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Nivada Grenchen F77 MK2 38mm Mens Watch Blue
Ref. 68045A77
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Stepping up in Nivada Grenchen's range
The F77 traces back to 1977, when Nivada Grenchen released an octagonal-bezel sports watch with an integrated bracelet that sat squarely alongside the integrated-bracelet designs then reshaping the Swiss industry. After the brand's 2020 relaunch, that original became the basis for a modern revival; the MK2, presented in 2025, is the refinement of that revival — the case grows a millimetre to 38mm while the thickness actually falls to 12.2mm, the lugs curve more generously, and the bracelet is redesigned around how the watch moves with a wrist rather than simply how it looks on one. The blue tressed dial is the detail that justifies choosing this reference over its grey or white siblings. The embossed pattern reads as texture at a glance and as structure under angled light, shifting between the two as the wrist moves. Against it, the faceted baton markers and openworked hands — both carrying Super-LumiNova — hold legibility without competing. The no-date execution keeps the dial uninterrupted, which matters when the pattern itself is the point of the surface. The double-domed sapphire sits above all of it, and the anti-reflective coating means the dial reads clearly rather than disappearing behind a reflection. The Soprod P024 is a solid Swiss automatic workhorse at 28,800 vph with a 42-hour reserve — dependable without being the reason to choose this watch. What the MK2 changes add up to is a watch whose predecessor was interesting but slightly too thick for everyday comfort, now resolved into something that will actually be worn rather than admired.
- Reference
- 68045A77
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 12.2mm
- Lug width
- 22mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- P024
- Functions
- Date, Skeleton dial
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.2mm
- Power reserve
- 42 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 4 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Automatic Watches (1,417), Blue Dial Watches (780) and Skeleton Watches (260).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Nivada Grenchen F77 MK2 alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 68045A77 | B80-MOD-BLK-AQU | R12160103 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,230 | £1,250 | £1,400 |
| Case size | 38mm | 39mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Fabric strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 56 hours | 80 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
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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 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
22mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 46.2mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £1,230, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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