Nodus Releases Two New Sector Dialed Watches: the Sector Field and Sector Dive

It was only back in October that we brought you news of the Nodus Duality, their excellent interpretation of classic dual-crown divers. Just a few short months later, the LA based brand is back with not one, but two new watches: the Sector Dive and the Sector Field. As with previous Nodus releases, these watches are modern updates of classic watch tropes with a distinct Nodus spin. They’re not exactly vintage inspired, but they take watch history seriously, and remain firmly planted in certain design traditions. Let’s take a closer look at the newest releases from Nodus.

Nodus Sector Dive and Sector Field 

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Sector Dive: Black, white, tan, blue; Sector Field: White, gray, green
• Dimensions: 38 x 12.9 x 47mm
• Crystal: Sapphire   
• Water Resistance: 150 meters 
• Crown: Screw down         
• Movement: Seiko NH35 (Sector Dive), Seiko NH38 (Sector Field)
• Strap/bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet 
• Price: $400 (Sector Field), $425 (Sector Dive)
• Reference Number: n/a
• Expected Release: Shipping January 2020

The Sector Series is built, fundamentally, for versatility. Dive and field watches are similar in a lot of ways, but are primarily linked by a go anywhere, do anything design. Watches in these genres should be able to provide the functionality you require in a wide variety of situations, whether that means timing a load of laundry or a dive, or being able to read the time quickly on a hike, or in the middle of a movie. Nodus has built the watches in the Sector Series to be tough and durable, but the design is refined, and there’s no sacrifice to basic functionality for making these any less tool-like.

To that point, the Sector Dive’s major innovation is in its bezel. Rather than a traditional aluminum bezel insert, Nodus has fitted their watch with a DLC coated stainless steel bezel. The result is two-fold. First, the coated steel is much more durable, and will stand up to scratches more easily than aluminum. Second, it gives the watch a sleek, modern look, setting itself apart somewhat dramatically from similarly priced dive watches. Other than the bezel, the Sector Dive retains much of the classic dive watch aesthetic, with plenty of lume on the hour markers and a contrast colored minute hand for easy reading while underwater (or at the laundromat). 

The Sector Field is in some ways a more deliberately modern design than the Sector Dive. The Field, like the Dive, makes use of a sector dial, but there’s additional delineation of the “sector” components on the field that give it a lot of visual interest, and wouldn’t be appropriate on a dive watch, where, in theory, the most important functionality is a quick reading of elapsed minutes. The Sector Field has a practical inner 24 hour scale on the outside of the dial’s innermost sector, and polished a step-bezel in place of a rotating dive bezel. It’s an attractive package overall, particularly in the white and green variants (dubbed “Vapor” and “Sequoia” by Nodus) which have a subtle fumé effect.

At $400 for the Sector Field and $425 for the Sector Dive, these new releases from Nodus represent a great value not only for what we anticipate is their typical high quality finishing and overall robustness, but for the thought and care put into the design. To create one unique and interesting watch is an accomplishment, but Nodus is on a run, and have now developed a string of thoughtful, modern watches that are extremely accessible to enthusiasts. It’s proof that good design doesn’t need to be something shrouded in exclusivity. Nodus