SpotlightResurrection Of An Icon: The Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT

Ever since Nivada Grenchen relaunched in 2020, the brand have become renowned for their impressive vintage-inspired timepieces. The brand has built a good reputation for reviving iconic variants, and the latest addition to its lineup, the Antarctic GMT, continues this tradition. This watch pays homage to Nivada’s first GMT watch, embracing the spirit of the 1970s Jet Age.

Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT: A Serendipitous Discovery

The story behind the Antarctic GMT began while research was being carried out for a book documenting the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic collection. While working with a lifelong collector of the brand Aashdin K. Billimora, the CEO Guillaume Laidet stumbled upon a rare find. This vintage piece, likely from the late 1960s or early 1970s, with reference number 87013, was Nivada’s first GMT watch. Created during the Jet Age, when the demand for GMT timepieces surged among frequent travellers, this watch marked Nivada’s entry into the world of dual-time-zone watches.

Meet the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT, a timepiece that channels the unmistakable spirit of the Jet Age from the 1970s

Much like the recently reimagined Chronosport, the creation of the Antarctic GMT stems from a combination of historical research and a stroke of serendipity

The original Antarctic GMT featured a 200m dive-ready case designed by Ervin Piquerez S.A. (EPSA), with a twin-crown system—one to control the 24-hour bezel and the other to adjust the movement. It was powered by the AR-1146 movement, with a 24-hour hand that moved in sync with the 12-hour hand.

The Antarctic GMT: What Stayed And What’s Changed?

In 2024, Nivada Grenchen has once again brought the Antarctic GMT into the modern era, staying true to its vintage roots while making subtle upgrades. The new watch retains the classic 36mm diameter, 11.1mm thickness, and 41mm length of the original. The polished steel case and its 1970s-inspired design capture the essence of the past, while the domed plexiglass crystal enhances the watch’s retro charm and avoids the distortion often seen with thick sapphire crystals.

That said, the case structure has been modernised. It now features a two-part design with traditional screw-in caseback. Although it maintains the iconic twin-crown design, it no longer has the true compressor functionality of the original. By doing this the price point has remained competitive without sacrificing the look and feel of the vintage variant. Given the compact construction of the case, the watch overall offers upto 50m water resistance. 

The Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT is offered with multiple strap options; a perforated leather strap in light brown or black, a tropic-style rubber strap, and a steel beads-of-rice bracelet

Whether crossing time zones or diving into history, the Antarctic GMT is a timeless tribute to Nivada Grenchen’s enduring vision.

The dial remains faithful to the original, but has been updated in two colour options: classic matt black and a limited-edition brown tropical variant. Both dials feature a black-and-yellow 24-hour rotating bezel, made from plexiglass for added depth, and controlled by the crown adjacent to the two o’ clock on the case. 

‘Retro Feels’ From The GMT

Compared to the solemn polished hands and Super-LumiNova applied hour markers that indicate home time, the GMT feature looks exceptionally quirky. It is displayed with a retro-inspired red-and-black chequered hand in an office/caller configuration.

The modern Antarctic GMT comes in a robust 316L stainless steel case with a slim 11.1mm profile that makes it suitable for all wrist sizes

The Antarctic GMT is more than a timepiece; it’s a testament to Nivada Grenchen’s dedication to crafting purpose-driven watches

The updated design incorporates a distinctive red-and-black GMT hand and an amber-toned 24-hour bezel, offering excellent legibility and functionality

The two-crown design pays homage to its history, with one crown adjusting the time and the other controlling the internal bezel for tracking a second time zone

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This GMT hand functions as an independent 24-hour hand, the tracking of a second time zone, while the bezel can serve as a third time zone indicator. Although it doesn’t feature the one-hour local hour hand adjustments of a true GMT watch, this is a significant improvement over the vintage version. The watch is powered by the Soprod C125 movement, an automatic calibre offering a 28,800vph  and 42-hour power reserve.

True to Nivada’s commitment to variety, the Antarctic GMT offers multiple strap options. Choose between a perforated leather strap in light brown or black, a tropic-style rubber strap, or a steel beads-of-rice bracelet. 

Nivada Grenchen Antarctic GMT at a Glance

• Case: 36mm diameter, 11.1mm thickness, 41mm; 316L stainless steel case with twin crowns; 24-hour rotating bezel; domed plexiglass crystal; screwed caseback with golden medallion; 50m water resistance
• Functions & Display: Matt black or tropical brown dial; polished applied markers and Super-LumiNova hands; Central hours, minutes, sweeping seconds;; red-and-black independent central GMT hand, date aperture
• Movement: Soprod C125 automatic with office-GMT function; 25 jewels; 28,800 vibrations/hour; 42-hour power reserve
• Straps: Brown or black perforated leather strap with steel pin buckle; tropic-style rubber strap; beads-of-rice steel bracelet

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