The New Nivada Grenchen Antarctic 35mm, For All Of You Old-School Fans

In the 1950s, Nivada Grenchen played a role by crafting timepieces engineered explicitly for the harsh conditions to be faced by members of the US Antarctic expedition, Operation Deep Freeze. These watches needed to be waterproof, anti-magnetic, and automatic, giving rise to the Nivada Antarctic – a descendant of the brand’s earlier Aquamatic line. The Antarctic came out as an adventure-ready watch and a stylish accessory suitable for any occasion, spanning various versions over time; the collection became a monumental success for Nivada. Unsurprisingly, the recent revival of Nivada Grenchen as a brand would be marked by the triumphant return of the Antarctic, reinstating its position as an all-time favourite. We are pleased to unveil the latest release from Nivada Grenchen – a remarkably faithful re-edition of the “watch that went to the Antarctic.”

The allure of the new Antarctic starts with its 35mm stainless steel case, standing at a sleek 10.1mm thickness. The distinctive lugs, rounded on the sides and flat on top, add a touch of elegance that transcends time. The polished and brushed finishes accentuate the lines, while the wide bezel enhances the overall aesthetic. The large crown retains the proportions of the 1957 original and complements the case size seamlessly. Flipping the watch reveals a solid screwed-in caseback adorned with an embossed penguin on a gold medallion.

Nivada offers this new Antarctic model in three dial colours, and each dial is adorned with applied steel hour markers. Art Deco-styled numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 harmonize with other indices, presenting themselves as faceted arrowheads (or icicle shapes for a touch of romance). The vintage appeal is heightened by curved luminescent lines adorning the outer edge of each shiny index. Paired with classic dauphine-style hands in steel featuring a lume-filled stripe, they ensure clear visibility in low-light conditions. The new Antarctic 35mm offers a choice of polished steel and a blued variant of the central seconds hand. The dial is signed “Nivada Grenchen” and “Antarctic”, and there’s a “Swiss” mention at the bottom.

The new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic 35mm relies on the manually-wound Landeron 21 calibre for timekeeping, with approximately 36 hours of power reserve. A few references distinguished mainly by the combination of dial colour (black, white, or eggshell), seconds hand presentation, strap (black or brown), and luminous material (7403C beige Super Luminous or white Super Luminous), are set to go on sale for EUR/CHF/USD 850. (Among the available PR images, a black dial version was pictured with gold-coloured indices and hands, perhaps a hint at a potential customization option).

Available exclusively on NivadaGrenchenOfficial.com starting November 23rd, with deliveries scheduled in March of 2024, this Antarctic 35mm reincarnation by Nivada Grenchen brings vintage charm to audiences in style. To borrow from a historical Nivada Grenchen Antarctic ad, there isn’t a father or son who wouldn’t be proud to own it.

For more information, please visit NivadaGrenchenOfficial.com.