The NOMOS Tangente 38 – 50 ans de Médecins Sans Frontières is the 2021 anniversary edition, reference 165.S50. NOMOS announced a limited run of 2,021 watches and a contribution of €100 from each watch sold to emergency aid. Its defining details are a red 12 and an MSF anniversary inscription on an otherwise restrained white dial.
What the reference 165.S50 commemorates
NOMOS introduced the watch in 2021 for the 50th anniversary of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders. The launch announcement described it as marking a decade of partnership between the watchmaker and the humanitarian organization. MSF was founded in Paris in 1971, and NOMOS says it has been a partner since 2012.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Nomos Tangente 38 Datum Leather Men's Watch 130 | $2,780.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nomos Tangente Galvanized White Dial Black Leather Men's Watch 101 | $2,199.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nomos Tangente Neomatik Men's Automatic Watch - 175 | $3,460.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Nomos Tangente Neomatik Nachtblau Automatic Unisex Watch 177 | $3,500.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The announced production limit was 2,021 pieces. NOMOS’s launch material said €100 from each watch sold would go directly to emergency aid. That was the contribution associated with the 2021 release, not a standing offer or a current fundraising promise. The announcement scheduled retail availability for the end of April 2021; it does not establish present-day stock.
This is a specific edition, not a generic name for every NOMOS watch made in support of MSF. Check for reference 165.S50 and the full dial inscription, “50 ans de Médecins Sans Frontières,” when identifying a listing.
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- Nomos Tangente 38 Datum Leather Men's Watch 130
Dial and case design
The design retains the Tangente’s spare, highly legible layout. NOMOS specifies a white, silver-plated galvanized dial, black oxidized hands, a red 12, and the MSF anniversary wording at six o’clock. The red numeral is the main color accent; the inscription makes the commemorative purpose unmistakable without changing the watch’s overall restrained character.
The model is marketed as a Tangente 38, while NOMOS’s April 2021 fact sheet lists the case diameter as 37.5 mm. The two figures describe the same watch: 38 mm is the model name, and 37.5 mm is the published measured diameter. The stainless-steel case is 6.7 mm high, with 19 mm between the lugs. NOMOS lists a steel back and sapphire crystal.
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- Featuring a Black Band, Silver-tone Case, Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
Movement and published specifications
The watch is manually wound and uses NOMOS’s Alpha caliber. For this model, the manufacturer says the movement is adjusted according to chronometer standards. That wording is not evidence of independent chronometer certification or a published independent timing test. The Alpha has a stop-seconds mechanism, Glashütte stopwork, 17 jewels, and a stated power reserve of up to 43 hours.
| Specification | NOMOS data sheet, status April 2021 |
|---|---|
| Reference | 165.S50 |
| Case | Two-part stainless steel; steel back |
| Diameter | 37.5 mm measured case diameter; marketed as Tangente 38 |
| Height | 6.7 mm |
| Lug width | 19 mm |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Dial and hands | White, silver-plated galvanized dial; red 12; MSF inscription at six; black oxidized hands |
| Movement | Manual-winding Alpha; stop-seconds mechanism; Glashütte stopwork; 17 jewels |
| Movement dimensions | 2.6 mm high; 23.3 mm diameter |
| Power reserve | Up to 43 hours |
| Strap | Dark-gray woven textile |
| Water resistance | Up to 3 atm; described by NOMOS as splash-proof |
| Special engraving | “Limited Edition Tangente – 50 ans de Médecins Sans Frontières 1/2021” |
NOMOS marked the specifications as current in April 2021 and reserved the right to make technical changes. The 3 atm rating is explicitly characterized as splash-proof; the published information does not support treating the watch as suitable for swimming or diving.
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What to check when considering one today
The launch-period release and announced production limit do not show whether a particular watch is currently available, whether new-old-stock remains, or what a reasonable resale price is. For a current listing, verify the exact reference, seller, condition, included box and papers, and return terms. The edition marking and characteristic dial details help identify it, but do not replace a careful authenticity check.
When comparing it with another Tangente, focus on the measured case diameter and thickness, 19 mm lug width, manual Alpha movement and reserve, and the MSF-specific dial and engraving. Ask the seller for clear photographs and documentation rather than inferring completeness or condition from the edition name alone.
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- Nomos Tangente Neomatik Nachtblau Automatic Unisex Watch 177
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