The LIV GX-AC Signature Orange is plenty bold
Fergus NashIf you slavishly follow modern trends, you might believe that current standards dictate that a watch should be between 38-42mm wide, offer some form of vintage design cue and try and remain as symmetrical as possible. Refreshingly, LIV do something far bolder. Founded in 2014 by husband and wife Chaz and Esti Chazanow, the microbrand set out to make distinctively designed, Swiss-made watches for affordable prices. The LIV GX-AC Signature Orange is the perfect example. Built like a tank and with head-turning aesthetics to match, this is the perfect watch for those who aren’t afraid to rock a watch that’s loud and proud.
The movement
Visible from the sapphire display caseback is a Swiss ETA 7750 movement that’s had components coated and decorated to fit in with the industrial appearance. That shows a level of attention to detail which a lot of brands would have happily ignored, as does the Limited Edition printing on the automatic rotor. The 7750 has been one of the most recognisable and popular chronograph movements since the 1970s, and for good reason. The 48 hours of power reserve with a 4Hz beat rate give it that Swiss luxury feel that is perfect for daily wear, and the abundance of the movement and its clones means that there are always spare parts and affordable servicing available.
The case
Even in an isolated photograph with no wrist for scale, you can tell that the LIV GX-AC Signature Orange isn’t messing about when it comes to size. The 46mm diameter isn’t just meant to suit big wrists, but intended to present a powerful and solid hunk of stainless steel that justifies the various punchy design elements. The most striking feature at first glance has to be that hobnail bezel complete with six screws, making for an extremely industrial and tough silhouette. The pushers look far from delicate too, with pronounced shoulders on either side of the crown supporting them. If the LIV GX-AC were to pick a fight with a brick wall, I’m not entirely sure the watch would lose.
Despite its diameter, the Signature Orange isn’t actually as hard to wear as you might first assume. A height of 15.5mm is pretty much standard for most 7750-powered chronographs, and the lug-to-lug length of 52.4mm could even be pulled off by an average wrist with the right curvature. This particular version of the watch is also helped by the black IP coating on the stainless steel case, as black always tends to look a bit smaller than raw finishes. If you were wondering about swimming, it’s water resistant to 100m (330 ft) with a screw-down crown for peace of mind.
The dial
The LIV GX-AC Signature Orange looks more like an inter-dimensional vault door than a traditional watch dial, but that’s part of the appeal. The dial’s two sectors contrast between a matte black and a fanning guilloché section, confining most of the dial’s complexity to the centre. The minutes and hours of the chronograph are counted above and below the pinion respectively, each printed with a militaristic typeface. The running seconds hand is a tiny display at 9 o’clock, mirrored by the LIV logo and the black-framed date wheel at 3.
The hour markers are all small applied trapezoids, which are still quite legible thanks to the contrast of the white luminous filling that’s also in the modernised sword hands. Lastly, the dial is given a little bit of extra sunken depth with the 2 and 4 markers represented as orange stencils in a sandwich construction.
The strap
With a 23mm lug width, it’s a good thing that the LIV GX-AC strap options are all appealing. The newest option is what we’ve photographed, with a bright orange silicone strap that really draws out those highlights from the dial. This watch will never be under the radar in any scenario, so there’s no fear of overdoing things with a loud colour strap. If you do want to go for a darker look, then there’s also an inverted black silicone strap with orange accents, or a black IP-coated stainless steel bracelet for no extra cost.
The LIV GX-AC Signature Orange pricing and availability:
The LIV GX-AC Signature Orange is limited to 1000 pieces, although there are other colour options for the LIV GX-AC to choose from if you’re curious. Price: AU$1,931
| Brand | LIV |
| Model | GX-AC Signature Orange |
| Case Dimensions | 46mm (D) x 15.5mm (T) x 52.4mm (L2L) |
| Case Material | Black IP stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Black |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire with AR coating |
| Strap | Orange silicone |
| Lug Width | 23mm |
| Movement | ETA 7750, automatic chronograph |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds, date |
| Availability | Limited to 1000 pieces |
| Price | A$1,931 |