If you could get your hands on a definitive back catalogue of Nivada Grenchen’s timepieces, I am sure that you would be hard-pressed not to discover something that appealed to you. In fact, that the brand faltered during, and eventually succumbed to, the quartz crisis simply boggles the mind. Since their revival, Nivada has impressed with reissue after reissue. At a RedBar event last year, I had the opportunity to handle an iteration of the Chronomaster and immediately fell in love. Admittedly, I arrived late on the Nivada Grenchen scene. But that has only allowed me an embarrassment of riches to wade through and explore.
And speaking of exploring….
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Today I have a beautiful example of the brand’s Super Antarctic 3.6.9. This is the collection inspired by Nivada’s mid-century offering which accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd’s 1955/6 expedition to the South Pole (more on this later). As such, it clearly places one foot in the past with all the hallmarks of that era, but also lands the other foot squarely in the contemporary world of watching making through its use of modern materials.
Immediately striking, of course, are the similarities in dial layout with that “other” famous exploration watch. As both watches were issued only a year apart, originally, one can perhaps forgive this. If not, Nivada has a second Super Antarctic dial with triangular markers only. I, for the record, am of the forgiving kind.
With the Super Antarctic, what you see is what you get: a simple, time-only field watch. However, it would be all too reductive to end the description there. On wrist, this is a lovely piece. The Super Antarctic has a highly-wearable 38mm stainless case, with a friendly lug to lug of only 45mm. At 12mm in height, it feels well-balanced and sits nicely with its down-turned lugs. It is almost entirely polished and really puts on a show in the light. The modern iteration features a nicely sized, screw down crown which helps the watch achieve its 100m of water resistance. It should be noted that this case is not a recreation of the original, though. Instead, Nivada have borrowed from their other Antarctic watch, the Spider.
On the back, the Super Antarctic sports a gold medallion commemorating the Geophysical Year of 1957 and the watch’s role in establishing a research facility in Antarctica as part of that year’s events. The model featured here is equipped with a beautiful beads of rice bracelet that suits the overall aesthetic to a tee. However, the watch can also be purchased on a sturdy leather strap with a quick release system.
While you might be familiar with the 3-6-9 layout, the Super Antarctic makes use of a refined vintage-styled font for both the numerals and the brand name—inscribed here only as Nivada. The brand employed many names over the course of its history, including Croton, in some cases. However, I appreciate the simplicity here. The model name is inscribed in a separate script that really captures the era. The term “Aquamatic” can also be found in the upper half of the dial, referring to the timepiece’s water resistance and automatic movement. I like that the brand stuck with the French “25 Rubis,” as well.
This version has a flat black dial and employs a considerable aging effect on the printing and hands, including a fauxtina-ed appearance. I am not normally one to go in for the “road-worn” look, but here I can’t help but think they have nailed it. Legibility remains high, and the application of Super-LumiNova ensures that it remains that way after dark. The lollipop hour and sword minute hands are true to certain earlier iterations and look great here.
At the heart of the Super Antarctic beats the very modern Soprod P024. This is an ETA-based movement from the Festina Group. It operates at a 4 Hz frequency and promises a 38-hour power reserve, along with an accuracy of +/-20 seconds/day. However, during its time here the calibre ran much better than that.
SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 38mm Diameter 12mm Thick 45mm Lug to Lug 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back & Crown 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Domed Sapphire Crystal /w AR Matte Dial Lollipop/Sword Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Soprod P024 25 Jewels 28 800bph 38-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stainless Steel Beads of Rice or Leather |
Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic
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Of Interest
Originally launched in 1954, the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic was issued to Task Force 43 members as part of the US Antarctic Expedition in 1955/56. Dubbed Operation Deep Freeze, the expedition was in preparation for the International Geophysical year (1957)–a cooperative multinational scientific celebration to help thaw Cold War tensions. Under the command of polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd, the US Navy was tasked with establishing a permanent research station and supply chain in Antarctica’s South Pole. Scientists would use the facilities to study marine life, hydrography, and geomagnetism.
Nivada Grenchen used the expedition in later marketing literature as “the watch that went to the Antarctic.” One ad reads, “It was snowed on, rained on, sleeted on. It was never wound. It was dropped, hit and knocked against ice…and it never lost a second.“
When an enthusiast posted a photo of the original on Instagram in 2021, the recently revived brand shared it to their stories. The response was so overwhelming and positive, Nivada Grenchen knew they had no choice but to create a reissue.
Quibbles
The model featured here is aged. If “fauxtina” is not your thing, know that Nivada Grenchen has nine iterations of the Super Antarctic. Three have no vintage effects. It also goes without saying that there’s a lot of polish on this watch. Expect it to be scratched. It’s a tool watch. Think of it as character.
Final Thoughts
The Super Antarctic really captures the spirit of exploration and the era from which it originates. In spite of contemporary upgrades such as a screwed down crown, sapphire glass, and increased water resistance, the watch looks and feels very much like a vintage piece. Paired with the beads of rice bracelet, it exudes a certain sophistication that would not be out of place at the office or an evening on the town. But it does have the specs and robust build quality to accompany you on weekend adventures. With a 20mm lug width, the Super Antarctic can easily be paired with a NATO or a Tropic.
I really like the case and gentle contouring of the lugs, which add distinction to an otherwise straightforward design. On wrist, it can disappear discreetly, but I suspect, like me, you’ll find yourself gazing at it frequently throughout the day. It has an allure all its own. Considering the price to spec ratio, I also think the Super Antarctic is very competitively positioned. All in all, another “super” release from a brand on the move.
The Nivada Grenchen starts at for $750USD on the strap. It is $950USD on the bracelet. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
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Love backstory on this one. It’s beautiful on the BOR!
I am a sucker for history…and a beads of rice bracelet. Cheers!