Nodus brings a stealthy look back to the range with the Sector II Pilot DLC
Jason Lee- Nodus expands the Sector II Pilot collection with a durable black DLC on the case.
- The 38mm case houses an equally stealth-toned dial, with Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9 Grade A on the numerals.
- While being slimmed down to 11.7mm, it still maintains a 100m water resistance rating.
Before getting to the watch itself, it’s worth noting how Nodus operates. The brand began as a bootstrapped, non‑Kickstarter effort by founders Wesley Kwok and Cullen Chen, and it has generally behaved like a company intent on earning trust through transparency rather than spectacle. That shows up in places enthusiasts notice: unusually public regulation targets for its movements, a willingness to speak frankly about the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem that underpins its L.A. assembly, and a practical bent that prioritises function over fanfare. Even the clasp is a case study. The in‑house “Nodus Extension” micro‑adjust system allows on‑the‑fly sizing and has proved compelling enough that the brand now licenses it to others. Add to this the brand‑run Intersect fair—born as a small brewery meet‑up and now a multi‑city show—and the picture is of a company that prototypes ideas in public and invites feedback.
Against that backdrop, the Sector II Pilot returns as a core‑line addition, this time in a matte‑black DLC guise that leans into cockpit‑inspired cues without turning the volume up unnecessarily.
The Sector Series has become Nodus’ method for keeping design modular and iterative. Rather than releasing stand‑alone references disconnected from one another, the brand works from a versatile mid‑case architecture and a sector‑inspired dial that can support different finishes, layouts, and use‑cases. The approach keeps the line coherent while allowing for meaningful variation—field, diver, pilot—without reinventing case geometry every time. The Sector II Pilot plugs into that framework as an aviation‑centric interpretation, and it does so with a set of features that speak plainly to use: day–date information, a clear countdown bezel, and bold markings that read at a glance.
The immediate impression is of controlled contrast. The 316L stainless steel case and bracelet are fully DLC‑coated in matte black, setting a neutral stage for the neon‑green accents that follow. At 40mm in diameter (including the bezel) and 11.7mm in thickness, the watch aims for modern versatility rather than historic replication. The brand states it is “one of the slimmest Seiko NH‑based designs” while still maintaining 100 metres of water resistance, a figure supported by the presence of a screw‑down crown.
Dial work carries a good portion of the watch’s character. Nodus splits the surface into textures: a grained mid‑section that handles glare and a circularly brushed periphery that adds a subtle radial effect without fighting the indices. The sector concept is not a literal reproduction of vintage templates so much as a way to segment information cleanly. High‑contrast Arabic numerals and a clear minute track are designed for quick interpretation—“essential for the cockpit”, as the brand puts it—while the day–date display offers practical utility that many daily‑wear pilots omit. The neon‑green seconds hand and matching dial hits are not simply stylistic; the colour choice consciously nods to the hue of many instrument panels. Legibility extends into the dark through the use of Swiss Super‑LumiNova BGW9 Grade A on the hands and indices.
A box‑shaped sapphire crystal caps the dial, with blue anti‑reflective treatment on the underside. The box profile is more than a styling cue. By allowing the dial and hands to sit up into the glass cavity, the case can be kept thinner overall, which helps achieve the stated 11.7mm thickness with an automatic day–date calibre. It also creates a mild optical lift that gives the dial some dimensionality without relying on thick chapter rings or stacked appliqués. The effect is subtle from arm’s length but noticeable when the watch catches light obliquely, adding a touch often reserved for higher‑priced steel sports watches.
The bezel is unidirectional with 120 clicks and a matte‑black DLC steel insert configured as a countdown. That configuration is a small but telling choice. While many pilot watches dispense with a rotating bezel entirely, those that include one often default to elapsed‑time formats borrowed from divers. A countdown aligns neatly with the kind of timing pilots or everyday users might do—time to departure, time left on a task, a parking meter—without demanding mental arithmetic. The tactile language of 120 clicks suggests granularity in setting, and keeping the insert tone‑on‑tone avoids visual clutter while still providing a functional scale.
On the wrist, the bracelet continues the theme of practical refinement. It’s a Jubilee‑style construction in matching DLC‑coated steel. Quick‑release spring bars make strap changes straightforward, and the proprietary Nodus extension clasp serves as a useful reminder of the brand’s emphasis on everyday usability. On‑the‑fly micro-adjustment is no longer a luxury; it is increasingly a baseline expectation for anyone wearing a watch across seasons or through a workday. That Nodus has both developed its own system and begun licensing it is indicative of a company that treats small improvements as part of the product, not as optional accessories.
Inside, the watch uses a Seiko NH TMI NH36 with day–date functionality, a choice that fits the brand’s stated goals. The calibre is robust, widely serviceable, and keeps costs aligned with the kind of experimentation Nodus likes to pursue. More importantly, the brand publishes regulation targets and talks openly about the process, which is not yet standard in this price segment. Whether or not a buyer cares about positional variance or daily rate, the message is that the movement has been considered and adjusted with real‑world use in mind. That position dovetails with the claim of having achieved a notably slim case for an NH‑based build while preserving the confidence of a 100‑metre rating.
If the black‑on‑black case and bracelet risk tipping into anonymity, the dial work keeps the watch from disappearing. The neon‑green accents are carefully rationed, the textures are purposeful, and the typography reads as tool‑first rather than vintage‑pastiche. The design lands in a contemporary space where the “pilot” label is defined by legibility, timing function, and day–date utility rather than by strict adherence to any one historical template.
Closing thoughts
This watch reflects a brand that has been clear about how it works and what it values. The Intersect fair shows a willingness to meet enthusiasts where they are; the clasp shows a willingness to solve everyday problems; the open discussion of manufacturing and regulation shows a willingness to share process, not just outcomes. The Sector II Pilot, returned here in matte‑black DLC, fits neatly into that narrative. It is a modern aviation‑oriented watch with features that serve actual use—day–date information, countdown timing, and high‑contrast legibility—executed within a modular design language that supports continuous iteration. For those following Nodus’ trajectory, it reads as another example of the brand building in public, incorporating feedback, and refining the parts that matter.
Nodus Sector II Pilot DLC pricing and availability
The Nodus Sector II Pilot DLC is available now from Nodus’ online boutique. Price: US$625
| Brand | Nodus |
| Model | Sector II Pilot DLC |
| Case Dimensions | 40mm (D) x 11.7mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | DLC-coated 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Box sapphire front |
| Dial | Black sector |
| Strap | DLC-coated Jubilee-style steel bracelet |
| Movement | Seiko TMI NH36, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, countdown bezel |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$625 |