Tetra

The Tetra is the only NOMOS watch that does not have a round case, being instead a shape watch, as it is called in the business. Many think of it as the Tangente’s more angular sister. However, although it may at first seem to be simply a rectangular Tangente, there are in fact other significant differences between these models. Its typography is similar, but not identical: the Tetra has more modern numbers, without any of the little serifs found with the Tangente.

Since the hands move with a circular motion, most people associate a watch with roundness. Consequently, rectangular watches often do not sell as well as rounded ones. In some ways, this is also the case with the Tetra. In accordance with demand, the watchmakers in Glashütte assemble fewer units of the Tetra than of the round models. (In fact, they are not entirely unhappy about this, since it is more difficult to construct rectangular watches. Making them watertight requires a huge amount of work and the result is nothing less than a tiny masterpiece.) Nevertheless, those who do purchase the Tetra love it with a passion. Some wrists simply look better with the Tetra than with a round watch.

All of our timepieces are constructed as “unisex-watches,” to be wearable by all. That being said, the Tetra is perhaps the most “feminine” watch in our collection. The surface of the face is smaller than that of the round watches. This is perhaps not easily noticeable with the “large” variety of this model with the white face, but is clearly evident with the standard small Tetra. In addition, we offer the colorful Tetra versions and a Tetra with gold case. These watches create an utterly harmonic effect—certainly not only on a lady’s wrist.

As mechanical watches go, the Tetra—the name itself even sounds a bit rectangular—is extremely flat. The case horns, those points to which the strap attaches, could almost be called delicate. By a doubling of the horns, it has become possible to use a narrower strap, thereby making the watch just a teensy bit “chic.” As already mentioned above, Tetra comes in two different sizes.