Grand Seiko or Nomos? Which is the bigger watch nerd brand?

Where I live GS is a mall brand, so it is definitely more known than nomos.

Both are nerd watch brand where I live. Especially since many still associate GS brand with the regular Seiko.

GS & Seiko have contributed enormously to timekeeping and horology.

NOMOS haven't innovated anything. I regard them as a posh microbrand like Monta, Fears etc (but am probably wrong) .

Interesting take. Agreed… they haven’t innovated by producing new tech. I do separate them from a micro brand however.

That wasn't intended to be derogatory to Nomos, I like 'em more than most GS aesthetically. 👍🏻

That is a great pair for this particular question. I’m gonna go Nomos simply because I wonder how many non watch “freaks” wear them. But you could ask the same about GS🤷🏻‍♂️

No worries…didn’t take it as derogatory. Good conversation 😀

Nomos is clearly more unknown to the public, much more of a watch nerd brand. GS was mentioned on a Joe Rogan podcast as a watch nerd brand, thus rendering less of a watch nerd brand.

Both are pretty nerdy, but it isn’t a contest lol

I’ll add these two brands into the “You might be a nerd if…” hat: Muhle Glasshutte and Glasshutte Original. I see a pattern lol

I'd say you'd have to be a bigger nerd to wear Nomos. Almost everyone has heard of Seiko.

Where does innovation starts (or ends) for you, especially regarding the Nomos swing system?

Based on how hard they are to sell on non-watch enthusiast platforms vs. their quality and history, I'd say Hanhart 😜

More seriously I'd say Mühle though, for the Rescue-Timer alone. Archimede is a contender too.

There's lot's of cool micro brands, but I think as a watch making company you'd need a few decades of proven craftmanship to fit into this category.

Nomos is absolutely more of an "if you know, you know" brand. In my opinion, this is what defines a watch nerd brand.

Yeah both are nerdy brands.

GS is widely known you will see them in many Malls, especially in Asia, but nobody buy them except nerds.

Nomos.....I dont think many people outside watch community know what it is.

Before all the normies discovered GS I would have said GS. But now it’s Nomos

Wasn't aware of that, I spoke out of ignorance which is why I said I'm probably wrong., I'll look it up.

Genuinely thank you for the correction, I'm here to learn. 🍻🙏🏻

https://nomos-glashuette.com/en/watchmaking/watchmaking-craft/research-and-development/the-nomos-swing-system

For anyone interested 😉👍🏻

I must be a nerd, as I own both! I voted GS, but I would say they both have very different nerdy elements about them.

For me, GS are nerdy in their movement innovation, attention to detail with their zaratsu polishing and beautiful dials! I love the brand!

Whereas, Nomos in their Bauhaus design language, may look a little nerdy and boring to some. I also love the brand!

I think by name only, most people know Seiko, even if that mischaracterises what a GS truly is.

Nomos got my vote because you have to search a bit harder (online and real world) and there are less physical retailers, where I reside, who stock these.

I mean both are brands mainly known by collectors outside their home markets - but of the two Nomos seems the "nerdier" in terms of folks geeking out about them - while GS fandom seems more constrained. Nomos appears to be the more widely collected of the two - based on wider array of pricepoints and lower barrier to entry to the brand.

How well known is Nomos to the general public in Germany? My understanding is that in Japan (or at least Tokyo), so at least in their home country, GS isn’t particularly nerdy. Nomos and Grand Seiko both have presence at a lot of the same retailers in the Bay Area (though I think GS has more AD’s), so I think the answer for both is that they’re increasingly less nerdy as the years go by.

As far as bringing something special to the table - while obviously not on the tier of Grand Seiko with their innovations (Spring Drive alone puts Grand Seiko in rarified air in my book) - I don’t think Nomos should be slept on. Watch the factory tour that Teddy Baldassare did - the fact that they’re manufacturing every one of their parts - even the escape lever! - is pretty amazing, and portends some special things coming from them. I haven’t found a Nomos that particularly appeals to me, but what they’re doing is worth some respect.

Link

Nomos makes 20000 watches a year. That is not a microbrand by any measure. To me gs is a premium Seiko with exquisite dials and interests me very little. I don’t have a Nomos but plan to get one soon. They are both great brands and super watch nerdy in my opinion. Cheers

Own a GS and NOMOS and love both. But as far as "watch nerd cred", I would say NOMOS has far more.

You’re comparing Nomos to a company that’s far older and many times its size. Hardly apples to apples, or fair. Nomos is as innovative as you can expect a small, young, upstart brand to be, more so than most. They have their design language, which is quite distinctive and “innovative.” Their in-house movements are also pretty unique and “innovative,” not just ETA clones like so many others. And they build their own escapement in-house, which again is a rare, “innovative” anccomplishment. No, I’m not trying to regurgitate Nomos PR copy. For the record, I own at least half a dozen Seiko and four Grand Seiko, so you could accuse me of being an (unintentional) Seiko-Head. And I own one Nomos. I can say, given their age and size, they more than hold their own in terms of “innovation.”

I was going ignorant to NOMOS and have been corrected further up the comments - I was completely unaware of their innovative Swing system escapement (really clever and cool) until informed, so I posted a link to NOMOS website explaining it so others wouldn't be as ignorant as I was.

I do like the brand and wasn't trying to be derogatory, just as you said it's not apples to apples .

Read my previous comments.

Thank you for your post & enjoy your GS and Nomos 😊👍🏻👍🏻

What kind of mall are you shopping at? 😂

Gonna go with Nomos. This isn’t a which brand do you like more poll, but which is the nerdiest poll, and far fewer people are going to know Nomos unless you are a watch person. Grand Seiko has a bit more edge bc they are going to be in more boutiques, people at least know the Seiko name, and I’d say that in the watch community they have much more exposure. I don’t see major watch events for Nomos in America, for instance, and there are large conference/gala type events for GS in NYC, Los Angeles etc.

Well if you ever get to Manila, Philippines you’ll see the biggest malls having gs stores. So it is really common, compared to that only one retailer sells nomos.