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Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz 38mm Mens Watch Black
Ref. 87040Q01
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Chronoking draws directly from Nivada Grenchen's sport chronographs of the 1970s, and the brief was clearly to produce something that wears and reads like that era without requiring the maintenance one. The VK63 Mecaquartz at its heart is a hybrid: quartz oscillator for accuracy, mechanical module for the chronograph — which means the central seconds hand sweeps rather than steps, and snaps back to zero with the kind of authority a purely electronic movement cannot replicate. At 38mm with a 46.5mm lug-to-lug, it sits closer to a vintage proportion than most modern chronographs dare, and the sandblasted matte black dial with orange accents reads as genuinely period-correct rather than retro-pastiche. The bezel is the detail that separates this reference from the standard Chronoking: a four-ball locking system that lets the aluminium insert swap out entirely, so a tachymeter ring can be replaced with a GMT bezel without tools. The vulcanised rubber Tropic strap plays into the same logic — period-correct in look, practical in use, and off the wrist in seconds via the quick-release bars.
- Reference
- 87040Q01
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 13.4mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- VK63
- Functions
- Chronograph, GMT, Small seconds, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.5mm
- Strap
- Interchangeable
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 Back in Stock (4,154), Stainless Steel Watches (2,848), Chronograph Watches (1,143) and GMT Watches (205).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 87040Q01 | T1019172211600 | YA1264107 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £560 | £630 | £579 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
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?
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.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 46.5mm, 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 £560, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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