The Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon is for the fancy fighter pilot in us all
Buffy Acacia- The Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon blends elevated dressiness with military utility.
- The 38mm case diameter is accurate to the references it’s based on from the late ‘60s and ‘70s.
- It’s powered by the Seiko VK63 mechaquartz movement that gives a smooth sweep to the chronograph, despite being battery-powered.
With a few playful exceptions, the modern incarnation of Nivada Grenchen is utterly dedicated to the past. Whether or not a reissue is 100% accurate isn’t important, as long as the same spirit has been captured in a way that cuts no corners and promises up-to-date quality. The new Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz is a great example of that, having blended up references of new and old watches to form an amazing vintage-style watch. Plus, it’s now available for pre-order from the Time+Tide Shop.
The 1970s may have been a decade of boldness and bigness, but watch sizes were still relatively tame for the most part. The original Chronoking, which was released under the Nivada name, was actually 38mm, so this is a rare example of a vintage reissue being both accurate and appropriate in sizing. The 46.5mm lug-to-lug width should fit most wrists fairly comfortably, and the 12.95mm thickness gives it a bit of reassuring heft without too much visual bulk. You can practically trace the timeline of the case’s design, from the rotating bezel of late-1950s dive watches to the sharp, gently-sloped lugs feeling incredibly ‘60s. Of course, versatility is what a watch like this is all about, weathering the roughness of outdoor adventuring, then cleaning up nicely for dinner in the city. The 100-metre water resistance helps greatly with that first part, while the dial demands the second.
Unlike last year’s Chronoking “Paul Newman” Orange, which based much of its appeal on its familiar font choice, the new Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon is beautiful on its own terms. The beige-pink sunburst effect gives the dial a really soft lustre, which shimmers in light contrast to the concentric rings of the sub-dials. That dial could nearly elevate the whole watch into pure dressiness, however the brutish fencepost hands with a black coating insist on retaining legibility. Meanwhile, the white-pointed seconds hand imparts a military aesthetic, as if the watch is a wrist-based flight instrument. Despite being packed with information, the dial doesn’t feel cluttered, and that may have something to do with the minimal amount of embellishments other than Nivada Chronoking logo.
If you have a keen eye, or you just saw “mecaquartz” in the title, you’ll be aware that this is not a fully mechanical movement. The 24-hour sub-dial at 3 o’clock is a dead giveaway for the calibre VK63 from Seiko, which has been an incredibly popular option among budget shoppers. Mechaquartz means that it’s ultimately a battery-powered base with some a mechanical chrono module, allowing it to have a smoother beat rate and more tactile actuation when the chronograph is activated rather than the ticking most people associate with quartz. It has a 60-minute counter at 9 o’clock and a running seconds sub-dial at 6, and finally the 24-hour sub-dial at 3. It can be a contentious choice for vintage-style watches because it doesn’t really share the same functions as a mechanical chronograph, but it allows a wider audience to participate in the hobby because of the low price.
Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon
The Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon is currently available for pre-order from the Time+Tide Shop, with delivery expected in August/September this year. Price: US$470 (A$890)
| Brand | Nivada Grenchen |
| Model | Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) x 12.95mm (T) x 46.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Salmon |
| Strap | Several leather options, pin buckle Steel beads-of-rice or flat-link steel bracelet, folding clasp Black rubber tropic strap, pin buckle |
| Movement | Seiko VK63, mechaquartz |
| Power Reserve | ~3 year battery life |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, running seconds, chronograph with 60-minute counter, 24-hour display |
| Availability | Pre-order, delivery expected in August/September 2024 |
| Price | US$470 (A$890) |