Latest Review
October 13, 2021 
Fewer words inspire greater freedom and excitement than Autobahn. In their love letter to mechanical speed and grace, NOMOS have tapped into the brilliance of German designer Werner Aisslinger for an exhilarating new take on the Autobahn with three Director’s Cut Limited Edition watches. Together, these watches transcend the traditional archetypes of time, style, and mechanics in the most thoughtful of ways.
The NOMOS Autobahn watches are a masterclass in subtle drama within small spaces that combine to spectacular effect, resulting in a wrist presence that is anything but subtle. Bright colors meet soft curves in places you’d least expect; fine textures host a minimal layout inspired by automotive language; and dramatic proportions yield a slim yet powerful presence. NOMOS have long since perfected this balance and Aisslinger’s vision is brought to life beautifully as a result.
NOMOS first debuted the Autobahn collection in 2018 with a trio of regular production models designed by Aisslinger, and with the Director’s Cut Limited Editions, he returns to the collection to reference three sections of the famous German highway in the A3, A7, and A9. Each reference offers a unique take on the watch, and each tells a story personal to Aisslinger’s connection with the roads.
Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition A3
The Director’s Cut A3 brings the dashboard inspired design to life through vibrant tangerine colors atop a flat white backdrop. Light blue accents heighten the drama, and command the eye along the hour and minute track like the needle of a speedometer. The A3 connects The Netherlands with Austria via some of Germany’s most iconic cities, such as Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Frankfurt. The metropolitan route befits the confidence and personality of the Autobahn Director’s Cut A3, while referencing some of the greatest machines to have mastered it.
Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition A7
The Director’s Cut A7 reaches further back in time with a vibrant yellow luminous ring bursting from the deep blue base color of the dial. The dimensionality of this dial, which is milled from a single piece, is on full display here, with the subtle curvature found at the dial’s edge and subdial are traced by red accents. The enthralling combination references headlight lit sections of the A7, a near 600 mile trek which bisects Germany from north to south.
Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition A9
With the Director’s Cut A9, the Autobahn goes dark, embracing the night time experience. Shades of black and grey betray the essentials, including the luminous ring which shines turquoise in low light. This execution pushes focus to the subtle details that comprise the dial, from the slope of the milled edges, to the innovative date display placed symmetrically along the dial’s bottom edge. The A9 connects Berlin and Munich, representing a vital throughway to the heart of Germany’s most iconic cities.
Precision & Innovation
Powering each of these Limited Edition Autobahn watches is the NOMOS built DUW 6101 automatic caliber, which measures just 3.6mm in height. The movement, which has been adjusted to within chronometer standards, features the brand patented date mechanism, which can be set quickly and easily in either direction, as well their proprietary escapement, the Swing System. The beautifully finished caliber is visible through the open caseback, and is framed by each watch’s individual number out of the 175 of each to be produced.
All three of the Director’s Cut Autobahn Limited Edition watches enjoy distinct and powerful personalities provided by their color palettes, while being united by a unique dial architecture. The gentle curvature of the dial brings an organic beauty that elevates the watch from its mechanical roots in manner commensurate with other iconic German brands that dominate the roadways within. Similarly, these details never distract from the dial’s focal points, serving only to accentuate, creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
In service of this, the sculpted steel bracelet that pairs solid structures with fine horizontal links for high visual impact, and maximum on wrist comfort. The bracelet pushes the Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition watches further into sporting territory, with large milled holes that reference some of the extreme weight savings features found on mid century race cars.
Whether you’re traveling through the heart of Germany on the exhilarating autobahn, or simply walking through the park, the NOMOS Autobahn will bring a sense of adventure and beauty to your journey.
