz watch from the likes of Daniel Wellington

But it’s also:

• Less than many even entry-level quartz luxury watches
• Less than many so-called dress watches
• Less than many mechanical watches from mid-level brands

So, for those in the know, Nomos represent excellent value for money and is an informed choice.

At this sort of price the Tangente is attainable (even if it takes a good bit of saving for), a big step up from a cheaper/lesser watch, and a solid choice.

Remember the slogan, “Nobody ever got fired for buying an IBM”?

Nomos is like that – it’s not the cheapest or most expensive, but a reliable and sensible choice.

Watch snobs will be mad at the amount they spent on their watch that provides the same features and manufacturing quality, whilst genuine watch lovers will admire your taste and the value for money.

Design

The Nomos Tangente is a slim hand-wound watch, with a minimal and relatively formal look, feel, and appeal. It’s closer to a dress watch, and less of an everyday watch (for many people) than a modern stainless steel sports watch.

It’s also available with a display back, showing off the impressive hand-winding movement.

This type of design is tried and tested and goes back to the Bauhaus era, but could equally be an heirloom from the 1950s as much as brand new today.

It’s not surprising to learn that the Nomos Tangente and other Nomos watches have won many design awards over the last 25 years,

There is barely any bezel, certainly compared to a dive watch or many chronographs, and the dial is a creamy colour. It looks old without looking ‘forced’ or ‘false’.

If you’ve watched ‘Mad Men’ then you’ll have some idea of the style.

The Tangente has just five numerals on the dial so reading the time is very easy. The sub-seconds at the 6 o’clock position ensure symmetry and adds some ‘texture’. The (optional) display back shows off the impressive movement.

The hands are blued, which is achieved by heating them to 290º as per a long watchmaking tradition. They look black much of the time, but in the right light, they are clearly cornflower blue.

Elegant is a word that comes to mind when looking at the Tangente. Whilst it may harken back to yesteryear, this watch is very much at home in the modern world.

Size

My Tangente is just 35mm in diameter, and 6.2mm tall, which is small compared to typical modern watches which can be larger than 45mm in diameter, and heading towards 15mm tall.

Although 35mm does seem small compared to many other watches, the watch is all dial, unlike a dive watch with its big chunky dial.

I often wear my 42mm Seiko SKX007 dive watch (Hodinkee review of the Seiko SKX007), and I would suggest that the dial (minus the bezel) is approximately the same size on both watches.

So, because the watch is all dial, it wears much bigger than 35mm would imply. I would implore anybody looking at the Tangente to try the 35mm before immediately dismissing it and ordering the 38mm.

It’s important to remember that this could be considered a dress watch (or at least a non-tool or non-sports watch), and so doesn’t need the bulk of a 200m diver, the 24-hour scale of a GMT, or the tachygraph of a racing chronograph.

Movement

The Tangente is powered by the in-house (did I mention how desirable an in-house movement is for watch aficionados?) hand-wound Alpha movement.

This movement is simple and effective, with just 17 jewels (the fewer the better, according to renowned watchmaker Cameron Weiss of Weiss Watches). The power reserve is up to 43 hours (meaning it can go well over a day without needing winding), and it has a movement height of just 2.3mm.

The watch itself is just over 6mm thick, or about half the height of my beloved SKX007 dive watch.

Winding the watch is simple, and there is a reassuring amount of resistance from the crown. Because there is no day or date complication, the watch can be wound whilst the crown is pushed in, making the pleasurable job of winding it up even easier.

Strap

Nomos is renowned for using high-quality Horween shell cordovan leather straps. If you want more information about Horween, why not listen to Dean Delray’s excellent episode of Let There Be Talk with Nick Horween? (Soundcloud link).

I bought my watch pre-owned and it came with both black and brown Horween shell cordovan straps, and the watch looks excellent with either.

The black strap is elegant and understated and the brown strap is more causal, both are very comfortable.

I prefer a black strap for formal occasions when I’m getting dressed up in a suit and tie, and a brown strap for everyday use.

The drilled lugs make changing the straps much easier than on my SKX007.

I’ve never been a fan of ‘coloured’, ‘fun’ or ‘quirky’ straps on formal watches, and trying a couple of NATO straps on my Tangente didn’t change my mind.

Instead of making it look more relaxed, a NATO strap made the watch look like a Daniel Wellington, or ‘forced fun’ or a ‘mullet’, which is obviously not my intention.

Suitability

Many watches are versatile, and many watch owners wear their favourite (or only) watch for lots of different tasks in their daily lives. However, not all watches are equal.

I find that although the Tangente is versatile enough to wear every day, rather than just for special occasions, it is, by design, a little more delicate. I am understandably but unfairly comparing it to the tool watches I wear (Seiko SKX007, Seiko Orange Monster (Link to The Watch Blog review of the Seiko SRP309 Orange Monster) and a G-Shock GW-M5610 (Link to G-Shock UK Rectangular G-Shock digital watch).

Perhaps it’s like comparing:

• The capability of an SUV to the limits of a 2-seater sports car
• The versatility of your Red Wings or Blundstone boots to your weddings-only dress shoes
• The availability of a sandwich to the exclusivity of a Michelin-starred restaurant

Whilst the SUV, boots and sandwich cover a lot of bases and often on the same day, they’re not appropriate all the time.

If you’re:

• Driving twisty roads for fun, then an SUV won’t be ideal
• Going to a wedding, your everyday boots won’t go with your summer suit
• Celebrating your wedding anniversary, you’ll want something more special than a sandwich

My biggest concern is remembering this watch is not waterproof, and nor is it intended to be.

Neither my Seiko dive watches nor my G-Shock needs to be removed before I bathe my daughter, but my Tangente does. It’s not usually a problem, although I’ve almost forgotten on a couple of occasions.

This watch doesn’t need to be waterproof, and if it was waterproof that would change the thickness, the crown and the whole appearance of the watch, and probably not for the better either.

You could choose the Nomos Tangente Sport Neomatik 42 Date Marine if you want something more sporty and waterproof. However, this loses a lot of the appeal of the Tangente for me.

If I wanted a waterproof watch I’d wear something a lot cheaper, or a lot more ‘rugged’. I think a Tudor Black Bay of some sort would be on my shortlist if I had Tangente Sport Neomatik money to spend on a waterproof watch.

Who is the Nomos Tangente for?

We know the Nomos Tangente is a more formal watch heading towards a dress watch, has no water-resistance and doesn’t like casual straps.

So who is it for?

It’s ideal if you want a watch that is:

• Well-respected for wearing every day or for special occasions
• More formal than your sports or dive watch
• Simple, elegant and just tells the time
• Relaxed, and likely to fly under the radar

Well made and will last for generations

It might not be right if you:

• Want to wear it every day as part of your ‘active lifestyle’
• Like big(ger) chunky watches with a significant presence
• Are looking for a ‘status symbol’ watch
• Change your watch straps often
• Love complications like a date, chronograph, GMT, or moonphase on your watch

Due to its size and how easy to wear it is, the 35mm Tangente is popular with many women too. Which makes it even more versatile and broadens the target market considerably.

Time for a true story

I had an interview last year, and the interviewer was clearly expensively dressed but didn’t look good. The private plate on his white body-kitted Range Rover Sport should have rung alarm bells, but I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

His watch was big, brash and garish (for my taste anyway), and, certainly several times the cost of my Nomos (and possibly his Range Rover too). I can’t even remember what it was. Something gold. A Breitling Navitimer (Link to Breitling Navitimer) maybe?

I just smile when I think that despite ‘buying the right things’ and spending all that time, money on effort on ‘looking good’, he didn’t.

Needless to say, I didn’t want the job, and couldn’t face the prospect of working with someone like that.

Don’t think I’m judging a book by its cover – I spent 20 minutes with him and knew straight away I couldn’t work there.

Anyway, I digress…

Pricing

Currently, the Tangente is available in 22 models, starting from just under £1,500 for the 35mm 3-hand model, to £4,000 for the Tangente Sport featuring date, lume and 300m of water resistance.

Speaking from experience, I would recommend the optional display back so that you can see the Alpha movement in all its glory.

Just being able to see the watch working, and how this tiny machine tells the time is really worth the upcharge in my opinion.

Some display back watches don’t show much at all, but the hand-wound Tangente demonstrates just how a watch works.

Availability

The Nomos Tangente is readily available, and there are some limited editions or more ‘complicated’ watches, compared to mine.

Not every watch shop sells them, and so you may need to look around to find an authorised Nomos dealer. But finding a new Tangente is far easier than getting your hands on a new Rolex stainless steel sports watch!

Conclusion

I bought my Tangente for my wedding in August 2019, and whilst admittedly I haven’t worn it as much as I would have liked to, I absolutely love it.

As well as bringing back fond memories of my wedding day, I feel like a ‘grown-up’ wearing it. Perhaps like when you:

• Chose to wear shoes and not trainers
• Put a shirt on instead of a T-shirt
• Admit you need a ‘family car’

I’m a ‘jeans and T-shirt’ kind of guy, and I miss the security of wearing a dive watch. When I’m wearing my Tangente I’m consciously keeping my left hand protected to avoid door frames and other potential obstacles.

Also, my children have been at home for much of this year (2020), so I often had my hand in a box of Lego or was headfirst in the toybox looking for that elusive tiny doll accessory. This made my G-Shock or SKX007 a far more sensible watch.

Having said that, when I do have a long-sleeved shirt on (now it’s colder I tend to dress a tad smarter as well as warmer) I love wearing my Tangente, and it slips under a cuff with no problems, unlike my SKX.

If the adage of ‘dress smarter, think smarter’ is true, then the Nomos Tangente is perfect whether you’re:

• Working at home or in the office
• Want something for formal occasions
• Want to be more ‘grown-up’.

More information

Discover more about the Tangente and other Nomos watches and see which one is right for you.

What next?

Ready to talk about your content requirements?
Contact us now at [email protected] or on 01704 529007 and tell us how we can help your content turn more readers into customers.

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Can you really improve your website content in 5 minutes?

Surely not.

Can you? Really?

“But wait!” I hear you cry, “I’ve never got 5 minutes to spare!”.

Of course you haven’t.

You’re far too busy:

• Selling your products or services
• Sending out orders or brochures
• Saving your clients time or money
• Sending emails, or invoices

But what if you do have have 5 minutes to spend on your website content …?

Perhaps whilst you:

• Wait for the kettle to boil?
• Wait for a phone call?
• Wait for a client to turn up for a meeting?

Then you could use this time productively and improve your website content.

Here’s how.

Depending on your business, the size and complexity of your website, and your industry, you might want to concentrate on improving:

Every page

Most important pages

A single page

OK…Can you improve your website in just 5 minutes? Here goes…

Every page

If you only have a few pages on your website, then you could spend your 5 minutes:

• Looking at every page
• Identifying issues
• Fixing them

For example:

You might only have 5 pages to look through, and so it’ll be immediately obvious to see if something stands out like:

• Typo’s?
• Wrong names, addresses or phone numbers?
• Out of date information?
• Missing content?

Typo’s

The problem

Typos (I did it on purpose!) can be caused by incorrect spelling or grammar, or simply accidentally pressing the wrong key on the keyboard.

Unfortunately, the human eye picks up on ‘mistakes’ quickly, so any glaring issues like typos stand out like the proverbial sore thumb.

The solution

There’s never been an easier time to ensure that your content is spelled correctly, and follows appropriate grammar rules.

If you’re not sure, check the spelling.

Pro Tip

Wrong contact details

The problem

It’s infuriating when people ask for a former colleague, send things to your old address or ring the wrong phone number, isn’t it?

So do something about it.

The solution

Regularly check that all the basics are up to date, so your customers and colleagues can contact the right people all the time.

Check things like:

• Phone numbers – numbers can change as people move desks
• Names  – in case of marriage or divorce, or starters / leavers
• Job titles – people change roles or get promoted, and are not the right person now
• Phone numbers – numbers can change as people move desks
• Names  – in case of marriage or divorce, or starters / leavers
• Job titles – people change roles or get promoted, and are not the right person now

Pro Tip

Out of date information

The problem

Out of date information can:

• Lose you sales
• Make your business looks unprofessional
• Leave you lagging behind your competitors

We’ve all chuckled at summer sales being advertised in winter, or seen a “new for 2018” product in 2020, or noticed the latest blog post is from 2017.

This can leave a bad impression, no matter what size your company is, what you do, or who you do it for.

The solution

Check things like:

• Sales – are your summer / winter offers 6 months out of date?
• Services – is the “new for 2018 we now offer…” service prominent?
• News – is your latest news from February 2020?

Pro Tip

For example, ‘Christmas’ is out of date by 27th December really, whereas other time sensitive content, like:

• Summer
• Winter
• Halloween
• Valentine’s day

Has a longer shelf life.

Missing Content

The problem

We’ve all clicked on a search result, that we hoped would give us the answer to our problem, only to be disappointed, even from market leading brands or organisations.

It could be something simple, like:

• Deleted pages
• Broken links
• Published / Draft content that should(n’t) be showing

Or more complex like:

• How to guides or installation information
• Opening hours, delivery charges and brands stocked
• Case studies

The solution

Think like your visitors.

If you’re struggling, ask somebody else who doesn’t know what you do, or look at other websites in other industries. for inspiration.

Maybe your visitors don’t know much about:

• Buying a boiler
• Setting up probate
• Choosing a nursing home

So your content needs to:

• Demonstrate your expertise
• Explain what you do
• Answer common questions

Pro tip

This is a big one. Get ready…

Try looking at websites in completely different industries from what you do.

Keep an eye out for things like:

• Sympathy – understanding why and when people need you 
  • Divorce solicitor, funeral home, car breakdown service
• Brochures – the information on your desk not on your website
  • Sales literature, manufacture provided information, company overview
• Explanations – “if your car is pre 2015, then you’ll need an ABC123 tyre…”
  • What to look for – sizes, shapes, colours, locations, model numbers
• Comparisons – what do people already know the details of
  • Smaller than an apple, quicker than making a cup of coffee, less than £2 per day
• Installation guides – detailed, and helpful
  • For professionals as well as amateurs
• Images –  useful, close up, detailed
  • In use, in context, features and benefits
• Easy vs difficult – What you can do yourself, vs hiring a professional
  • “takes just 10 minutes and a screwdriver to fix” vs “years of courtroom experience…”
• Specifications – how big is it and what’s it like?
  • Size, weight, colour, material, compatibility, delivery times, availability
• ‘Hand holding’ – guiding you through every step of the way
  • First time needing a employee solicitor / architect / computer programmer
• Reassurance – not everyone is a litigation solicitor, plumber or dentist
  • Upset, flooded kitchen, crippling toothache 
• Videos – can provide a lot of information quickly and easily
  • Size, installation, your premises, how you work, what to expect when choosing you

Pro tip 2

What do you away from work, that might help.

Think about:

• Buying a new boiler if you’re a dentist
• Choosing a distant nursing home if you’re an accountant 
• Fixing an old garage door if you’re a solicitor

This will make you think less like a business, and more like your website visitors.

You could also try finding out something you know nothing about, perhaps you could look for: 

• New indicator bulbs for your car
• The nutritional information in your favourite restaurant meal
• Which attractions are open on Bank Holidays in another city

Chances are you’ll soon be:

• Out of your comfort zone
• Forced to learn new jargon
• Looking for all the help you can get

Those are the same sort of frustrations and inconveniences your website visitors experience too!

Bigger website

If you have lots of pages on your website, you might want to spend your 5 minutes: looking for typos, wrong names numbers and addresses, out of date information, and missing content for your most visited pages.

Important pages

The problem

You might not be able to read through all of the pages on your website in 5 minutes, so why not prioritise the main ones?

These could be:

• Homepage
• About Us
• Services, and individual services

The solution

 Check to make sure that the information is right for the 5 or so pages that attract the most visitors, and are likely to help (or hinder) visitors the most.

As well as typos, out of date contact details or content, you might find that:

• Your new services aren’t listed
• You’re promoting a brand you don’t use anymore
• You’re recommending an obsolete product

These issues may take take longer than 5 minutes to fix, but you’ll have made good progress, all in just 5 minutes.

You can also see how far you got in 5 minutes, and arrange another 5 minutes tomorrow, or next Thursday to look at the 5 next most important pages.

And so on until you’re done.

Product and Service Pages

As well as the above tips for your most important pages, you’ll want to ensure that your product and service pages are accurate.

Product Page

Problem

If you run an e-commerce site with thousands of products, you’re not going to easily be able to update every product, or add a better product description in 5 minutes.

Solution

So, you might be better off spending your first 5 minutes:

• Looking at an individual product page
• Reading the product description and specifications
• Checking the images are useful, and convey necessary information
• Finding the calls to action, and ensuring they are compelling
• Trying the checkout process to make sure it’s efficient

And seeing what needs to be done.

Pro tip

If you identify you need to add specifications, or should add weights, or the delivery cost, then you can add it to your website to-do list. 

Service page

Problem

You might be so engrained in your services, or be the person who actually does the work, that it might not be obvious where explanations are needed, or what the steps are from start to finish.

Solution

If you sell your services rather than products, then try:

• Reading through a service page, and see if it’s helpful
• Noting what’s missing or stopping you from buying 
• Seeing what would make the page and information better

Pro tip

• Where could you add a testimonial or link to a case study?
• Where could you put in a price range or project cost?
• Where could you add images? 

Conclusion

Even if you can’t fix any of these issue in 5 minutes, you could make a note of each page, and what needs to be done, then the next time you have 5 minutes spare, you know where to start and what to do. 

You now know what to look for, and what difference it will make to your visitors, and your business.

Know that you won’t have time for any of this?

Why not contact me today, and tell me how I can help you.

The post Can you really improve your website content in just 5 minutes? appeared first on Matthew James Writes.