Hands-On: The New Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Diver Green
It’s been a little over a year and a half since Nivada Grenchen introduced the Antarctic Diver to us in May 2023. Since then, the Swiss brand has released many timepieces, including chronographs and watches with integrated bracelets. This, however, is the first time that a new model has been added to the Antarctic Diver collection. Today, the Nivada Antarctic Diver Green launches in two versions.
Only 150 pieces will be available on the market, 75 with a date function and 75 without. Aside from the aperture at 6 o’clock, the two models are identical. Let’s examine the details.
Antarctic Diver Green
The Antarctic Diver came to the market on the 25th of May back in 2023. Just like now, two versions were available — date or no-date. The Antarctic line is one of the most versatile in the Nivada catalog. Its models include the GMT, the Super Antarctic, the Super Antarctic 3-6-9, the Antarctic Spider, and, in our case, the Antarctic Diver. The new model, the Antarctic Diver Green, takes inspiration from the original Diver and a green-dial vintage model. For the most part, both the Diver and the Diver Green are the same, but especially with the dial, we have some differences. We should first look at the new Diver Green’s beautiful, vibrant green sunray dial.
A sunray dial with some differences
The inspiration for Nivada’s Antarctic Diver Green comes from a barrel-cased Antarctic Sea model found in the brand’s 1971 catalog. Unlike the standard Antarctic Diver, today’s new version lacks the red crosshairs on the dial. Instead, it has a deep sunray green hue that looks close to black from one angle but comes to life once you move the watch and sunlight hits its face. The lack of crosshairs is not the only difference between the two models. The new Antarctic Diver Green has a different Nivada logo at 12 but the same handwritten-style “Antarctic-Diver” text at 6 o’clock. The indexes on the minute scale are longer too, and over them, we can find 10 flat radially placed luminous index lines. Lumed indexes are missing at 3 and 9 o’clock. If you opt for a date version, the aperture is at 3; my review model, however, is the no-date version.
Vintage vibe
Aside from the vintage-inspired dial design or the large, broad hands, the size also gives us vintage vibes. The Nivada Antarctic Diver Green is 38mm wide and 45mm from lug tip to lug tip. Due to the double-domed sapphire crystal, the watch has a total thickness of about 12.9mm. The indexes and the hands have cream faux-patina lume that looks a bit yellowish in a particular light. Aside from the dial, all markings on the ceramic bezel insert also glow. Speaking of which, the bezel is bidirectional. It works fine for the most part, though because it’s a non-click bezel, it may rotate a bit. The 200m-water-resistant case is made of 316L steel with brushed surfaces and a screw-down crown. On the back, you can find the classic penguin medallion in gold.
What’s inside?
Like the regular Nivada Antarctic Diver, the Antarctic Diver Green houses Soprod’s Swiss-made P024 movement. What you need to know about this caliber is that it has a power reserve of about 38 hours and 25 jewels. If you choose the no-date version, the movement does not have the “phantom date” position. Both versions also have a hacking mechanism, allowing you to set them to the second. While you may have expected a more prestigious movement, using a Soprod helps the brand keep the price low. It is so low that the retail price is under a thousand US dollars, euros, or Swiss francs. If you were looking to buy the Antarctic Diver Green in the US, the cost would be $995. On the other hand, it is €956 for EU customers or CHF 890 in Switzerland.
I must mention that the price will be slightly higher if you want to buy the watch on a bracelet. Nivada offers it on a Tropic-style rubber strap, a leather strap with or without stitching, a racing-style leather strap, or a beads-of-rice or flat-link steel bracelet. My review watch came with a Tropic-style rubber strap, an era-appropriate addition to the vintage design.
On the wrist
I wore the watch for the better half a week and was super happy with it. Thanks to its size, the Antarctic Diver Green was quite comfortable. It was also highly legible thanks to the large hands. The cream color of the lume and steel hands sufficiently contrast the green dial. I have a reasonably large 19cm (7.5″) wrist, yet the rubber strap was long enough. I may have even felt it to be too long. While it’s not long enough to bother me, it is certainly enough for someone with a larger wrist.
Overall, I was satisfied with the watch, especially considering what it offers price. Did I miss the date function? No, I did not, but this is a personal preference. If you’d like to have the date, the brand offers that option. Remember that Nivada Grenchen only produced 75 date and 75 no-date examples of the Antarctic Diver Green, so if you want one, you’d better hurry to secure it.
What are your thoughts on this addition to the Antarctic Diver line? As always, we’d love to read your opinions in the comments section below.
