Arms-On Debut: Nodus Sector Deep Watch

The Nodus Sector sequence is the Los Angeles model’s real-life proof of idea {that a} well-designed watch case might be tailored to a near-endless number of totally different sorts of timepieces. Whereas the assorted fashions throughout the Sector assortment vary from pores and skin divers to pilot’s watches and every part in between, the entire totally different Nodus Sector fashions share the very same center case, but each finally gives its personal distinctive fashion and performance. The newest addition to this well-liked sequence is the Nodus Sector Deep, which takes the gathering’s signature center case design and transforms it right into a extremely succesful sports activities watch with a downright extreme 500 meter depth score.

As soon as a watch is sufficiently sealed towards moisture, it’s largely the thickness of its exterior case elements which might be chargeable for permitting it to realize more and more deeper water resistance rankings. With that in thoughts, hardly ever is it the center case that’s the limiting issue, and with an honest crown system and a thick sufficient crystal and caseback, virtually any depth score is feasible, offered that the center case itself is decently strong and able to supporting the beefed up crystal and caseback. At excessive depths, crystals will crack and the caseback of the watch will bend underneath excessive stress, finally caving inwards and damaging the motion. The reply to stopping such a failure is to easily use a thicker crystal and caseback — and that is precisely how the Nodus Sector Deep is ready to provide 5 instances the water resistance of the opposite fashions that make up the present Sector assortment.

Similar to the entire different Nodus Sector watches, the Sector Deep is crafted from 316L stainless-steel and makes use of the identical center case with faceted and sculpted lugs that measure 38mm in diameter by 47mm lug-to-lug. Nonetheless, relatively than being completed with brushed and polished surfaces like the remainder of the lineup, the case of the Nodus Sector Deep is given a completely matte bead-blasted end for a extremely utilitarian general aesthetic. The highest of the case is protected by an additional thick flat sapphire crystal with beveled edges and a blue anti-reflective coating on the underside floor, whereas the reverse facet of the case will get fitted with a thicker strong screw-down caseback that brings the overall peak of the Sector Deep as much as 13.6mm. This makes it solely about one millimeter taller than the opposite fashions from the Sector assortment. That mentioned, that extra millimeter is solely because of the thicker caseback, which signifies that the watch itself sits barely increased on the wrist than its siblings, though it nonetheless retains a lot of the identical compact case profile that defines the remainder of the Sector lineup.

Surrounding the crystal is a 120-click unidirectional bezel that measures 42mm in diameter with a matte black DLC end. Fairly than simply having a 60-minute elapsed time scale like a standard dive watch, the bezel options a further 12-hour scale alongside its inside, which signifies that it will also be used to show a secondary time zone. The numerous distinction in diameter between the case and the bezel was particularly executed for a number of totally different useful causes. The bigger dimension permits room for each scales, and the overhanging edge additionally makes the bezel extremely simple to grip. On high of that, the outsized fringe of the bezel additionally gives safety for the winding crown, because the Sector center case itself doesn’t function any sort of crown guards. To additional shield the winding crown throughout lively use, the Nodus Sector Deep contains a destro setup, with the crown positioned on the 9 o’clock location to assist stop it from getting caught on issues or receiving a direct affect. Moreover, the black DLC-coated screw-down crown contains a shiny crimson “Lock” marking that has an arrow to remind customers to double-check their crowns earlier than coming into the water.

Similar to the extremely utilitarian case of the watch, the dial fitted to the Nodus Sector Deep gives a equally function-forward design, and it contains a matte black floor with giant utilized hour markers and an oblong date window on the 6 o’clock location. The raised metallic buildings of the hour markers are given a delicate white PVD end, they usually seem as radially oriented squares with tapered rectangles on the poles, with a double marker on the 12 o’clock place to assist present a transparent orientation in complete darkness. The minute monitor is printed in white towards an angled black chapter ring, and the construction of the chapter ring options cutouts for the raised hour markers. The cutouts enable the markers to be positioned nearer to the perimeter of the dial, which is completed so as to improve the quantity of adverse area and promote higher at-a-glance legibility.

In the meantime, the outward taper of the hour markers on the cardinal factors virtually creates the phantasm of a domed dial floor, and this was executed as a method to assist trick the mind to counteract the refraction of sunshine when viewing the Sector Deep whereas underwater. Moreover, the bevel alongside the sting of the crystal creates a mirrored image of the hour markers, which will increase their perceived dimension and additional helps to advertise legibility. Though each the dial and bezel provide a largely white-on-black general look, the phrase “Deep” is printed in shiny crimson letters on the decrease half of the dial. The 2 white luminous scales on the bezel are separated by small crimson dots which might be positioned on the five-minute markers, which enhance the crimson textual content on the dial and supply the Nodus Sector Deep with a delicate pop of colour.

On the middle of the dial are a trio of arms which might be utterly completed white and provide an general look that might finest be described as a broader and extra modernized model of what might be discovered on quite a lot of modern Seiko divers such because the Turtle and SKX sequence. Fairly than having a standard round luminous pip, the seconds hand contains a rectangular part close to the tip that’s crammed with lume, whereas the distinct form of the hour and minute arms stop any chance of complicated them, no matter lighting situations. The stark white colour of the arms and markers set towards the matte black floor of the dial creates absolutely the most quantity of visible distinction potential, and all three of the arms, plus all 12 hour markers and each the 60-minute and 12-hour scales on the bezel are completed with blue-glowing Grade A Swiss Tremendous-LumiNova for an ultra-bright and highly-legible show at nighttime.

Fitted to the drilled 20mm lugs of the Nodus Sector Deep is a stainless-steel bracelet that tapers from 20mm on the case to 18mm the place it meets the clasp, and it contains a flat 3-link building with an identical matte bead-blasted end to correspond with the center case. The bracelet checks all the most important bins by way of what most individuals need as of late, and it options utterly strong hyperlinks, single-sided screws for the detachable hyperlinks, and strong end-links with built-in quick-release spring bars for simple, tool-free strap modifications. The folding clasp contains a double push-button launch, and it consists of the model’s proprietary NodeX extension system that provides 5 positions of incremental adjustment and permits the bracelet to both be expanded or contracted by a complete of 10mm. The bracelet on the Sector Deep is considerably higher than most of what exists at this value level, but it feels barely much less refined than different Nodus bracelets, and this may increasingly simply be because of its extra utilitarian fashion and ending.

Powering the Nodus Sector Deep is the dependable and ubiquitous Seiko NH35 automated motion, which is the definition of a well-known design and one of the crucial generally used self-winding mechanical actions throughout the whole watch business. Operating at a frequency of 21,600vph (3 Hz) with an influence reserve of roughly 41 hours, the Seiko NH35 gives magnetic resistance of 4,800 A/m and quickset adjustability for the date show. Though the usual manufacturing unit specs of the Seiko NH35 are really nothing exceptional, Nodus additional regulates the actions in-house so as to obtain an accuracy score of +/-10 seconds per day. Along with being identified for its dependability, the NH35 is reasonably priced and straightforward to take care of, plus it may be outright changed if completely crucial, with out coming near encroaching upon the overall alternative price of the watch itself.

Nodus virtually completely operates effectively under the four-figure value level, and the Sector Sequence is among the many model’s most reasonably priced choices. With an official retail value of $575 USD, the Nodus Sector Deep is the costliest mannequin presently in Sector lineup, though it solely represents a $75 premium in comparison with different Sector fashions with black DLC bezels. This looks like a greater than truthful value bump given its thicker elements and extra concerned bezel design. Whereas the Nodus Sector Deep is undeniably a dive watch, the truth that it consists of a further 12-hour scale on its bezel and lacks any sort of diver-exclusive options (reminiscent of a helium escape valve or decompression restrict scale) finally makes it really feel extra like a extremely succesful multi-purpose instrument watch that simply occurs to have a whopping 500-meter depth score. As an entire, the Sector Deep is definitely essentially the most strong and function-forward watch that Nodus has produced to this point, and the truth that it makes use of the identical precise center case as the entire different fashions within the Sector sequence additional drives residence the purpose {that a} well-designed case needs to be equally versatile as it’s useful. For extra info on the Nodus Sector Deep, please go to the model’s web site.