Nomos Tangente Limited Edition Centenary Lepage mechanical watch white dial brown leather strap 38 mm

Genesis of the project

100 years of love for beauty, elegance and watchmaking... On the occasion of the centenary of our House, we felt like daring to design a unique timepiece in collaboration with NOMOS Glashütte whose values echo our own. The Tangente model came to us quite naturally because it embodies the quintessence of the German Manufacture. A pure and elegant watch in the greatest Bauhaus tradition. This model with its inimitable style has been the flagship of the Manufacture for 25 years, a great classic of watchmaking that has won numerous awards for its aesthetics and technique. Rarity is the essence of luxury... This limited series, available in two sizes (35 mm and 38 mm), will be produced and numbered at 100 pieces.

Why Nomos?

At Lepage, we are very fond of NOMOS Glashütte. This Manufacture, like our House, is one of the few still managed by its owners, a guarantee of independence and quality. NOMOS Glashüitte manufactures all its watches and movements in-house in the German region of Saxony. NOMOS Glashütte's watchmakers are among the best in their profession, and their expertise is unmatched by the generations of watchmakers who have succeeded one another in Glashütte for 175 years.
Following in the venerable tradition of German fine watchmaking, the brand is distinguished from its counterparts by its meticulous and instantly recognisable design. As the leading manufacturer of mechanical watches in Germany, NOMOS Glashütte remains committed to paying attention to the smallest details of its models. Let's make the presentations!

The Tangente, an icon

Fans of the brand will tell you that the Tangente model is THE classic to have in your watch collection. Directly inspired by the Bauhaus-type watches designed in the 1930s, this model appeared in 1992 alongside its companions Orion, Ludwig and Tetra. Elegant without being too formal, it remains timeless. A great classic of watchmaking, it has won numerous awards for its aesthetics and technique.

The Bauhaus movement is reflected in the general design of the watch, where the "function follows form" philosophy is fully expressed: a dial with a minimalist layout, combining baton hour markers and 5 numbers with the dynamic and geometric Bauhaus typography typical of this movement.
The stainless steel case is entirely polished and has long lugs with straight, protruding angles, making it very modern, even thirty years after its creation. This mixed limited edition has been designed to suit all wrists. This is why it comes in two sizes. A classic version of the Tangente in 35 mm, and a 38 mm version that is a little more contemporary.

A Tangente like no other

This LEPAGE 100 Years Edition is distinguished from the current collection by subtle differences, winking at the history of our House. This brings a real signature to this historic collaboration between the House of LEPAGE and the German Manufacture.

At first, the eye is attracted by the texture that it guesses at the level of the small second counter. As you approach it, you discover the LEPAGE triangle subtly highlighted. This pattern is laser-engraved directly onto the dial plate, giving it an incomparable relief and texture and offering a magnificent play of texture with the rest of the white-silver dial with its galvanised finish. The development of this unique dial required many hours of design time. Hot-burnished hands run across the dial, providing a striking contrast and thus optimal legibility. This process is reserved for special series produced by the Manufacture NOMOS and enables the hands to be covered with a black layer which also makes them resistant to corrosion. Since 1922, the Lepage family has been perpetuating the jewellery tradition. A golden note has therefore naturally been added to the dial in a nod to one of the most precious metals used every day by our jewellers. This is why the 12 o'clock index and the second hand are adorned with a delicate gold finish. Another detail, the mention "Made in Germany" at 6 o'clock, has been replaced by a very simple inscription, "100" in echo to the centenary of the LEPAGE House. This anniversary is also recalled on the back of the watch, thanks to the inscription "Nomos Tangente Limited Edition for the Centenary of the Maison Lepage".

Last little detail, the LEPAGE triangle is engraved on the crown, evoking the old partnerships between watch brands and their historical retailers, on which a double signature was very often found...

Finally, this beauty is fitted with a hand-stitched brown cordovan leather strap from Horween Geniune Shell Cordovan tannery. This is one of the finest leathers in the world. It is soft, thick and virtually indestructible, and just needs to be worn to develop a patina over time. A leather for connoisseurs!

A manufacture movement made in Glashütte

Since 1845, the town of Glashütte has been known as the cradle of German watchmaking. Located in the Saxony region, this place brings together some of the most prestigious watchmaking Manufactures, such as Glashütte Original, the independent Mortiz Grossman or the famous A. Lange & Söhne. Glashütte's watches are a true guarantee of quality and demonstrate a high degree of engineering and watchmaking know-how. However, in order to bear the "Glashütte" appellation, it is necessary to generate at least 50% of the value of the calibre in the territory of the small municipality. The Nomos brand willingly complies with this requirement and goes even further with 95% integrated production! A real feat for an independent company!

Let us now focus on the calibre fitted to the Tangente LEPAGE 100 years. Both models are powered by the first movement manufactured by Nomos, the Alpha manual winding calibre, visible through the sapphire crystal of the case back. Based on the plans of the Peseux 7001, well known to watchmaking enthusiasts. Its production has been in-house since 2005 by the Manufacture, which has enabled significant modifications to be made in order to improve its precision and reliability. Indissociable from the Manufacture, this movement is a return to simple mechanisms, close to those of the vintage watches we love. Recognisable at first glance in its finish and construction, the Alpha calibre rests on a three-quarter plate with a "Glashütte rib" finish. A sunburst effect is applied to the ratchet and crown wheel, and the blued screws contrast with the surface of the rhodium-plated bridges, bringing a superb shine to the whole. Very nice watch decorations that are more often found on much more expensive calibres.

The Alpha is nonetheless very precise, as it is set in six positions and has a stop-second mechanism to ensure that the time is set accurately. It offers 43 hours of power reserve, its balance oscillates at 21,600 vibrations and, to minimise friction, the calibre has 17 jewels and the Glashütte stop system to prevent the barrel from breaking if it is wound too much.