Hands-On With The Brand New Sternglas Naos Big Date
Sternglas has made a name for itself as a brand offering affordable Bauhaus-inspired timepieces. Within that specific style, the brand has explored many options to add variation to its new releases. In those explorations, the Hamburg-based brand has pushed the boundaries without losing the connection to its core philosophy. But we have seen recent releases like the Tachymeter 2.0. Merion and the Hamburg Chrono play with the Bauhaus theme successfully. For the new Naos Big Date, Sternglas returns to its roots but adds a twist that feels familiar in the style yet new for the brand. Let’s find out more.
I have always been fascinated by minimalist design styles like Bauhaus. I love the basic design principles that have led to amazing architecture and product designs. But maybe my biggest fascination with the minimalist styles is how far you can bend them and still feel comfortable within the Bauhaus style of watches, that often translates to the integration of colorful dials, playing up the numerals without sacrificing the style and adding often clever, intricate design details that dress up the watch within the boundaries of the design style. Sternglas has done that successfully over time, resulting in an impressively extensive collection. It has ensured the brand stays relevant with the many watch fans out there.
The story of the Sternglas Naos Big Date
Looking at the new Sternglas Naos Big Date, the first thing that stands out is that the brand has returned to proper Bauhaus form. Because I love that style a lot, I was immediately intrigued to learn more. Essentially, this new Big Date is a play on the regular Naos with a usual date window at 6 o’clock. But the brand decided to play up the date for this new variation. The date display consists of two apertures with two separate date discs underneath displaying the numerals. As most of you will know, this specific style of displaying the date is also known as a “digital” display.
Overall, this principle is far from new, as you will undoubtedly know. Fellow German brands have also explored the same way of displaying the date. High-end brand A. Lange & Söhne has made the so-called outsize date based on the same principle as one of its signature design elements. It’s why it feels familiar to see it used for a Sternglas watch as well. On top of that, it integrates nicely in the minimalist dial to create some much-needed dynamism.
The details of the Sternglas Naos Big Date
Before we get into wearing the watch, let’s quickly go over the piece’s details. The Sternglas Naos Big Date has a round-shaped 38mm stainless steel case that is 10.9mm thick and measures 42mm from lug to lug. The case consists of three parts that are visually highlighted. The bezel and the case back feature a polished finish, while the case flanks contrast nicely with a brushed finish. The case is matched with an Alabaster-colored dial contrasted by black hands filled with beige LumiNova. Depending on how the light hits it, the dial color holds the middle between light gray and beige.
As you can see, the dial features a set of large hour markers and a smaller minute track in between. The even hours get a numeral, and the markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock also get a luminous dot. As a result, it makes reading the time in the dark possible in combination with the luminous hour and minute hands. The date display at 6 o’clock is oversized compared to the other elements, but it never feels too big. This is the result of the overall space that the dial offers; in that context, the date display is nicely proportioned.
The Seiko TMI VJ76 quartz caliber
The watch is matched with a black leather strap with gray stitching. However, you can choose a dark brown leather strap with lighter brown stitching or a stainless steel bracelet. Overall, the black strap offers the most “design” feel, and the dark brown strap brings more life to the aesthetic. I am unsure if I would pick the bracelet, although it offers great daily comfort. But there is a certain charm to the watch on a leather strap that I prefer.
Inside the case, Sternglas picked the Seiko TMI VJ76 quartz caliber to power the watch. The movement is only 3.5mm thick and offers an accuracy of -20/+20 seconds per month. The battery life is 36 months, so a battery change is necessary every three years. The movement is hidden behind a straightforward screw-down case back.
Wearing the Sternglass Naos Big Date
On the wrist, the Naos Big Date feels very familiar. It hasn’t been that long since I reviewed the Naos Pro Automatik, which looks similar. It’s a style I like, so the Naos Big Date also felt right at home on my wrist. The watch’s proportions are nice, making it a great option for different wrist sizes. And the date display adds a clever twist that makes it easy to read the date. The brand’s designers made sure to design the numerals so they are in line with the overall style but have enough weight to make it super easy to read.
I like this new take on the Naos, and I think quite a few fans love these new options. Would it be my pick out of the wide array of available Naos models? In all fairness, I gravitate towards mechanical models like the Naos Pro Automatik. But that also comes with a heftier price tag of €699, whereas this new Naos Big Date can be yours for €299 on the brand’s website.
If you have a small budget but still want to buy a stylish watch rooted in a brilliant design style, this new Sternglas Naos Big Date might just be a watch for you. The larger date display is a nice variation of the regular model. It adds a bit of extra funk to the overall style and makes it stand out from the regular Naos models despite the similar aesthetic. It makes it a clever design solution, and I always favor those. Kudos to Sternglas for integrating something that feels familiar but immediately stands out with this new Naos Big Date.
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