Mechanical watches are usually associated with luxury. We want them, but we do not need them. Long gone are the days when a watch was an intrinsic part of our lives. Sure, we need to know the time, but there are a number of devices at our disposal to do so, all of which are infinitely more accurate, and many of which are cheaper than ever before. Still, even when considering a luxury item, more is not always better. Sometimes, minimalism is preferable, and I am not only talking in terms of design, but minimalism in function; an object that provides exactly what you need and no more. This philosophy is shared by Nomos, a brand that I personally identify with. I do enjoy complicated watches now and then, but more often, I prefer something like the Nomos Tangente 38 with its modest size, super-clean dial, and manually wound movement. A Tangente with additional meaning is better still, like the Nomos Tangente 38 – 50 Ans De Médecins Sans Frontières.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, is an independent nonprofit humanitarian organization dedicated to delivering emergency medical care to regions in urgent need. The watch celebrates MSF’s 50th anniversary, and the collaboration is consistent with Nomos’s history of supporting and raising awareness for humanitarian causes, and they donate 100 EUR to MSF from each watch sold. For each watch sold, they donate 100 EUR for each sale of the Tangente to the organization, but in my opinion, much more than that is the awareness that Nomos is creating.
The Tangente is an institution for Nomos. It was the first design to receive the outstanding Alpha caliber, a 17-jewel, manual mechanical wonder that looks and performs like nothing else at this price point. It has a 43-hour power reserve and feels smooth and precise when setting and winding.
The dial is where it subtly departs from the rest of the Tangente offerings. Like other Tangente models, this version embraces the Bauhaus school of design, featuring a sparse layout with tall, elegant numbers, needle-thin black baton hands, and a discreet small seconds indicator. The twist comes in the form of a grainy silver dial and an attention-grabbing red 12, 
a nod to Doctors Without Borders’s signature color.
The 38mm case is comfortably unisex, yet it does not appear small given the fact that it is all dial. It fits nicely on my 6.25-inch wrist, and at just 6.7mm tall, this ultra-slim watch is remarkably easy to wear. The lugs extend nicely but they are kept under 48mm — a length I never like to cross. The Tangente feels as good as it looks. The whole case hugged my wrist nicely.
It is not always easy to design a watch that can convincingly serve a wide range of occasions, but this is certainly one of them. Casual? No problem. Sporty? Sure, why not? Some people might think the Tangente’s understated design is not much to look at, but they will soon notice the way its dial changes with the light and its iconic yet playful numerals. They will also appreciate its high-contrast legibility and details like the concentric texture on the small seconds dial.
The watch comes on a comfortable two-piece fabric strap in grey that makes the grainy texture of the dial pop. I am a fan of changing straps, and the Tangente is a strap monster, but I really doubt that there is a better combination than this.
It is great to see a brand supporting such a noble cause. Nomos is one of the brands in the industry that not has both brand recognition and the reputation to make a difference. When you speak to a Nomos employee, you can really sense their enthusiasm, not only for watches but for quality and responsibility in general. I like this. I like it a lot. With initiatives such as this one, I believe the future is bright, not only for the brand but also for institutions like Doctors Without Borders. Make sure you check them both out. You might think that your little grain of help doesn’t mean much, but trust me, it does.
The Nomos Tangente 38 – 50 Ans De Médecins Sans Frontières is a limited edition of 2021 pieces, available for $2,030 from nomos-glashuette.com.
Technical Specifications
- stainless-steel, stainless-steel back
- sapphire crystal glass
- diameter 37.5 mm
- height 6.7 mm
- lug-to-lug 47.7 mm
- galvanized, white silver-plated
- 50 ans de Médecins Sans Frontières inscription at six o’clock, red 12
- oxidized black hands
- Textile strap dark gray, woven, waterproof
- lug width 19 mm
