Borna Bosniak
Nivada Grenchen’s entire current catalog takes a lot of inspiration from its historic models, but given that its latest release is essentially a re-release of a one-on-one design, perhaps This is the most faithful reproduction to date, but with updated movement and case construction. The watch in question is the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT, a watch that originally debuted during the jet age of the 1960s (the name dates back to the 1950s), with a dual-crown EPSA case and distinctive funky GMT hand. We are prepared. . Its latest version has improved the movement and ditched the super compressor case, but the aesthetics have not been compromised in any way. In fact, the proportions are even better than the original, and if you don’t want to go looking for samples with a chocolatey, tropical patina, Nivada Grenchen also has you covered (but limited to only 99 pieces) ). ).
dial
Let’s start with what is basically unchanged from the original. That’s the dial. The blocky lume-filled indexes and hands retain their shape, including the checkered GMT hand, a peak of 70s funk. The two-color internal rotating bezel and dial printing are faithful reproductions of the original typeface, but I’m not mad about the presence of several open sixes. The overall appearance is uncluttered and balanced, including the framed and beveled date window at 6 o’clock.
The black dial is simple and nice, but I’m personally a big fan of the Antarctic GMT Tropical. It doesn’t just have a brown dial and rose-colored handset. These elements are conveniently aged before leaving the factory to reflect the tropical aging that attracts so many collectors. Now, I’m usually pretty outspoken about Fotina, but here the look is consistent and intentional throughout, and I don’t have to worry about the cracked lume falling off my hands. As some of you may know, modern materials and dial painting techniques have gotten much better and don’t age easily. So this is a win in my opinion. The only disappointment is that this tropical configuration is limited to 99 pieces.
case
Even if you have the most amazing dial ever made, if the case breaks, you’ll end up with a crappy watch. This is especially true for so many vintage-inspired releases and reissues, as they tend to bloat beyond the soft size of the original. It’s as if the folks at Nivada Grenchen were very aware of this, as the case dimensions couldn’t be better. The new Antarctic GMT has a diameter of 36mm and a thickness of just 11.1mm. This means it’s smaller and slimmer than its predecessor, so it’s actually ready to wear. The box-domed plexiglass is the cherry on top of this delicious vintage dessert.
A quick note on the construction of the case itself: Unfortunately, the Ervin Piquerez super compressor design has been discontinued and replaced with a traditional two-piece construction. These are rare today, as the likes of the Christopher Ward C65 and Sherpa OPS are both much larger than the Antarctic GMT. In fact, the EPSA case was also featured on the original Enicar Sherpa model. However, as a result, the Antarctic GMT’s water resistance is only 50 meters, which is acceptable but not very good for a sports watch.
movement
And speaking of Sherpa, another thing the two 1960s watches had in common was that they both had movements powered by the Enicar AR-1146. This caliber used non-adjustable 12- and 24-hour central hands, the latter simply following the former like a glorified day/night indicator. This was common at the time, and it took another 20 years before the hands could be adjusted independently (thank you, Rolex).
Thankfully, you no longer have to worry about radioactive Bakelite bezels or non-adjustable GMT hands. The same goes for the new Antarctic GMT. It has dimensions similar to ETA’s 2893 and is powered by a Soprod C125 with a 42-hour power reserve and automatic winding. Its GMT module, like most other “caller” GMT movements, is based on a revised date function, meaning it can jump quickly. The checkered hands advance in hourly increments.
bracelet and strap
If you’re familiar with how Nivada Grenchen operates, you won’t be surprised to learn that the Antarctic GMT is offered in a variety of steel bracelet and leather strap variations. In fact, there are at least 21 different variations of the two dial colors, with the highlight for me being the three Forstner options: Clip, Beads of Rice, and Rivets.
However, with their 20mm lug width and versatile dials, these straps look great on just about any strap, so if Nivada’s options aren’t good enough for you for some reason, you should have no problem attaching your own. There is no.
judgment
After completing this review, it should be clear that I love this watch. a lot. The finish on the dial is excellent, and the faux tropical model doesn’t look ordinary. I was hoping for water resistance to improve to 100 meters, but the fact that this watch is actually more balanced than its vintage inspiration more than justifies it in my mind. is. We haven’t mentioned pricing yet, but the Antarctic GMT costs $1,600, which puts it in the top of the Soprod-equipped GMTs. As such, it competes with the equally excellent Lorca Model No.1 GMT and Celica Ref. 8315. Despite stiff competition, the Antarctic GMT easily earns its place thanks to its best-in-class case design and unique 1970s look.
Nivada Grenchen Antarctica GMT Pricing and Availability
Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT is now available. Price: $1,600
Brand Nivada Grenchen Model Antarctic GMT Case Dimensions 36mm (D) x 11.1mm (T) Case Material Stainless Steel Water Resistance 50 meters Crystal Plexiglass Front Dial Black, Aged Brown Lug Width 20mm Strap Choice of various steel and leather straps Movement Soprod C125, automatic power reserve 42 hours Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT Available now (Tropical) Limited to 99 pieces) Price US$1,600
