Nomos Club Campus 38: Dress it up or dress it down

by Tyler Frederick

Wear it with a tee or a tux

For me and many others in the watch collecting space, watches are a wearable time capsule or a representation of a critical time in one’s life that can be passed down from generation to generation. I’m also a firm believer in making memories with a watch. While I only had the Nomos Club Campus 38 on loan, I wore it to Whiskey & Watches 2024 hosted by the one and only RJ Kamatovic (@rjkama) and got the whole “dress it up/dress it down” experience. It’s a watch that can hold its own in a T-shirt or a suit. Not to mention, a great night is now encapsulated in this watch; I do have to return it, but whoever buys it can add to its story.

^{NOMOS Club Campus 38 @horologyobsessed}

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Key Features of the Nomos Campus 38

I’ve always been Nomos-curious, especially recently after being barraged by my feed and fellow enthusiasts/collectors/enablers, you know who you are, on Instagram about their Nomos’, whether it’s their watch or managing to get their hands on one through a loan or a friend. You could say I was “influenced” to get my hands on one, and I haven’t been disappointed by any means. Regarding design, functionality and efficiency, it’s no secret that the Germans have all three locked down, and the Club Campus 38, or any watch from Nomos, is a fantastic example.

^{Cascades across the wrist @horologyobsessed}

How does it feel on the wrist? Great! The bracelet feels comfortable, and the dimensions make for a relaxed and compact wearing experience. Surprisingly, the case is 40.5mm, but it doesn’t wear like 40.5mm if that makes sense. It feels thin and elegant and cascades across the wrist. For those who’ve worn Presage watches on a bracelet, it’s the same vibe, but the presence on the wrist, thanks to the sizing and that beautiful dial, is fantastic. It’s pure class.

Seeing how much love Nomos gets online, I was hoping to share the same thoughts and feelings, even though, as curious as I was, it’s not a watch that was on the horizon for me. Having the chance to check one out answered my questions about why so many people love them. You know that scene in the first Ace Ventura when Ace flies into the parking lot and drifts the car into a parking spot, shouting, “Like a glove!”? That’s how the Club Campus 38 felt once I tightened the anthracite velour strap. With a 38.5mm case diameter, a 48.9mm lug-to-lug, and a thickness of 8.5mm, the numbers present us with a comfortable, compact wearing experience with fantastic wrist presence, and the numbers don’t lie. It feels like an extension of my wrist; compact, light but not too light, and it feels at home on my 6.5-inch wrist.

^{Well-executed minimalism @horologyobsessed}

The Club Campus 38 is an excellent example of well-executed minimalism. It’s a clean watch with an uncomplicated design but also eye-catching. The white-silver-plated dial pairs with the blue/grey indices accented with a subtle orange stroke and a small seconds sub-dial with a bright orange hand to bring it all together. The understated indices paired with such a vibrant orange add a tasteful pop of colour without disturbing the cleanliness; it’s a perfect choice to break up the tones of silver and bluish-grey, avoiding a dial that looks too “sterile.”

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 38.5mm Diameter 48.9mm Lug-to-lug 20mm Lug width 8.5mm Thickness Screw down case back 100m of water resistance
Dial & Crystal	Galvanized/White-Silver Plated Dial Sapphire Crystal Arabic and Roman Numerals Blue Superluminova
Movement	Nomos Calibre Alpha Manual-winding 17 Jewels 43-Hour Power reserve
Strap	Vegan Velour Remborde Anthracite

NOMOS Club Campus 38

Quibbles

I’m going to make this a quick one. I love the design of the dial, but I’ve always been slightly “freaked out” by Cali dials; the mismatch of Arabic and Roman numerals has always sat weirdly with me. It’s the same issue with the Club Campus 38, but at the same time, I feel conflicted. I don’t mind it on this watch. It’s not a quibble, just the complaint of a man who likes symmetrical things.

Final Thoughts

My first experience with Nomos was excellent, to say the least. I completely understand the hype around their watches, and from personal experience, I could see this becoming a part of my regular rotation. With excellent specs, wearability and design, the Nomos Club Campus 38 has quickly risen to the top of my list as one of my favourite watches I’ve reviewed this year.

Pricing & Availability

If you’re interested in checking out this exact watch, it’s available from our good friends at Gem Bijou for $1,350 ($1900 CAD).

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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