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Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Racing 38mm Mens Watch Black
Ref. 87048Q04
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Chronoking name stretches back to Nivada Grenchen's original 1970s racing chronographs, and this black-dialled edition is a deliberate return to that period rather than a loose interpretation of it. The bidirectional rotating bezel, applied indices and the overall proportions all read as period-correct, and the carbon-fibre texture on the dial adds depth without pushing it into pastiche. At 38mm it wears more closely to vintage sizing than most modern chronographs attempt, and the 46.5mm lug-to-lug means it will settle comfortably on a broader range of wrists without the overhang that plagues larger sport watches. The TMI VK63 at the centre is the detail worth understanding: it is a meca-quartz, which means the chronograph module is mechanically driven by the quartz oscillator. The pushers snap with the resistance of a mechanical movement and the hand resets with a single crisp sweep rather than the stuttering step of a purely electronic module — the functional difference is noticeable every time the chronograph is used. The 24-hour indicator bundled alongside the 60-minute register gives a GMT function that most period racing references never had, making this more practical than the original it draws from.
- Reference
- 87048Q04
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 13.40mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- TMI VK63
- Functions
- Chronograph, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.5mm
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 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,714), Stainless Steel Watches (2,629), Chronograph Watches (968), Sports Watches (744) and Limited Edition Watches (187).
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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
- Sits in the lower half of Nivada Grenchen's range as we list it
Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Racing alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 87048Q04 | T1019172211600 | R48912163 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £760 | £630 | £840 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | 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 comparedWill 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 £760, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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