As a GMT fan, I will take every opportunity to check out watches with my favorite complications. When the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT landed on my desk, I was intrigued. A remake of a rare watch from the 1970s, this model combines a super compressor-style case with an internal rotating 24-hour GMT bezel. Combined with glamorous 70s style, this new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic model is an interesting retro take on the classic GMT. It’s time to find out more.
Leave it to Nivada Grenchen to release a modern watch that respects the look and dimensions of its vintage inspiration. The brand has received a lot of praise from watch enthusiasts who love vintage-inspired reproductions. I’m one of those people who loves this brand’s retro chronographs. I especially love some of the luxury options this brand has released. The Valjoux 72-equipped Worn & Wound Limited Edition immediately comes to mind, but Chrono King’s “Paul Newman” Orange is also a great example. But I also like the regular tropical dial version of the Chronomaster Broad Arrow with the Beads of Rice bracelet. These watches prove that Nivada Grenchen is not afraid to play with retro chronograph aesthetics.
A remake of 1970’s Rare Birds
The new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT is not a reimagining of a vintage design. Rather, aesthetically, it’s a one-to-one remake of the classic that was available in the early 1970s. Guillaume Reide, the brand’s current CEO, apparently discovered the vintage version online at the Hodinkee Shop several years ago. Fast forward to today, and this watch became the latest addition to the modern Nivada lineup.
The brand presents two versions. The first is a limited edition of 99 pieces with a tropical dial, and the second is a regular model with a black dial. I requested the latter for review. I think this is an original watch and has an overall aesthetic that I prefer more than the tropical dial version, so I was happy with it.
The original Antarctic GMT was equipped with a super compressor case made by the famous manufacturer EPSA. As you would expect from Nivada Grenchen, the designers have respected the original dimensions of the case. This new version features a 36mm Super Compressor-like case that measures 40mm lug to lug, is 11.6mm thick (including crystal), and is water resistant to 50m.
The straight tonneau-shaped case is nice and flat, with a noticeable amount of thickness coming from the giant boxy plexiglass crystal. I love this detail as it adds a lot of retro charm. It’s great to see how Nivada Grenchen has brought this watch back to life as close to the original as possible.
It’s hard to resist the undeniable quirky charm
On the right side of the case are two slightly recessed screw-down crowns at 2 and 4 o’clock. The top part controls the rotating 24-hour inner bezel, while the bottom part allows you to change the date and GMT hand in the first position and the time in the second position. Inside the case is a black dial with small markers and a slight off-white lume. The markers are placed between a white minute track with a date window at 3 o’clock. This aperture has a matching white frame with a white disc featuring black printing. The logo and text on the top and bottom halves of the dial are slightly raised and painted white.
And you’ll find a bidirectional bezel with yellow and black halves to indicate day and night. The retro yellow color and short red and black checkered GMT hand define the funky aesthetic. Two bar-shaped hands accompany the hours and minutes GMT hand. Filled with luminous paint in the same color as the marker. Finally, add a thin second hand to complete the handset.
Overall, the retro look of the dial and bezel is busy but not cluttered. This allows you to quickly read local/home time and date. Another great detail is the “Antarctica” text written in a funky retro font, which adds a lot of personality. We know the font from other Antarctic models, but it’s always a great detail that immediately stands out.
The Soprod C125 GMT caliber powers the Antarctic GMT
The dial follows the original design, but the case back is slightly different from the original. However, I must add that it has changed for the better. The original watch had a full stainless steel caseback engraved with the image of a penguin. Unlike the original, the brand used a gold medallion in the center of the new Antarctic GMT’s case back. Adds nice color to the back of your watch. Hidden behind the case back is the Soprod C125 caliber. This automatic transmitter-style GMT movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, has 25 jewels, and offers a 42-hour power reserve.
As many of you may know, Soprod is part of the Festina group and supplies movements to a variety of brands. Both Serica and Oak & Oscar are known to have used C125 in their watches. The caliber is based on the automatic Soprod M100 with the addition of a GMT module. As a result, it will not feature the coveted flyer-style GMT caliber that allows hourly adjustment of local time. However, as someone who has owned multiple watches with Kohler-style GMT movements, it’s never really bothered me, despite the added practicality of a Flyer-style movement.
Wearing Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT
As always, Nivada offers multiple strap options for the Antarctic GMT. The first is a stainless steel bead of rice bracelet that definitely looks amazing. Additionally, you can choose between a brown or black leather strap with or without white stitching. Finally, there is the option of a brown or black lacing strap. We wore the watch on a brown lacing strap that comes with a branded buckle that fits well with the overall style.
The leather strap is soft and supple, making the watch comfortable. When I put it on my wrist, I was immediately impressed by how much wrist presence this watch has, both in size and design. Normally, 36mm watches with leather straps look quite small on my wrist, but the Antarctic GMT has ample presence thanks to its case shape. On top of that, the design simply pops with its bright yellow color and prominent dial design, leaving me pleasantly surprised with how well the watch looks and feels on my wrist.
A unique watch
The beautiful contours of the watch truly shine when worn on the wrist. With a thickness of 11.6 mm including the crystal, this is a slim watch with a lot of personality. Plexiglas crystals aren’t the most practical option these days, but they’re great for adding a vintage vibe. What’s more, the dial design has plenty of retro features, and it certainly hasn’t lost its relevance in a world full of vintage-inspired watches. Plus, it’s a great addition to the brand’s lineup of vintage reissues.
In fact, the crown is best operated when the watch is not on your wrist. Both come loose easily and feel very decent in terms of quality. Turning the top crown is very easy. However, since it is a freely rotating bezel, you need to be precise when setting additional time zones. To make this easier, there are small dots below the numbers that align with the hour and minute markers.
The GMT hand is quite short and does not reach the bezel. It’s a little unrealistic, but that’s not the deciding factor for me. Also, once you have turned the bezel to the desired position, you need to be a little careful when screwing the crown back on. Push the crown in firmly before turning it. Otherwise, the bezel will rotate. A little practice will do the trick.
Final thoughts about Nivada Grenchen Antarctica GMT
I loved spending time with this new Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT. I was initially nervous about the size, but it just wasn’t my style of GMT watch. However, after spending a few days with the watch, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it is to wear and how its style remains relevant. The latter isn’t all that surprising in a watch industry focused on reviving brands and designs from the past.
Nivada Grenchen is one of the brands that does that best. The new Antarctic GMT is no exception. This faithful remake looks great, has great proportions, and wears like a charm. With a retail price starting at $1,600 USD on a leather strap, this new Antarctic GMT is sure to be in the hands of fans quickly. This is another great addition to the collection, which reinterprets watches from Nivada’s fascinating archives.
Let us know what you think about this vintage-inspired Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT in the comments section.
