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Nivada Grenchen Chronoking 38mm Mens Watch Blue
Ref. 87056Q10
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Stepping up in the same dial colour
The Chronoking sits in a lineage that Nivada Grenchen traces back to motorsport timing, and this variant makes the connection literal: the perforated racing strap, the recessed contrasting subdials, and the tachymeter ring are all period references rather than decoration. What separates it from a straightforward revival is the rotating bezel system — five city bezels ship in the box, each swappable bare-handed in seconds, so the watch can read as a GMT tool, a lap timer or a dress piece depending on which ring is fitted. That modularity is the decision that distinguishes this reference from its siblings. At 38mm the case sits squarely in vintage territory, and the meca-quartz calibre from TMI — a Seiko Instruments movement — suits that framing well. The VK63 runs the hours and GMT hand on quartz precision while the chronograph module operates mechanically, giving the central seconds hand a sweeping motion and the reset an instant snap rather than the creep of a pure quartz stopwatch. The aqua-blue gradient on the scales reads differently under direct light than it does indoors, shifting from accent to anchor depending on the angle. The five bezels are the detail an owner returns to. Swapping one changes the watch's character more than any strap change could, and the no-tools mechanism is reliable enough that it does not feel like a gimmick after the first few changes.
- Reference
- 87056Q10
- Brand
- Nivada Grenchen
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 13.40mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Bidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- TMI VK63
- Functions
- Chronograph, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.50mm
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 (4,154), Stainless Steel Watches (2,848), Chronograph Watches (1,143), Leather Strap Watches (940) and Blue Dial Watches (795).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
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
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Nivada Grenchen Chronoking alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 87056Q10 | T1019172211600 | YA1264107 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £560 | £630 | £579 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Leather 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 46.50mm, 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
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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