Ever since its relaunch in 2018, Nivada Grenchen has been delighting watch enthusiasts with a series of highly popular releases that pay homage to their beloved vintage models. The Chronomaster collection stands out as Nivada Grenchen’s signature offering in their modern catalog. However, these timepieces, known for their intricate movements, have often been among the more expensive models in the lineup compared to their simpler three-handed counterparts.
In a remarkable move, Nivada Grenchen has introduced an exciting and affordable addition to their lineup this year: the Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange. This vibrant sports chronograph boasts a meca-quartz movement and features a funky dial design revived from the 1970s.
Unlike its predecessor, which was a limited edition of only 100 pieces and quickly sold out upon release, the new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange will be available for five weeks, from July 27th to August 31st, 2023, allowing interested buyers to place their orders. The watches will be delivered in September and October.
While technically considered a limited edition due to its exclusive release period, this timepiece differs from the previous model as there is no fixed production number. As a result, potential buyers have ample time to decide and acquire the watch without facing inflated secondary market prices.
The Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange retains the 38mm stainless steel case with brushed and polished surfaces, measuring 13.75mm in thickness and featuring drilled 20mm lugs. A double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment covers the top, complemented by a bidirectional rotating bezel with a black aluminum insert showcasing a 60-minute timing scale. The screw-down caseback carries the engraved Nivada Grenchen logo, and access to the meca-quartz movement is facilitated by a large signed crown and pump-style chronograph pushers on the right side of the case. With a water resistance of 100 meters, this watch ensures durability against everyday moisture exposure.
The highlight of the Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange lies in its dial, which pays tribute to a vintage style used in some of the brand’s 1970s Chronoking watches. This dial style, originally produced by Swiss dial manufacturer Jean Singer (known for crafting the iconic Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona dials), features an Art Deco-style font for the chronograph registers’ numerals. The matte black central surface hosts three gold-colored chronograph sub-dials arranged in the classic 3-6-9 configuration, showcasing the distinctive “Paul Newman” typography in black. Surrounding the central section is a vibrant orange gradient minute track, bordered by a thin black section containing a white tachymeter scale.
The hands on the sub-dials are black with golden-colored centers, while the central chronograph seconds hand stands out in bright orange, matching the minute track’s color. The central hour and minute hands boast polished surfaces with large burnt orange luminous inlays, matching the applied hour markers’ lume. The combination of the tinted lume and the striking orange and black color scheme creates a visually cohesive and captivating aesthetic.
Powering the Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange is the Seiko VK64 meca-quartz chronograph movement, which offers the accuracy and convenience of quartz while providing a mechanical module for the chronograph function. This movement ensures a cost-effective and practical solution, as it eliminates the need for costly repairs associated with traditional mechanical calibers.
As for the strap options, Nivada Grenchen provides a wide variety, including leather, rubber, stainless steel bracelets, and even those from the popular third-party manufacturer Forstner. With standard 20mm drilled lugs, the watch offers endless possibilities for customization.
With a retail price of $479 USD (slightly more for premium bracelet configurations), the Nivada Grenchen Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange is significantly more affordable than its mechanical counterparts. Collectors who missed out on the previous meca-quartz model will likely find this watch highly appealing, especially with the extended five-week availability window ending on August 31st, 2023. This gives enthusiasts ample time to secure this unique and stylish timepiece for their collections without any fuss or rush.