For the two date-and-power-reserve references most often compared, the choice comes down to case size and dial character, not movement. The NOMOS Metro date power reserve ref. 1101 and the Tangente date power reserve ref. 131 both use the manually wound DUW 4401, both list up to 42 hours of power reserve, and both carry 5 atm water resistance and an 18 mm lug width. The Metro is the larger watch, at 37.0 mm across and 43.6 mm lug-to-lug. The Tangente is slimmer and smaller in diameter, at 35.0 mm across and 6.6 mm high, but its lugs are longer, at 45.0 mm lug-to-lug.
Choose the Metro 1101 if you want more dial presence and a contemporary design identity. Choose the Tangente 131 if you want a slimmer, smaller-diameter case and can accept longer lugs.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Nomos Metro Neomatik Automatic White Dial Men's Watch 1165 | $4,600.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nomos Metro Ruthenium-Plated Dial Hand Wind Men's Watch 1111 | $2,860.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nomos Metro 33 Automatic Muted Red Dial Watch 1123 | $2,274.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Nomos Metro Neomatik Automatic Silver Dial Men's Watch 1113 | $4,180.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nomos Metro 38 Date Ruthenium-Plated Dial Men's Watch 1103 | $3,480.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Confirm you are comparing the right references
NOMOS sells several watches under each family name, and the specifications do not carry across variants. The Metro 38 date uses DUW 4601 with a 52-hour reserve, which is a different movement and a different reserve from the 1101. The Tangente 2date, with its ring date, date window and quick-set mechanism, also uses DUW 4601. This comparison covers only the Metro date power reserve ref. 1101 and the Tangente date power reserve ref. 131, the two references NOMOS lists as date-and-power-reserve models. Check the reference number before applying any figure from this article to a watch you are considering.
Side-by-side specifications
| Attribute | Metro date power reserve ref. 1101 | Tangente date power reserve ref. 131 |
|---|---|---|
| Winding and caliber | Manual, DUW 4401 | Manual, DUW 4401 |
| Power reserve | Up to 42 hours (manufacturer listing) | Up to 42 hours (manufacturer listing) |
| Case diameter | 37.0 mm | 35.0 mm |
| Height | 7.7 mm | 6.6 mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 43.6 mm | 45.0 mm |
| Lug width | 18 mm | 18 mm |
| Water resistance | 5 atm; NOMOS describes it as splash-proof | 5 atm; NOMOS describes it as splash-proof |
| Listed price | £3,440 on the UK product page; $4,020 on a Kuwait-region page | $3,480 on the cited product page (market not stated) |
Measurements, movement, reserve, lug width and water resistance are taken from NOMOS Glashütte’s current product pages for ref. 1101 and ref. 131, accessed 9 October 2026. The prices are regional storefront figures, shown at the time of that access, and they are not a like-for-like comparison (see the pricing section below).
#1 Best Overall
- Nomos Metro Neomatik Automatic White Dial Men's Watch 1165
Fit: diameter, height and lug-to-lug
Fit is where these two watches actually differ, and it has to be judged on three numbers, not one. A reader who looks only at diameter will expect the Tangente to sit smaller on the wrist in every respect. That is not what the specifications show.
- Diameter: The Tangente is 2.0 mm narrower across the case, which is the main reason it reads as the more compact watch.
- Height: At 6.6 mm, the Tangente is 1.1 mm lower than the Metro’s 7.7 mm, which matters most under a shirt cuff.
- Lug-to-lug: The Tangente is 1.4 mm longer from lug tip to lug tip. Longer lugs can overhang the edge of a narrow wrist, so the smaller diameter does not guarantee a smaller footprint.
Because the published numbers point in different directions, try both on if you can. Pay attention to whether the lugs sit flat on your wrist or extend past it, not only to how wide the dial looks.
Rank #2
- Nomos Metro Ruthenium-plated Dial Hand Wind Men's Watch 1111
Movement and power reserve: no winner on the published figures
Both references use the same manually wound DUW 4401 and carry the same listed reserve of up to 42 hours. Manual winding means you must wind the watch yourself; a reserve of up to 42 hours means a watch left unwound for two days will stop, so a daily winding habit is needed if you wear it every day. The published figures do not include independent timing or reserve testing for either model, so they cannot rank one movement above the other in accuracy or endurance. Treat the two as technically equivalent on the available evidence.
Design: the main reason to choose one over the other
Because the movement and reserve are shared, design is the decision that remains. NOMOS associates the Metro’s dial design with Berlin-based designer Mark Braun, and the Metro reads as the more distinctive, contemporary face of the two. The Tangente’s design language is more restrained. That description is an editorial judgment rather than a measured claim, but it is the characterization most buyers will test on their own wrists.
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NOMOS’s November 2025 press release quotes Braun, identified there as a professor of product design, on the purpose of a mechanical watch: “A mechanical watch is an timekeeping instrument, yes, but more than that: It is a public statement of values. How do I want to live, what do I want to surround myself with?” The quote is reproduced as published, including its grammatical error. It is a general statement about mechanical watches and does not compare these two models.
Water resistance and straps
Both references are listed at 5 atm, and NOMOS describes them as splash-proof. That is suitable for rain and hand-washing but not for swimming or diving. Do not buy either watch with the expectation of water sports use.
Rank #4
- Nomos Metro Neomatik Automatic Silver Dial Men's Watch 1113
Both references have an 18 mm lug width, so a strap or bracelet that fits one should fit the other. Lug width is not the whole story, though. Confirm the strap’s length and attachment type against your wrist size and the watch’s lug shape before ordering, because two straps with the same nominal width can still sit differently on the two cases.
Pricing: why the listed figures are not a fair comparison
- The Metro figures come from two different regional storefronts: £3,440 on the UK page and $4,020 on a Kuwait-region page. Neither shows a tax or duty treatment for a reader in another country.
- The Tangente figure, $3,480, comes from a page whose market is not stated, so it cannot be set against either Metro figure.
- Prices change. Any figure you see here should be checked against a current local NOMOS listing or an authorised retailer before you decide.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Metro 1101 if
- You want the larger 37.0 mm case and a shorter 43.6 mm lug-to-lug measurement.
- You prefer the Metro’s more distinctive, contemporary dial.
- You do not mind the 7.7 mm height.
Choose the Tangente 131 if
- You want the slimmer 6.6 mm profile and smaller 35.0 mm diameter.
- You prefer a more restrained dial and can accept the 45.0 mm lug-to-lug length.
- You can test the fit on your wrist before buying, because the longer lugs are the most likely source of a poor fit.
These recommendations follow from published specifications and design descriptions. Neither watch has been assessed here through extended wear, so the final call should rest on how each one sits on your wrist and on what you find attractive.
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Best Value
- Featuring a Black Band, Silver-tone Case, Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
Checks before you buy
- Confirm the exact reference: ref. 1101 for the Metro date power reserve, ref. 131 for the Tangente date power reserve, not the Metro 38 or Tangente 2date.
- Try both on, and check lug overhang and height under a cuff.
- Check the current price in your own market on the NOMOS site or with an authorised retailer.
- Match the strap to the 18 mm lug width and confirm length and attachment before buying a replacement.
Sources: NOMOS Glashütte product pages for ref. 1101 and ref. 131, accessed 9 October 2026; NOMOS press release, November 2025.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
