The Hourstriker Verdict
The newest release from Nodus is the photocentric Obscura II, which is a collaboration with Beers and Cameras. The original Obscura was the first mechanical timepiece to feature a exposure gauge complication based on the Sunny 16 Rule. While I'm not the biggest photography nerd, I do see the use of the complication. Of the two models, I tend to gravitate more towards the DLC treated piece, since I love a blacked out watch.
— Peter, Editor-in-Chief
Nodus has initiated the standard production of the Obscura II, a mechanical tool watch that integrates a functional photographic exposure calculator directly into the bezel and chapter ring architecture. This release transitions the concept from its initial limited-edition collaboration run into a permanent fixture within the brand's catalog. The core functionality relies on a patented mechanical complication (Patent No. 12,007,722) developed by Juan Martinez, which adapts the "Sunny 16" rule for wrist-worn operation. This rule provides a mathematical framework for calculating proper camera exposure using incident daylight rather than relying on reflected readings from internal or external electronic light meters. By rotating the bezel, a photographer can align aperture values with specific ISO markers to output the correct shutter speed for prevailing daylight conditions. This second-generation model arrives with a redesigned dial layout, updated material applications, and the removal of the dual branding that characterized the first iteration.
The decision to remove the Beers & Cameras logo from the dial was driven by consumer feedback requesting a more balanced and symmetrical visual layout. The Obscura II now features only the Nodus wordmark positioned below the 12 o'clock index and the model name printed above the 6 o'clock position. The exposure calculator functions as a circular slide rule explicitly calibrated for analog film parameters. The user turns the bezel indicator clockwise to match the chosen lens aperture with the corresponding value printed on the internal chapter ring. Following this alignment, the user locates the correct ISO marker on the dial ring, which then points directly to the required shutter speed engraved on the outer bezel track. This mechanical calculation provides immediate exposure guidance for photographers operating vintage camera bodies that lack built-in light metering hardware.
Courtesy of Nodus
The Case and Dial
The Obscura II utilizes a 316L surgical-grade stainless steel mid-case measuring 38mm in width, paired with a bezel that overhangs the case slightly to reach a 40mm total diameter. This 2mm differential provides a necessary mechanical advantage, allowing users to grip and turn the bezel easily while keeping the primary visual footprint of the watch constrained to the 38mm dimension. The overall thickness measures 11.7mm, a figure that includes the height of the box sapphire crystal, while the lug-to-lug distance spans a highly wearable 47mm. The 20mm lug width accommodates standard third-party straps, and the case lines feature a linear brushed finish along the top surfaces with a polished bevel running down the outer edge of the lugs. The box sapphire crystal is treated with a blue anti-reflective coating on the underside, which eliminates glare and prevents the optical distortion that typically occurs at the extreme edges of domed acrylic alternatives.
Material selection for the interactive components directly references the wear patterns of vintage analog camera equipment. The screw-down crown and the gripping edge of the bezel are machined from CuAl5 bronze and finished with a black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. While DLC is standardly utilized across the watch industry to provide extreme scratch resistance on steel or titanium, applying it over a softer bronze substrate engineers a deliberate point of failure. Over time and through standard operation, the hard DLC layer will abrade at the high-friction points along the coin-edge knurling, exposing the oxidizing bronze beneath. This localized patina process simulates the exact brassing effect observed on heavily utilized black-painted camera bodies from the mid-twentieth century. The bi-directional bezel operates on a limited rotation track, restricted to 16 distinct clicks between the 12 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions to isolate the specific rotational range required by the exposure gauge complication.
The dial construction shifts away from the flat matte finish of the original model, utilizing a complex multi-layer manufacturing technique to produce a simulated film grain texture. The brass dial blank is stamped with a highly irregular grain pattern engineered to visually replicate the physical structure of silver halide crystals found in photographic film stock. A dark fumé gradient is applied over this texture, transitioning outward from a lighter center to a solid black perimeter at the chapter ring. To protect the gradient and create visual depth, a thick layer of clear enamel is applied over the textured surface. The rectangular indices are then applied on top of this enamel layer, producing a distinct visual separation that makes the hour markers appear to float above the granular base layer.
High contrast is maintained across the dial through the application of Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 Grade A, which fills the applied indices and the broad sword handset to emit a bright blue glow in low-light environments. The handset features polished facets that catch ambient light, aiding legibility against the dark, light-absorbing fumé background. The seconds hand acts as the primary visual anchor for the photography theme, featuring a counterweight that is physically machined to mimic the exact dimensions of a 35mm film sprocket hole. This hand is painted in a high-visibility cyan that directly matches the specific color code used for the "OBSCURA" text printed on the lower half of the dial, tying the secondary accents together without overcrowding the primary time-telling surfaces.
Courtesy of Nodus
The Movement
Powering the Obscura II is the TMI NH38 automatic caliber, a standard-issue mechanical movement supplied by Time Module Inc. This caliber operates at a frequency of 3Hz, yielding 21,600 vibrations per hour, and provides a maximum power reserve of 41 hours on a full wind. The NH38 is specifically designed as the open-heart or no-date variant within the broader NH35 architectural family. By selecting this specific caliber, Nodus ensures that the watch operates without a "phantom date" position within the crown setting mechanism. When the user unscrews the bronze crown and pulls it to the first position, it immediately engages the time-setting gear train with a hacking seconds function, halting the balance wheel for precise synchronization, rather than clicking into a dead position meant for a non-existent date wheel.
While the TMI NH38 is an off-the-shelf industrial caliber, Nodus intercepts the raw movements and subjects them to an in-house regulation process at their Los Angeles assembly facility. The factory specifications for standard NH series movements allow for wide timing variances, but Nodus regulates each caliber in four positions to achieve a tightened tolerance of +/- 10 seconds per day. The movement is mounted inside the 316L steel case utilizing a specialized retention ring that provides an antimagnetic resistance rating of 4800 A/m. This level of shielding is critical for a watch designed specifically for photographers, as it protects the ferrous balance spring from the strong localized electromagnetic fields generated by modern mirrorless camera bodies, external flash sync modules, and high-output lighting equipment.
Courtesy of Nodus
The Strap
The Obscura II is equipped with a three-link stainless steel bracelet that integrates flush against the 38mm mid-case via solid end-links. The bracelet profile features a severe 4mm taper, dropping from a 20mm width at the lugs down to 16mm at the clasp mechanism. This geometric reduction removes significant steel mass from the underside of the wrist, effectively lowering the center of gravity and preventing the watch head from shifting laterally during physical activity. The links utilize a fully brushed surface treatment that masks the superficial scratches commonly accumulated through daily wear.
The bracelet terminates in the proprietary Nodus Extension Module (NEM) clasp, which houses a mechanical micro-adjustment system. This module allows the wearer to extend or retract the bracelet length in small increments on the fly, compensating for natural wrist swelling caused by environmental heat or extended field use. Furthermore, the solid end-links are fitted with quick-release springbars accessed via sliding tabs on the underside. This hardware allows the user to detach the steel bracelet rapidly and mount third-party NATO or leather straps without requiring the use of a traditional forked springbar tool.
Courtesy of Nodus
Pricing and Availability
The Nodus Obscura II is offered in two distinct primary configurations, differentiated strictly by their external surface treatments. The standard brushed stainless steel variant is priced at $650 USD, while a fully DLC-coated stainless steel version is available for $725 USD. Both models share the exact same internal architecture, dial layout, and the specialized CuAl5 bronze crown and bezel grip components. This pricing strategy reflects a direct-to-consumer sales model that bypasses traditional retail markups while still offering regulated mechanical movements and proprietary clasp hardware.
Unlike the first generation of this design, the Obscura II enters the Nodus catalog as a standard production model, eliminating the artificial scarcity often associated with specialized tool watches. Final assembly, movement regulation, and water resistance pressure testing to the rated 100 meters are executed entirely in the brand's Los Angeles facility. The watches are available directly through the manufacturer's primary digital storefront, providing immediate access for both horology enthusiasts and the analog photography community.
Courtesy of Nodus
Technical Specifications
Case: 316L surgical-grade stainless steel, 38mm width x 11.7mm thickness x 47mm lug-to-lug, 40mm bezel width, 20mm lug width
Movement: TMI NH38 Automatic, 41-hour power reserve, 3Hz (21,600 vph), regulated in-house to +/- 10 seconds per day, antimagnetic to 4800 A/m
Dial: Fumé gradient with silver halide crystal texture, clear enamel top layer, applied indices, Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 Grade A
Strap: 20mm to 16mm tapered stainless steel bracelet, Nodus Extension Module (NEM) Clasp, quick-release springbars
Price: $650 USD (Brushed stainless steel) / $725 USD (DLC-coated stainless steel)
Reference Number: Obscura II
Notes: Features a patented mechanical exposure gauge complication based on the Sunny 16 rule, bi-directional 16-click bezel, CuAl5 bronze crown and bezel grip with deliberate wear DLC coating, assembled in Los Angeles