Nodus is bringing some welcome updates to two of their most popular collections this week with a new Contrail GMT in Evergreen, and Duality II in Drift Blue. Both watches still represent a stellar value proposition, something the California based brand has well established a knack for. The new colors aren’t exactly breaking any new ground, but that’s not the point here. Both of these collections bring a new level of breadth to the brand’s offerings, which have been steadily evolving in recent years toward maturity. With new iterations, we also get closer to better so-called Design Lab Projects, which showcase the original ideas the brand is capable of.
Nodus has a strong design language and that is quite evident within the Duality II in particular, with every detail receiving confident proportions. Still, this is a big refinement over the original Duality. With a dual-crown compressor style case design, this watch presents as a diver, but really it’s really a great all rounder at its core. Yes, it has a 300 meter depth rating, and an internal bezel, but with applied faceted hour markers and a 40mm case that clocks in at 11.5mm in thickness, this one is quite approachable as a GADA style tool watch (which, tbf, many divers are).
The newest Duality II gets a Drift Blue colorway, which means a blue dial and matching bezel. This has been a relatively monotone collection up to this point, so a new dial option such as things showcases a different side of the watch’s personality. Like the existing iterations, this one also gets an accent color at the 12 o’clock triangle marker in the bezel, and the Duality copy at six o’clock on the dial. The black knurled crowns remain, as does the automatic Miyota Cal.9015 inside. It may not be fancy, but it is regulated in-house by Nodus to within +/- 8 seconds of accuracy a day, so it does exactly what it needs to in that regard.
On the other end we find a new Contrail GMT with a fresh green colorway called Evergreen. Yes, it looks a bit like a Grand Seiko SBGE295, but at 40.5mm in diameter, and under $1,000 with a true GMT Miyota 9075 movement, it’s tough to complain. Small details set this one apart, including the shape and color of the 24 hour hand, yellow accents, and six o’clock date placement. A sapphire glass bezel insert with lume underneath makes for a surprisingly premium vibe, even at $825.
Both of the watches ship on steel bracelets that use Nodus’ proprietary extension clasp, which is a nice feature, though I’d argue both watches work best on fabric or leather straps, personally. This is a brand that continues to make positive strides, and these new additions serve as great foundation pieces. Both watches will be available later this month directly from Nodus.
