The NOMOS Metro Date Power Reserve Ice Blue (ref. 1121) gives one of the brand's most recognizable designs two reasons to revisit it in 2026: a metallic ice-blue dial and a brand-new hand-wound movement. The color is what you notice first, but the new DUW 4701 caliber, with its quick-set date and longer power reserve, is the bigger story for owners.
Here's what changed, what it costs, and how it compares with the original white Metro and the larger automatic Metro Ice Blue.
Announced on October 8, 2026, ref. 1121 is the first NOMOS watch to use the new hand-wound caliber DUW 4701. As Worn & Wound reports, the movement adds a patented quick-set date and raises the power reserve to up to 52 hours. The original Metro Date Power Reserve, launched in 2014, used the DUW 4401 with up to 42 hours.
The Metro family has a history of debuting technology. The 2014 original was the first watch to use NOMOS's in-house swing system escapement, and the new ice-blue model continues that tradition with a new caliber.
NOMOS has said the DUW 4701 will also come to the original white-dial version. As of launch day, however, the white Metro Date Power Reserve listed on the NOMOS US store (ref. 1101) still shows the older DUW 4401. If you want the new movement with a white dial, confirm the caliber before you buy.
According to the official NOMOS US listing, the Metro Date Power Reserve Ice Blue has these specifications:
A date display is only as useful as it is easy to set. That matters most for collectors who rotate between watches and come back to a stopped watch days later.
On the previous DUW 4401, NOMOS's instructions explain that you advance the date by turning the hour hand back and forth between 8 and 1 o'clock, one date change per cycle. It works, but correcting the date by two weeks takes a lot of turning. The DUW 4701's quick-set date removes that chore. It is the kind of upgrade you appreciate more on the wrist than in a launch photo.
This is still a hand-wound watch. If you enjoy the daily ritual of winding, the power reserve indicator shows exactly how much energy is left. If you would rather not wind, the automatic Metro neomatik 41 Update Ice Blue is the alternative.
The Metro was designed by Berlin-based designer Mark Braun. In a WorldTempus interview, Braun connects the new palette to the shifting blues of the sky seen between buildings in a city.
The layout follows the 2014 original: the power reserve sits near 1 o'clock, the NOMOS logo is offset to the left, and the small seconds and date are stacked at 6 o'clock. The metallic dial shifts from pale blue toward near-white depending on the light. The power reserve indicator uses three colors: teal when fully wound, light blue in between, and white when the watch needs winding.
Is the small circle on the dial a moonphase? No. It is the power reserve indicator. On the original white Metro, the indicator used red and mint; on the ice-blue model, cooler tones replace them.
Launch coverage has focused on two points. Worn & Wound emphasized that the Metro continues to serve as NOMOS's launch platform for new movement technology. Le Mile Magazine noted that teal replaces red in the power reserve display, softening the contrast that defined the original.
That contrast question is the real choice for most buyers. The white Metro is bolder and more graphic; the ice-blue version is quieter, with its colors blending into the dial. Neither is objectively better, so it comes down to which mood you want on the wrist.
NOMOS released two Metro Ice Blue models together, and the names are easy to confuse. The watch pictured here is the smaller, hand-wound Date Power Reserve.
Choose based on wrist size, whether you want automatic winding, and which date display you prefer. If you can, try both on, because 37mm and 40.5mm wear very differently.
Yes. NOMOS announced the Metro Date Power Reserve Ice Blue (ref. 1121) on October 8, 2026, as a permanent addition to the Metro collection. It is also the first watch with the new DUW 4701 movement.
The Metro Date Power Reserve Ice Blue is listed at $4,500 on the NOMOS US store. The larger automatic Metro neomatik 41 Update Ice Blue is $5,390.
The Metro Date Power Reserve Ice Blue uses the NOMOS DUW 4701, an in-house hand-wound caliber with a quick-set date and up to 52 hours of power reserve.
No. Both Metro Ice Blue models join NOMOS's permanent collection.
NOMOS has said it will. As of October 8, 2026, the white Metro Date Power Reserve listed on the NOMOS US store (ref. 1101) still uses the DUW 4401, so check which caliber a specific watch has before buying.
It is rated to 5 atm. NOMOS's care guide says watches with that rating can be worn in the shower but should come off for swimming.
The Metro Ice Blue makes a strong case for a thoughtful update: a recognizable design, a fresh color, and a movement upgrade that fixes a real everyday annoyance. For collectors considering a contemporary dress watch, the decision comes down to how much you value the Metro's asymmetric layout and the ritual of winding by hand.
Browse more of this year's launches in our 2026 New Releases.
Which would you choose: the new ice-blue dial or the original white? And does the quick-set date change your decision?
This release overview is based on manufacturer information and published launch coverage available on October 8, 2026. It is not a hands-on review.
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