When NOMOS released the Club Sport neomatik in 42mm, it marked what many would consider the brand’s first pure sport watch outside of the Ahoi. Though oversized and highly water resistant (1000ft), the Club Sport 42 retained the classic NOMOS aesthetic that fans of the brand have come to adore, yet with some distinct characteristics that are bit more divisive. At first glance, the Club Sport 42 looks like, well, a Club. But, with a date window at 3 o’clock, strong lume, and a sunburst dial, these details demarcated a new direction for the Club line. Add to that the addition of a 3-link bracelet — the brand’s first with fitted endlinks — and the Club Sport 42 had all the elements that many fans were clamoring for, albeit with one major caveat: the size. 42mm may not sound overly large, but with NOMOS’s long lugs (a whopping 52.3mm lug-to-lug), that 42mm case wears much larger on the wrist. Luckily, NOMOS recognized how many customers were hoping for a smaller, no-date Club Sport and we now have it: the Club Sport neomatik in 37mm.

The case shape of the new, 37mm Club Sport neomatik (hereafter, Club Sport 37) is instantly familiar, as its high-polished curves are shared across the entire Club lineup. The case measures 37mm in diameter, but as with all NOMOS watches, it’s the 47.7 lug-to-lug measurement that gives you a better sense of how the watch will wear on the wrist (for reference, my wrist is 6.75”). Compared to the Club Sport 42, this 37mm diameter version is going to fit comfortably on a much wider range of wrists. Let’s not overlook the case height, though — the Club Sport 37 measures in at svelte 8.4mm in thickness, yet still manages to sport 200m of water resistance. Impressive.

The Club Sport 37’s stainless-steel case is fully polished, which will bother some since the case will inevitably pick up scratches quickly and easily. That said, the full polish finish suits the soft, structural lines of the case, and it’s hard to imagine a Club with a brushed or bead-blasted finish (though the brand did do this at least once with a limited edition). As with almost any NOMOS, the lugs will be the sticking point for those with smaller wrists. For those with moderate to larger wrists, though, those long lugs are part of the charm of Club and a distinctive element that adds to the visual presence of the watch.

The NOMOS Club was first introduced in 2007, and it has seen a multitude of colorways over the years — and that’s before you include the various limited-edition models. What sets the Club Sport line apart is the use of a sunburst dial. NOMOS has always experimented with color and, frankly, they’re one of the best in the business when it comes to finding unique and eye-catching color palettes. However, sunburst dials are something of a rarity for NOMOS. While the Club Sport 42 models come in deep black and blue colorways, the Polar and Petrol dials of the Club 37 are softer, less aggressive hues that hit that sweet spot between novel and familiar. Both are attractive and while the Polar is the more versatile of the two, the Petrol is absolutely mesmerizing.

It’s difficult to find consensus on the definition of petrol. Call it blueish green or greenish blue, turquoise, cyan, or teal. Whatever you call it, it falls somewhere between blue and green but lacks the yellow/orange overtones you’ll find in more olive greens. However you define it, the petrol dial is gorgeous in any light, shifting from a true blue in warm artificial lights to a verdant green in full sun.

The green of the dial is set off by generous white Super-LumiNova on the numerals and indices. NOMOS isn’t known for having the brightest, longest-lasting lume on the market, but with these models, NOMOS uses cutouts on the dial that are filled with Super-LumiNova. The result is bright, long-lasting lume and is a welcome addition, especially fitting in this sports watch.

The dial layout is pure Club, with its mix of even numerals and markers, along with subseconds at 6 o’clock. The Club is the more youthful, sporty line in NOMOS’s catalog, and one thing it’s done to cement that status is to use accent colors in unexpected ways. That’s one thing you don’t get with the Club Sport 37, as the only other color present on the dial is the subtle neomatik text below the logo. This toned-down aesthetic is another element that will split buyers as, on the one hand, having a more subdued Club is no bad thing, but on the other hand, it lacks a bit of the playfulness we’re used to with NOMOS.

The Club Sport 37 is available with several strap or bracelet options and the model we were sent came mounted on NOMOS’s new, 18mm 3-link Club Sport Bracelet. Many have been clamoring for a bracelet with fitted end-links and a more conventional shape; the brand has certainly delivered on that front. The bracelet has polished center links, which fit the fully polished case, while the outer links are brushed, adding some sportiness. For those with wrists on the smaller end of the range, the bracelet won’t do you any favors, as the endlink has a long male end that extends the effective lug-to-lug. The bracelet links are secured by a simple pin and collar system, which makes sizing a bit of a pain, but on the plus side, the bracelet includes half-links by the clasp, allowing you to find an ideal fit. Speaking of the clasp, it’s polished, smooth, and clean with a push button release and three holes for microadjustment. The clasp fits NOMOS’s minimalism but is a simple (and scratch-prone) affair.

Overall, the bracelet is a bit of a mixed bag. It looks good, is comfortable, and has the fitted endlinks many have been asking for. That said, it’s a conservative style that doesn’t fit NOMOS’s design ethos as well as something like the Sport Bracelet (not to be confused with the Club Sport bracelet reviewed here). NOMOS watches always look stellar on their textile straps too, so it’s easy to find the look you’re after.

The Club Sport 37 runs on NOMOS’s in-house DUW 3001 caliber. Colloquially dubbed the neomatik, this automatic movement features 27 jewels, 43 hours of power reserve, and NOMOS’s swing system escapement. You can order the Club Sport 37 with or without a display caseback. Although it’s a bit of an exorbitant upcharge for the sapphire display caseback ($380 USD), the DUW 3001 is a gorgeous little movement that’s worth admiring. With thermally blued screws, rhodium-plating, Glashütte ribbing, and NOMOS perlage, it’s hard to find a much nicer looking movement at this price point. NOMOS also regulates the movement in six positions to fall within chronometer standards (the review piece was running within 1 sec/day).

After refreshing the Ahoi earlier this year and now releasing this new version of the Club, it appears NOMOS is going all-in with their sporty offerings. Though the Club isn’t breaking new ground in terms of design (this is a good thing), the new colorways are striking and the strong lume is a welcome upgrade. The NOMOS Club Sport 37 is priced at $3,530 USD for the model reviewed here on the Club Sport Bracelet and sapphire caseback, but prices start at $2,930 USD on a textile strap with stainless-steel caseback. To learn more about NOMOS and the Club Sport 37, please visit the brand’s website.

Necessary Data
>Brand: NOMOS
>Model: Club Sport neomatik Petrol (Ref. 746)
>Price: $3,530 USD on the Club Sport Bracelet and display sapphire caseback
>Size: 37mm width, 8.4mm height, 47.7mm lug-to-lug
>When reviewer would personally wear it: As a daily wear that provides a bit of color to otherwise dark wardrobe, though I’d likely pair it with the blue-black or dark grey textile strap.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Someone looking for a colorful sport watch with a clean design and unique character.
>Best characteristic of watch: Fantastic dial color; the addition of strong lume and high water resistance make this a true sport watch.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Long lugs will be a problem for smaller wrists; expensive upcharge to add a sapphire caseback.