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Nivada Grenchen F77 37mm Mens Watch Brown
Ref. 68002A77
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Stepping up in Nivada Grenchen's range
The F77 began in 1977 as something unusual: a sports watch with an integrated bracelet and angular, multi-faceted geometry that most buyers could actually afford. It drew inevitable comparisons to the Royal Oak — the octagonal case, the basket-weave dial, the way the bracelet flows from the lugs — though its lines are softer and its original ambition was always democratic rather than exclusive. The quartz crisis ended production before it could establish a longer legacy, and the model sat dormant for decades before Nivada Grenchen's 2023 relaunch. This reference, the MK1, is the more faithful interpretation: 37mm, no date complication, and the brown smoked basket-weave dial that distinguishes it from every other variant in the current lineup. On the wrist it reads larger than 37mm — the integrated bracelet and octagonal case together create a presence the diameter alone does not suggest, which suits a smaller wrist well without overwhelming it. The dial does most of the visual work: a rich embossed pattern beneath gleaming applied indexes, the whole surface shifting between warmth and brightness as the light changes. Mixed satin and polished finishing on the case adds to that movement — flat planes catch and release light differently from the polished edges running between them, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes a watch hold attention past the first glance.
- Reference
- 68002A77
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Case size
- 37mm
- Case thickness
- 12.65mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Brown
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2824
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
Learn more about Nivada Grenchen
Nivada was founded in Grenchen in 1926 by Otto Wüllimann, Hermann Schindler and Jakob Schneider, registered as Wüllimann, Schneider, Nivada SA. It was among the first Swiss firms to build automatic watches at scale, and it built its reputation on watches meant to be used rather than admired.
American sales came through the Croton Watch Company, an arrangement forced by Movado, which objected to the phonetic similarity of the two names. This is why vintage examples turn up signed Croton, Nivada, or both, and why Grenchen was eventually appended to the name.
The Antarctic of 1950 was the brand's first water-resistant automatic, and it earned its name properly: the model was worn by personnel on the US Navy's Operation Deep Freeze expedition to the South Pole in 1955 and 1956. The Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver followed, a chronograph that tried to be a pilot's watch, a diver and a regatta timer at once, and the Depthmaster reached 1,000 metres.
The quartz crisis ended it. Production in Solothurn closed in the late 1970s, the name changed hands repeatedly, and Nivada Grenchen effectively disappeared while its vintage watches quietly became collectable.
Guillaume Laidet and Rémi Chabrat bought the name and back catalogue in 2018 and relaunched with faithful reissues rather than reinventions — the Chronomaster in 2020, the Antarctic in 2021 — at prices aimed squarely at the microbrand buyer.
- 1926
- Founded in Grenchen as Wüllimann, Schneider, Nivada SA.
- 1950
- The Antarctic, the first water-resistant automatic.
- 1955
- Worn on the US Navy's Operation Deep Freeze.
- 1970s
- Production closes during the quartz crisis.
- 2018
- Laidet and Chabrat buy the name and relaunch the brand.
Also in 3 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Automatic Watches (1,417) and Brown Dial Watches (93).
Temporarily out of stock
Goldsmiths is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 14 August 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 37mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Nivada Grenchen F77 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 68002A77 | B80-MOD-BLK-AQU | R12160103 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,230 | £1,250 | £1,400 |
| Case size | 37mm | 39mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Fabric strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 56 hours | 80 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 37mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
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