The NOMOS Tetra: a romantic take on Bauhaus design.
In the latest Tetra collection from NOMOS, a quartet of playful pastels incorporates a soft , ethereal look suggestive of spring into an easily wearable form. When I first saw these watches, I couldn’t help but immediately think of classic spring florals like cherry blossoms, lilacs, and azaleas. There’s something almost romantic about the beautiful color combinations – as if I could be in the midst of the city’s hustle and bustle yet still get a sense of peace as I check my watch for the time. With this new release, NOMOS brings a fun, contemporary take on traditional Bauhaus design into a functional, everyday piece.
The NOMOS Tetra radiates a whimsical yet functional aesthetic.
One of the brand’s core pieces, the Tetra’s distinctive design, is the perfect canvas for experimenting. Various editions in the last few years have included colors with a nod to the Bauhaus movement and the brand’s heritage. According to the NOMOS design team, the colors in this latest release aim to embody “spring, love, tenderness,” with the yellow and turquoise seconds hands adding a “playful touch” to the watch. For NOMOS, this particular collection allows the brand to “take liberties with the color” more so than with its other watches thanks to its “angular shape” and “straightforward design.”
The NOMOS Tetra radiates a whimsical yet functional aesthetic.
While the Tetra is a whimsical piece, there is more to the watch than meets the eye. Much of NOMOS’ design ethos draws inspiration from Bauhaus, but the Tetra is a true embodiment of these artistic influences. Its square shape pays tribute to Josef Albers’ 1959 “Homage to the Square” series, a fundamental shape central to Bauhaus art. In addition, the stacking of a circular sub-dial on a square dial is a clear example of geometric shape overlay and composition found in many notable works, such as Yellow-Red-Blue by Wassily Kandinsky. The complementary color combinations found in the new Tetra collection also create a harmonious yet striking visual with various hues. Finally, the watch’s slim profile and wearability speak to an inherent principle of Bauhaus: artfully crafted objects with minimalistic designs that emphasize their functionality.
The NOMOS Tetra radiates a whimsical yet functional aesthetic.
The new NOMOS Tetra Quartet comes in 4 shimmering colors – silver, rose, aubergine, and nude – with fun names for each color variation, such as The Unattainable (“Die Unerreichbare”) to The Mad One (“Die Fuchsteufelswilde”). The watch also features NOMOS’ in-house Alpha caliber, which has up to a 43-hour power reserve. Each piece comes with a gray vegan velour strap, the perfect complement.
