closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 39 of 39

Thread: New Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster And Antarctic

  1. #1
    Master Tazmo61's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    England
    Posts
    1,948

    New Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster And Antarctic

    The rebirth of Nivada Grenchen with new versions of the Chronomaster and Antarctic . "Cult favourite watches at back-to-basics prices" .

    https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ni...ic-introducing





    Last edited by Tazmo61; 6th June 2020 at 10:33.

  2. #2
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Trinovantum
    Posts
    11,313
    Like those.

    *scans article looking for prices*

    €1.5 - 2k. Not that basic.

    Damn it.

  3. #3
    Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    ' EXEMPLO DUCEMUS '
    Posts
    5,770
    Top, middle, very nice.

  4. #4
    Grand Master Sinnlover's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    London
    Posts
    10,942
    I am very interested in these and for a first I am drawn to a white dial Chronograph.

  5. #5
    Master sish101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    County Durham
    Posts
    4,020
    Quote Originally Posted by MADDOG View Post
    Top, middle, very nice.
    I concur. That price though...

    Sent through the ether by diddling with radio waves

  6. #6
    Grand Master thieuster's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    GMT+1
    Posts
    11,749
    Blog Entries
    8
    Ha! I own an original Chronoking version of the top-middle chrono. With the Valjoux 23 movement.

    M

  7. #7
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tether's End, Lincs
    Posts
    4,845
    Quote Originally Posted by AlphaOmega View Post
    Like those.

    *scans article looking for prices*

    €1.5 - 2k. Not that basic.

    Damn it.
    <Yorkshire> Ow mooch?!</Yorkshire>

    Nivada is just a brand name owned by one of the big Chinese factories now, hence why they just have the word "Swiss" on them - the old ambiguous not-quite-a-lie...

    Guess it's a "buy-it-if-you-love-it" scenario, cos those'll be worth 10-20% of cost the moment your card's swiped.

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by earlofsodbury View Post
    <Yorkshire> Ow mooch?!</Yorkshire>

    Nivada is just a brand name owned by one of the big Chinese factories now, hence why they just have the word "Swiss" on them - the old ambiguous not-quite-a-lie...

    Guess it's a "buy-it-if-you-love-it" scenario, cos those'll be worth 10-20% of cost the moment your card's swiped.
    Is it? I thought it was bought over by two French watchmakers from previous owners who were based in Mexico.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pro...renchen/%3famp

  9. #9
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Trinovantum
    Posts
    11,313
    Quote Originally Posted by earlofsodbury View Post
    <Yorkshire> Ow mooch?!</Yorkshire>

    Nivada is just a brand name owned by one of the big Chinese factories now, hence why they just have the word "Swiss" on them - the old ambiguous not-quite-a-lie...

    Guess it's a "buy-it-if-you-love-it" scenario, cos those'll be worth 10-20% of cost the moment your card's swiped.
    Aye.

    A pre-owned SMP 2264 is a virtually free ownership proposition at around that price.

    Perhaps I'm getting old.

  10. #10
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Not sure how people are complaining about the price. Around £1350 for a mechanical chrono with swiss movement isn't what I'd call 'toppy'

  11. #11
    Grand Master AlphaOmega's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Trinovantum
    Posts
    11,313
    ^Think it's more the description of back-to-basics prices.

    Conjures up own brand supermarket goods, not €2k.

  12. #12
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by AlphaOmega View Post
    ^Think it's more the description of back-to-basics prices.

    Conjures up own brand supermarket goods, not €2k.
    Ah fair enough, agreed

  13. #13
    Master earlofsodbury's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Tether's End, Lincs
    Posts
    4,845
    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    Is it? I thought it was bought over by two French watchmakers from previous owners who were based in Mexico.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pro...renchen/%3famp
    Ah! The plot thinnens! This sort of a thing is what I was thinking of.

    FWLIW, about a year ago I started keeping a log of the huge number of different watch brands - at that point ebay was replete with Nivada-branded Chinesium, as above, now I see it's mostly gone - wonder if our French chums are actively enforcing their trade mark?

    So, yeah, price doesn't look so daft now.

  14. #14
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    SE England
    Posts
    27,034
    Those chronographs look nice although you could probably buy an original for similar money
    Cheers,
    Neil.

    My Speedmaster website:

    http://www.freewebs.com/neil271052

  15. #15
    Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    sometimes Suomi.........
    Posts
    2,310
    Blog Entries
    2
    Myself I would hunt out an old one for sure. But the new white one is nice. Cracking little chronographs, the originals came with a number of different movements and there was even a Paul Newman font dial version (very rare).
    I guess the cream would be a valjoux 23 with Newman dial. Here’s my early one with a valjoux 92 and big arrow hand set.

    short term vs long term goals







    M
    Last edited by milwatch126; 6th June 2020 at 17:39.

  16. #16
    I think these are finally ready.
    Anyone thinking of taking a plunge?

  17. #17
    Grand Master Carlton-Browne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Berlin, London and sometimes Dublin
    Posts
    14,907
    I think the 3 hander is a hugely wasted opportunity - they have sort of got the dial right but the other elements are the chamfered lugs which they've missed outright. In any case this always makes me look at the back catalogue.




    I need to take a better picture of the 2nd one as it also has massively-chamfered lugs. And then I suppose I should get them off to a watchmaker.
    In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.

  18. #18
    Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    5,204
    I have one incoming the rep told me it was shipping January 10. The website has now removed the coming soon - shipping December so it looks like they are shipping now the wait continues.

  19. #19
    Master blackal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Scottish Borders
    Posts
    9,518
    Not so keen on the modern reincarnations, but the name is fantastic!

    Nivada Grenchen

    I had a quick look at the history supplied online by NG, and interested to see the tie-in with Croton, of which my Father had an “Aquamatic” of theirs.

    Seems like a few companies were advertising association with adventures in the late ‘40s/early ‘50s


    Reviving the Glory of Nivada GrenchenNivada timepieces have been in the watchmaking industry since 1926, the year when Jacob Schneider first created it in Granges (Grenchen). In 1976, his son Max took over the business. In the United States of America (USA), the Croton Company distributed all Nivada watches. The timepieces can have either the Nivada or Croton signature, or both.
    In 1930, Nivada was one of the first companies to manufacture automatic watches. This led to the creation of Nivada’s first waterproof automatic watch called the Antarctic in 1950. The watch was worn by the members of the American Navy’s Deep Freeze 1 during their expedition to the South Pole from 1955 to 1956.”

  20. #20
    Master
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Surrey
    Posts
    1,543
    Quote Originally Posted by milwatch126 View Post
    Myself I would hunt out an old one for sure.

    short term vs long term goals



    M
    That is lovely.

  21. #21
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    I have one of these inbound from Hodinkee. Will post pics when it lands.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  22. #22
    Grand Master abraxas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    33,737
    Great to see them back. A good start too.
    "Owning one is almost as satisfying as making one." ~ Rolex 1973

  23. #23
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Here we go. Thrilled with it. Better than hoped.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  24. #24
    Master 50kopek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    The Hague, Netherlands
    Posts
    1,285
    Looks great, Ryan. Very faithful to the original. Good thing they kept the size close to the original too. Not sure about the bracelet, but there are plenty of options that will look good on this. Is it automatic or hand wound?

  25. #25
    Craftsman HookedSeven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    683
    Definitely a fan of the originals. If it wasn’t for the rapidly disappearing sun I’d have tried to get a better photo (and one with no weeds in the background).

    Last edited by HookedSeven; 4th May 2021 at 23:40.

  26. #26
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by 50kopek View Post
    Looks great, Ryan. Very faithful to the original. Good thing they kept the size close to the original too. Not sure about the bracelet, but there are plenty of options that will look good on this. Is it automatic or hand wound?
    Bracelet I like as it is riveted stretch link and very retro. I put it also on a leather strap. Movement is manual wind

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  27. #27
    Craftsman HookedSeven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    683
    Quote Originally Posted by ryanb741 View Post
    Bracelet I like as it is riveted stretch link and very retro. I put it also on a leather strap. Movement is manual wind

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    I’ve got a small stash of NOS seventies rivet bracelets so I’ll do a swap over in the morning and post a pic or two.


  28. #28
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by HookedSeven View Post
    I’ve got a small stash of NOS seventies rivet bracelets so I’ll do a swap over in the morning and post a pic or two.

    Awesome! Would love to see that

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  29. #29
    Craftsman HookedSeven's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    683
    Quote Originally Posted by ryanb741 View Post
    Awesome! Would love to see that

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    I’d love to see it too. I’ve come across some stubborn springbars in my time but this really takes the biscuit. So half-half is the best I can do !


  30. #30
    Quote Originally Posted by ryanb741 View Post
    Here we go. Thrilled with it. Better than hoped.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    Top marks to you for going ahead and getting it. I have thought about it often and was waiting for Jk103 to post his impressions but he seems busy. Hope all well with him.
    It looks good but 39 mm diameter bothers me.
    Anyway, a couple of months ago I paid up for their Depthmaster which is supposedly shipping in August.

  31. #31
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    Top marks to you for going ahead and getting it. I have thought about it often and was waiting for Jk103 to post his impressions but he seems busy. Hope all well with him.
    It looks good but 39 mm diameter bothers me.
    Anyway, a couple of months ago I paid up for their Depthmaster which is supposedly shipping in August.
    38.3mm. It bugged me too but it works as it wears bigger. I prefer it on strap in hindsight

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  32. #32
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by HookedSeven View Post
    I’d love to see it too. I’ve come across some stubborn springbars in my time but this really takes the biscuit. So half-half is the best I can do !

    Ha! Don't lose any fingers. Looks great - you've set a new fashion trend!

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  33. #33
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    The only thing that bugs me is why oh why did they put a sapphire crystal in. Bit lazy to me, plexi would be much more authentic and given the attention to detail elsewhere on the watch I can only think the manufacturer thought it would be a good ifea to put a sapphire glass but really a plexi crystal would have looked much better

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  34. #34
    Quote Originally Posted by ryanb741 View Post
    The only thing that bugs me is why oh why did they put a sapphire crystal in. Bit lazy to me, plexi would be much more authentic and given the attention to detail elsewhere on the watch I can only think the manufacturer thought it would be a good ifea to put a sapphire glass but really a plexi crystal would have looked much better

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    My dilemma is should I get it from Nivada or wait for you to flip?:-)
    I do agree a Plexi would have been more in keeping with the theme.

  35. #35
    Those new Nivada look really great.

  36. #36
    Grand Master ryanb741's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    19,615
    Quote Originally Posted by RAJEN View Post
    My dilemma is should I get it from Nivada or wait for you to flip?:-)
    I do agree a Plexi would have been more in keeping with the theme.
    Ha! You know what I think I'll keep this. For sure it is a LOT of watch for the money. Probably don't lay out the extra for the rivet bracelet - there's a reason rivets are out of fashion and that's because they are garbage. Get it on a tropic and invest £30 or so on a Rallye and job done. Super watch and joins the Hanhart ES in being a great value historical re-edition.

    Make sure you get involved in the Aquastar rerelease - that again is a LOT of watch for the money (La Joux Perret Column Wheel Chrono). Also Aquastar Poseidon GMT is ridiculously under priced for what you get.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    Last edited by ryanb741; 5th May 2021 at 22:46.

  37. #37
    Quote Originally Posted by ryanb741 View Post
    Ha! You know what I think I'll keep this. For sure it is a LOT of watch for the money. Probably don't lay out the extra for the rivet bracelet - there's a reason rivets are out of fashion and that's because they are garbage. Get it on a tropic and invest £30 or so on a Rallye and job done. Super watch and joins the Hanhart ES in being a great value historical re-edition.

    Make sure you get involved in the Aquastar rerelease - that again is a LOT of watch for the money (La Joux Perret Column Wheel Chrono). Also Aquastar Poseidon GMT is ridiculously under priced for what you get.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
    I have the Aquastar. It is fantastic.
    I was thinking more in terms of the BOR bracelet.
    Not worried about straps. Have a bunch of tropics in different colors. Somehow Rallye is not my thing.

  38. #38
    Journeyman
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Ireland
    Posts
    56
    The white chrono is nice-ish, not sure if it's 2-large nice, I like the medallion caseback.

  39. #39
    Master
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    SE UK
    Posts
    1,013
    I just landed this vintage Chronoking from a fellow forum member.
    It is a superb watch on the wrist - killer looks, Valjoux 23 movement & 38mm is such a great size (for me) - what's not to like! .

    The new version looks very faithful to the original design that is now sitting on my wrist.


Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information