NOMOS Metro ice blue: the quick-set date it needed

NOMOS Glashütte · Metro date power reserve ice blue

The model in detail

Meet the watch

The most useful Metro update sits behind its ice-blue dial: the date can now be set quickly with the crown. The Metro date power reserve ice blue, reference 1121, was introduced on October 8, 2026. This matters for the collection: the previous DUW 4401 lacked a quick-set corrector. If you rotate watches and let this one stop, the convenience of returning to the correct date has more practical importance than the new shade.

DUW 4701 is an in-house, manually wound movement. Its calendar mechanism sits around the movement plate, allowing NOMOS to retain a height of 2.8 mm despite a calibre diameter of 32.1 mm. The manufacturer explicitly specifies a unidirectional quick-set date. That wording is useful: you can advance the date quickly, but 'quick-set' does not imply that it can be adjusted in both directions. Consult the instructions for the specific watch before setting it.

Power reserve rises to 52 hours; the circular indicator helps you decide when to wind the mainspring again. This reserve lets you skip a usual daily wind, but it does not guarantee an entire unattended weekend. Friday at 20:00 to Monday at 08:00 is 60 hours — eight more than the stated maximum. For a collector who changes watches from day to day, that is more useful than a vague 'weekend-proof' promise. The calculation assumes a full wind.

Details and limitations

The steel case measures 37 mm across, 8 mm high and 43.6 mm from lug to lug. That last dimension is particularly useful when trying it on: the wire lugs occupy space beyond the dial. To my mind, these proportions make the Metro an interesting candidate for someone seeking expressive yet slim mechanical watches. Crown comfort, strap fit and lug placement still need to be assessed on your own wrist.

The metallic blue dial leaves plenty of open space. The date sits at the bottom beside the small seconds; the power-reserve indicator is offset from the centre line. Its white, light-blue and teal colours continue the overall palette. Dot markers and stepped hands keep the Metro recognisable. I like how the design connects to function: the interest comes from indications the owner actually uses, rather than a scattering of decorative inscriptions.

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Reference 1121's sapphire back reveals DUW 4701 with a new three-quarter plate and open balance cock. It uses the proprietary NOMOS swing system; the movement is adjusted in six positions and has a stop-seconds function. The latter helps synchronise the display precisely when setting the time. Adjustment in several positions is not itself chronometer certification, however: promising a particular daily rate without a published tolerance or measurements would be wrong.

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The black Horween Genuine Shell Cordovan strap has an 18 mm attachment width and quick-release spring bars. Changing the watch's character with a different strap is therefore easier than with conventional bars requiring a tool. Leather still needs appropriate care. NOMOS describes the 5 atm water resistance as splash protection in its product listing; I would not turn that wording into an invitation to swim with a leather strap.

The Metro ice blue deserves consideration if you enjoy manual winding, need a date and want to see the remaining reserve. Its main improvement fits the real habit of rotating watches. If you want to put a watch away on Friday and reliably find it running on Monday, however, account for the 52-hour limit beforehand. Compare the reference and installed calibre when shopping: similar-looking Metro generations can differ in calendar convenience.