Earlier, this year we brought you word of a special edition from the Irish watch company Nomadic (you can see that here), and a few releases past that. We were intrigued by their designs, so we got a loaner in of the Nomadic Marai 401 to take a closer look.
Nomadic Marai 401: what it is
On paper, you could sort of summarize the Nomadic Marai 401 as a 40mm steel sports watch, or look at it as a sub clone. But both those of marks fall short of what the design offers. Yes, it very definitely has drawn inspiration from Rolex and Tudor, but it’s not like they’ve cloned a reference. They’ve done some mix and match from different models, resulting in a combination you won’t find from the crown or rose. And even with those references in the design, the watch proudly announces itself as a Nomadic design on the dial.
The aesthetics
Looking at the Nomadic Marai 401, it’s easy to see that this is a diver. You’ve got all of the classic elements, including a crisp color scheme on the dial that keeps legibility high. While it looks like it could be vintage, you’ve got a very modern ceramic bezel insert, as well as modern lume on the dial and handset.
A big area we want to call out is the case here. Viewed from the front, you don’t actually see much of it, with the bezel ever-so-slightly overhanging it. Viewed from the side, you get that stark, almost slab-sided profile that keeps it sensible, but somehow doesn’t feel heavy. We also like that they’ve polished the edges of the case, giving things a little bit more flash.
Wearing the Nomadic Marai 401
When you first unwrap your Nomadic Marai 401 from the waxed canvas roll, you’re going to need to resize your bracelet. They include tools too do that, and it’s a pretty simple affair. Unscrew the links, put things back together, and you’re ready to go.
Now, what if you’re between links, or need to adjust things during the day? The clasp has a micro adjuster built into the clasp that works like a charm. There if you need it, and does it all without adding much bulk.
Overall, the watch wears – and feels – fairly compact. Coming in at just 11.5mm thick, it does not feel like a large, bulky diver on the wrist. Sure, it can do that job, but it’s also quite workable to slip under a shirt cuff when it’s time to dress up a bit more.
With the recognizable look (albeit one that will trip up Rolex/Tudor experts), it’s also a watch that doesn’t attract undue attention. In other words, it’s there doing it’s job, and it’s on your wrist because you like it, not because you’re trying to draw clout with it or something. For me, it was a perfect watch. Wore it work, wore it to meet friends for a meal in the city, and yes, wore it with a suit and tie as well as a t-shirt.
Wrapping things up
If you couldn’t tell, I had a lot I liked about the Nomadic Marai 401. If I were to change anything, it would be the date display. I’d maybe drop it, or figure out how to get some magnification on it, just to boost the legibility of things. A minor thing, though. Frankly, it’s hard to argue against this look, particularly when it’s paired to a Swiss movement (Sellitta SW200 with a custom rotor) and an excellent adjustable bracelet.
While we reviewed the Nomadic Marai 401 in the Pitch Black guise, there are five other color schemes, including a black and gilt. This version, in glossy black, will run you $1,249, a price tag that feels very worth it on the wrist. And hey, it’s a great way to add another company to your watch box as well! Check out the collection at nomadicwatches.com
Nomadic Marai 401 Tech Specs
- Reference: 4014000PB
- Case: 316L stainless steel fine-brushed/polished
- Glass: domed sapphire, anti-reflective coating inside, scratch resistant
- Bezel: ceramic, uni-directional
- Luminescence: Super LumiNova, Blue BGW9
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 40mm
- Thickness: 11.5mm
- Lug-to-lug: 48mm
- Lug width: 20mm
- Water resistance: 200m / 660ft
- Movement: Sellita SW200-1, automatic, self-winding
- Bracelet
- Screw-in links
- MicroGlide adjust
- Tapers 20mm to 16mm
- Quick-release spring bars
