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Nivada Grenchen Autochron Meca-Quartz 38mm Mens Watch Black
Ref. 77001Q10
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Autochron revives a Nivada sport prototype from the late 1970s that never reached production — a watch conceived with a dial made by Jean Singer, the Swiss manufacturer whose typography and layout work defined a certain flavour of that era. The cushion case and the Art Deco lettering in sandy contrast tones on a matte black ground are faithful to that original, and the bidirectional aluminium bezel working alongside an inner tachymeter ring printed at the dial edge gives the whole arrangement a layered, purposeful density that photographs cannot quite convey. The VK67 is Seiko's meca-quartz calibre, a hybrid that runs a mechanical chronograph module from a quartz base. In practice this means the central chrono seconds hand sweeps rather than steps, and the reset is a hard mechanical snap — it behaves like a column-wheel movement in the hand while keeping quartz accuracy. At 38mm across a cushion case 10.8mm deep, it wears closer to a dress watch in profile than the 200m rating might suggest, sitting flat under a cuff with no drag. One honest caveat: the double-domed crystal that gives the dial its depth also curves the outer tachymeter scale enough that it catches light awkwardly at some angles, which is a trade the design makes knowingly. The perforated calfskin strap with white contrast stitching reads as a racing detail that suits the tachymeter context, and the Super-LumiNova on the baton markers, hands, and bezel pip is generous enough to be genuinely useful rather than decorative.
- Reference
- 77001Q10
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Collection
- Autochron
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 10.8mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- VK67
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Warranty
- 2 years
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.
Temporarily out of stock
Mappin & Webb is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 25 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
A watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Nivada Grenchen's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational 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?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
20mm. 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.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.