« Elegant Retro Design from Union Glashütte »
The stream of new retro models hitting the market shows no sign of letting up. On the one hand, that is a compliment to the watchmakers and designers of past decades, who evidently succeeded in creating lasting value with their designs. On the other, it reveals a strong preference among many watch enthusiasts for the styles of decades gone by. The 1950s and 1960s in particular are currently inspiring renowned manufactures to reissue proven classics or reinterpret them. Among them is Union Glashütte, which with the Noramis has created a particularly beautiful example of timelessly elegant fifties and sixties design. But now on to our hands-on: you are cordially invited to our Union Glashütte Noramis review.
Union: Watchmaking Expertise from Glashütte and Switzerland
Naturally, we begin the review with a look at the well-known manufacturer from Saxony: watches bearing the Union Glashütte/SA. brand name are made by Union Uhrenfabrik GmbH in Glashütte, which today belongs to the Swatch Group AG. The company was founded in 1996, but the watchmaking tradition in this small town in Saxony's Ore Mountains dates back well into the 19th century.
Thanks to their high quality and precision, Glashütte watches quickly earned a strong reputation and are sought after by connoisseurs around the world today.
This also applies to the Union Glashütte brand, with its roughly 25 employees. It likely sells a five-figure number of watches per year by now and secures a certain exclusivity by distributing its products exclusively in Germany and Austria since 2013.
Alongside the Noramis collection, the Union lineup includes a number of other successful collections, such as Belisar, Seris, Sirona, Viro and 1893. All of them share a decidedly classic, elegant style that deliberately references design elements from earlier eras while doing without superfluous ornamentation.
The Noramis Collection: The Perfect Blend of Nostalgic Charm and Modern Technology
With its Noramis models, the Union Glashütte manufacture has launched a collection that unites nostalgic charm and retro design in the style of the 1950s and 1960s with state-of-the-art watch technology and the highest product quality. Elegance defines the Noramis in our review. The collection comprises several lines, each generally named after a characteristic feature. In addition to the Noramis, there are the Noramis Date and the Date Sport, the Chronograph, Power Reserve and Big Date lines, the limited edition Deutschland Klassik 2022, and the special editions honoring Paul Pietsch.
The Differences Between the Lines Under Review
Since the names make the technical differences within the collection self-explanatory, we turn our attention to the visual differences. The classic Noramis impresses with its classic look, which the Date picks up with a discreet date window at 3 o'clock. On the Chronograph, this window moves to 6 o'clock, as two understated subdials now need room. The manufacture took an entirely different approach with the special editions honoring Paul Pietsch. The only numeral here is the 12, which sits enthroned on the dial, while a fine scale of markers without numerals frames the dial. The limited edition Deutschland Klassik 2022 displays great elegance: in addition to a generous chapter ring in beige and gold, the dial features a central openwork section that offers a view of the movement. That won us over in our review. Finally, the sport version impresses with its striking rotating bezel.
Variety, Using the Date Version as an Example
The Date version, a classic three-hand watch with a window for the date at 3 o'clock, is both the simplest and the most varied line in the Noramis collection. It is available in two sizes. Alongside a version with a 34 mm case diameter, preferred by women, there is also a larger 40 mm version worn mainly by men but sometimes by women as well. The two sizes, combined with a wide range of color and material options, give the collection great diversity, encompassing distinctly feminine or masculine variants as well as timeless unisex watches. Not least because of this variety combined with strong recognizability, many couples choose models from the collection as matching watches. But the many variables of the Noramis also make our review difficult, since, thanks above all to the special editions, we are dealing with numerous different watches.
Practical Benefits and Captivating Aesthetics
The Noramis owes its nostalgic appeal above all to its distinctly domed dial and the similarly pronounced domed sapphire crystal. From certain angles, this design makes the watches look as if there were no crystal at all. This shape was characteristic of many watch models of the 1950s and 1960s and, beyond its visual effect, offers a genuine practical advantage as well, especially in combination with the slim case height typical of the period.
After all, a relatively thin watch with a domed crystal slides easily under the cuff of a jacket, shirt or blouse, making it particularly well suited as a stylish yet practical accessory for business attire or evening wear. In our review, this proves to be a real advantage.
Beyond that, a number of other details show that the Noramis's distinctive design not only captivates with its aesthetics but is also extremely practical. The curved lugs not only look appealing but, above all, ensure pleasant wearing comfort. The clear, crisp typography of the Arabic numerals and the wedge-shaped hour markers ensure excellent legibility in our review, as does the pointed shape of the hands, which aids reading accuracy. With one exception, this line does without a bezel.
The Review: Robust and Reliable Mechanical Movements
One feature that marks these watches as modern creations, but was not yet common in the 1950s and 1960s, is the sapphire crystal caseback. It offers a view inside the watches and lets you watch the powerful automatic calibers at work, which are hand-assembled, decorated and regulated. They offer high rate stability and optimized winding efficiency with a generous power reserve of up to 60 hours.
Union Glashütte Noramis Power Reserve Review
Our Union Glashütte Noramis Power Reserve review showed that this watch not only impresses on the outside but also convinces with its precise power reserve function. Union Glashütte proves once again that it ranks among the leaders in the art of watchmaking. The Noramis embodies timeless elegance, the highest precision and dependable performance – a true classic that passes the test of time with flying colors. The power reserve is reliable and, in our review, even exceeded the stated figure by almost an hour. The Noramis is water-resistant to a pressure of 10 bar, or 100 meters, so in our review it could easily stay on the wrist during outdoor activities and even in the shower.
Noramis Chronograph Under Review
The Union Glashütte Noramis Chronograph is more than just a watch. It is a statement of style, elegance and precision. Whether at work or at leisure, this chronograph complements any outfit and lends its wearer an extra touch of class. With its refined design and outstanding performance, it becomes a loyal companion for discerning watch enthusiasts.
The Union Glashütte Noramis Chronograph also convinces in our review, showing that this watch not only impresses visually but also excels with its precise timekeeping and first-class craftsmanship. We liked how the two pushers handled starting, stopping and resetting the timer. All in all, we found no major points of criticism with any Noramis in our review and recommend this timepiece above all to lovers of the '50s and '60s.