Nivada Grenchen, since its rebirth, has been known for producing watches that are heavily inspired, if not a direct remake of the brand’s massive back catalog. This Nivada Grenchen Autochron MecaQuartz is a little different in that while it is based on an NG watch from the past, it’s a prototype from the late 70s that never hit full production (they say less than 20 were made). This version is also one that wouldn’t have existed in the 70s, a Mecaquartz version, which is a quartz chronograph that mimics an automatic with how it resets the chronograph. The big deal here, though, is really the price. The automatic versions are much more expensive at $2500 (on bracelet), while this version starts at $530 (on strap) or $730 on the bracelet. Both use the same 38mm unique cushion case shape, have 200m water resistance, a screw-down crown, and a sapphire crystal.
Specifications
Diameter -38mm
Thickness-10.8 without crystal
Case Material-316L Stainless Steel
Dial-Matt Black Small texture
Movement-VK67 MecaQuartz with date
Glass-Double domed Sapphire Glass
Lug to lug-46.5mm
Lug Width-20mm (flares to 24mm)
Weight-166.3 grams
Water Resistance 20ATM
Battery Life-Approx. 3 years
Accuracy-± 20 seconds per month
Retail Price- Strap- $530 Bracelet-$730
https://nivadagrenchenofficial.com/collections/automatic
As mentioned above, the Nivada Grenchen Autochron is based on a prototype from the late 70s, but I think it needs to be pointed out that the Autochron name goes back further, at least to the beginning of the aforementioned decade, with the model name Taravana. I found a few examples of the Taravana models online, all chronographs, but more pilot style, especially the ones I saw, as the long second hand had an airplane as the counterbalance piece. Some of the case designs looked similar to the prototype and this recreation, but others had more of a Sinn-style case design.
The prototype and this new model have a very distinctive case, though, one I am very impressed by. Interesting side note, while this model is called the Autochron on the Nivada website, neither the automatic nor this MecaQuartz actually says Autochron anywhere on the watch; in fact, the case back says Chronosport.
The case shape of the Nivada Grenchen Autochron MecaQuartz is pretty unique. It definitely looks straight out of the 70s, and Nivada even has a pic of the original prototype on their website, and you can see how closely they recreated the case. It’s a square-ish cushion case that kind of barrels out towards the lugs and is all satin brushed with a large polished chamfer on top, showcasing the lines of the case. It measures in right at 38mm, but with adding in the screw-down crown and pushers, I measured just about 42mm in width. More about the sizing in a bit.
Another interesting thing about this case is how it sinks in below the bezel, and the bezel sits in this sunken area at 9 and 3. As I stated in the video review, I am not sure if it adds any functionality to the bezel. As a matter of fact, it makes it so you can really only grip the bezel at 12 and 6, as you really can’t grip it otherwise. It doesn’t matter much as it’s a bi-directional bezel, with seemingly no spring or any real feedback, but it doesn’t feel loose either. I do like the look of the bezel, though, both the edges, and it’s a matte black coated aluminum bezel, but it definitely has a vintage look about it.
The original prototype, I believe, used a Lemania movement, and the new automatic version of the Autochron uses the 7750, and both are two-eye or two-subdial chronos. This Nivada Grenchen Autochron MecaQuartz is a 3-eye chronograph, and it uses the Seiko VK67 movement, which is great in the sense that you do get a running seconds subdial, instead of a 24-hour one, and still get the 60-minute and 12-hour counters. And as many MecaQuartz do, the chronograph second hand will reset instantly, mimicking an automatic chronograph.
The dial is matte black with a micro pebble texture; it matches well with the matte black bezel, and looks good against the tan subdials. This is currently the only color available for the MecaQuartz. There was a salmon dial as well as a Panda dial version, but both were limited editions, I believe. The hour and minute hands are steel, with all white chronograph hands, and the hands have dual lume to match the indices and dots, which have different shades of lume as well, and the tan or old radium lume adds to the cohesive look of these dial colors. The date is simple, located at 3, and there is a tachymeter scale as well, but it’s pretty hard to read most of the time due to the distortion of the massive double-dome sapphire crystal.
The lume may be dual colors, but the lume is probably one of my only disappointments with this watch. It looks good for a few minutes, but don’t expect to be seeing this in the dark 4 hours later. Again, it looks good, and I like the way they lumed the hands, but either they needed more surface area or a stronger lume compound.
The Nivada Grenchen Autochron MecaQuartz has a bevy of options when it comes to straps, quite a few leather straps and a tropic rubber, and I show a brown leather they sent me in the video review above, but for me, this rectangle and square link bracelet is the way to go. Now the bracelet does add another $200 to the price, so it’s not as budget-friendly a watch anymore, but I feel it’s totally worth it, as it not only looks fantastic on the bracelet, but for someone like me who finds 38mm watches too small, the bracelet helps this watch look bigger. How, you ask? The bracelet lug width is 20mm, but it flares out underneath to almost 24mm. It does taper down to 18mm, but that initial flare in width, along with the chronograph pushers, just helps this watch look more like a 40mm on my wrist.
A few more notes about the bracelet. The face of the bracelet is all brushed, but the sides are highly polished, which admittedly is not my favorite, but it does match the polished chamfer on the case, and I admit it does look nice. The links are small, and sizing is very easy via screws, and the clasp is dual finished as well, with a nice polish and the NG logo.
Something I recently learned, though, is that at least the LE versions of the Nivada Grenchen Autochron MecaQuartz had a different clasp and an on-the-fly adjustment clasp. The version I have here is a more traditional clasp, and while it doesn’t have a sliding microadjustment, it does give quite a few sizing holes, and I know some will think this is the wrong take, but I like how it looks and feel it lends to the vintage styling, over a newer style clasp. Everything is subjective, of course.
On my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist, it will come as no surprise to you that I find it very comfortable, and I love the look of it on this bracelet. The fat end links, the rectangle and square links, the beautiful clasp, not to mention the unique cushion case, make this just a very attractive watch. The bracelet is pretty large as well, rare for a 38mm, and it should easily fit an 8-inch (20.32cm) wrist. I still wish it were 40mm at least. I just have a hard time going below 40mm, with very few exceptions, but I will say the combo of this case, the chronograph pushers and crown, and this bracelet all unite to help this be the first 38mm watch I have enjoyed wearing.
I have read some of the comments from my video review, from overpriced to folks who think this looks great on my wrist, and just think I prefer “hockey puck” watches. Well, overpriced is subjective and as many should know by now, I am not here to convice anyone to buy a watch, but there is a crazy amount of detial to this watch and while the bracelet does not make it as affordable as the strap options, its still a lot less than $2500 and if you are soemone who doesnt need an automatic, this is a really beautiful watch with a lot of unique details.
As far as hockey puck, well, I do prefer 40-42mm watches, not sure if that’s now considered a hockey puck these days, but yes, I do not gravitate towards 38mm watches personally. That said, as mentioned above, it wears slightly larger than its stated specs, and while I think it looks great, I still would love a 40mm, and I make no apologies for that.
I've been an avid watch lover since the age of 7. Watches are not only my hobby but a passion. My favorite style used to be dive watches, but field or non bezel watches have been growing on me. When I'm not reviewing watches I am either cooking or with family and friends.
