Nomos Orion Midnight Blue Edition Review

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Watchestolove presents a detailed review of his Nomos Orion Midnight Blue Edition, a collaboration with Timeless Luxury Watches. This article explores the watch's aesthetic appeal, movement, and overall value, offering a comparative perspective against a Glashütte Original PanoMaticLunar. His insights provide a valuable look into the appeal of German watchmaking for collectors seeking quality and distinctive design.

After acquiring the beautiful PanoMaticLunar, I had my eyes set on another German watch. Although I'd love to own a Lange one day, unfortunately right now it is out of my league. Enter Nomos Orion Midnight Blue Edition, a very well priced watch with very impressively decorated movement suitable for everyday wear. I've always wanted to add a blue dial to my collection, and as soon as I saw this special edition I felt like this is the perfect watch for me. The Midnight Blue Limited Edition is a collaboration between a watch shop in Texas called Timeless Luxury Watches and Nomos, with 2 versions being silver markers on blue dial and gold markers on blue dial. Each version is limited to 75 pieces.

I decided to go with the silver markers version because I feel like it is more timeless and would age better.

A little unboxing, and quite literally the watch comes in a rather cheap wooden box. It's fine by me, I'd rather the watch companies not charge us extra for fancy boxes that are just going to end up in the back of the closet.

The sunburst dial is gorgeous, and it looks different from different angles/light conditions.

The Alpha movement (based on the Peseux 7001), this one also has the upgraded Nomos Swing System (which basically is just Nomo's own in house produced escapement system including hairspring)

Closeup, the decoration is very very decent for watch of this price, if not the best in the segment.

Compared with the PML:

One thing I stood out immediately to me between the two watches is the print on the dials. The PML is extremely precise and crisp, including print on the guilloche areas. The Orion is less crisp and is a tad rough. It's like comparing 1080p to 4K resolution :P

All in all the Nomos Orion is a lot of watch for the price. I love the minimalist design and the beautifully decorated movement that you would not normally expect from a watch with a simple dial like this. At 38mm, it is the smallest watch in my collection and I love how it can be dressy or dressed down with a different strap. It is light and small, and I almost forget that I'm wearing a watch. Sometimes it is what I want to wear to take a break from the macho PAM422. =)

This message has been edited by Kevin W. on 2016-06-23 00:07:30

About the Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Ref. PAM422

The PAM422 represents Panerai's Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days in a substantial 47mm case configuration. This reference operates within the Luminor Marina series, distinguishing itself through the P3001 movement and polished steel construction.

The 47mm polished steel case houses the P3001 movement and features a polished steel bezel. The watch incorporates a 3mm sapphire crystal and offers 100-meter water resistance. The case materials and movement specifications position this reference as a substantial timepiece within the collection.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking larger case dimensions and the P3001 movement within the Luminor Marina lineup. The 47mm case size and polished steel finish provide specific aesthetic and wearing characteristics that distinguish the PAM422 from other references in the series. The combination of case size and movement creates a particular positioning within the broader Luminor Marina collection.

Specifications

Case: Polished Steel

Diameter: 47mm

Water Resist.: 100m

Crystal: 3mm Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The blue dial of the Nomos Orion Midnight Blue Edition exhibits significant variation under different lighting conditions, appearing subdued indoors and displaying aggressive highlights under bright sun.
German watches, including Nomos and Glashütte Original, are appreciated for their distinct charm and high level of finishing, often characterized by the 3/4 plate construction.
The Nomos Orion Midnight Blue Edition, with its impressive movement decoration, offers significant value for its price point, making high-quality German watchmaking accessible.
The author notes a difference in dial print crispness between the Nomos Orion and the Glashütte Original PanoMaticLunar, comparing it to a resolution difference between 1080p and 4K.
The minimalist design and versatile 38mm case size allow the Nomos Orion to be dressed up or down, offering comfort and a break from larger watches.

The Discussion

Alkiro1

Jun 23, 2016

A friend of mine recently bought a GO Panomatic Lunar... but the first model in 42mm instead of 40mm today. So nice brand and watch (I own a PanoInverse XL in steel and I will keep it for sure). I own and owned several Lange and, trust me, if you have the chance to own one one day, you would be very happy and never disappointed. You are on the right way ;-) Enjoy Best wishes Alkiro

Luis6

Jun 23, 2016

I would love to see how the blue dial appears under different lighting conditions. Your photos are always fantastic. No exception this time.

Horology75

Jun 23, 2016

Wear it in best of health ! Iam waiting for mine )

mahesh

Jun 23, 2016

clean dial and legibility !!

Dr No

Jun 23, 2016

. . . to share this comparison with us, Kevin. The unique character of German watchmaking is subtle, but unmistakeable. The 3/4 plate construction common to both gives their country of origin away. And nice to know it's available to folks with constrained budgets. Cordially, Art

watchestolove

Jun 23, 2016

German watches just have this charm different to Swiss watches. It's not better or worse, it just really suits my personal taste. Really hope to see a Lange in my collection one day!

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About the Panerai Luminor Marina 1950 3 Days Ref. PAM422

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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