The Nivada F77 Returns In Titanium And Steel With Four Fresh New Dial Variants
Since its release, the F77 has become a polarizing model. Nivada fans love it, but others may not be enthusiastic due to its integrated-bracelet look. I won’t get into that debate. This new F77 is a mere re-edition of a vintage piece, and I find the watch a beautifully executed reinterpretation of the 1970s model. So far, though, the number of variants has been limited. That is now over. Nivada is releasing the F77 with an all-new titanium case and bracelet some beautiful new dial variants.
About a year ago, I took a closer look at the F77. You can find my thoughts on the watch here. Everything I needed to tell you about the model is in that article, so I will avoid repeating myself. Instead, I’d like to focus on the two major updates of these F77 models.
The Nivada F77
But before we dwell on the new model, let me bring you up to speed regarding the basics. The original Nivada F77 came to the market in the ’70s, and funnily enough, it was larger than this new version. The brand decided to shrink the new F77 from around 39mm to 37mm for aesthetic reasons. Thanks to the automatic Soprod P024 movement, the watch measures 12.65mm thick and has a 38-hour power reserve. The case is also water resistant to 10 ATM (~100 meters). The F77 is Nivada’s only integrated-bracelet model and one of the most successful lines. We have a simple three-hand watch with applied indexes, a double-domed sapphire crystal, and a screw-down crown.
The F77 Titanium
Being able to adapt to consumer requests is critical these days. While the major brands lack this ability, smaller ateliers are a bit more agile. The guys at Nivada have always been eager to hear their customers’ wishes, and when they asked for a lighter model, Guillaume Laidet and his team went to work. The result is this new F77 Titanium Series. As I mentioned above, we have two major updates, one of which is that the new F77 watches come in titanium. While the physical features are virtually the same as the steel model, the new F77s come in four new dial variants. This would be the second update. But there’s a catch: two of the four new dials will come in the titanium case, and the other two will, for the time being, come in steel only.
Météorite
A few weeks ago, I visited Paris and returned with three out of the four new F77 dial variants. The Météorite model is the first one we will look at, and it comes with the new Grade 5 titanium case and bracelet. Since the dial is cut from a genuine meteorite, each one has a unique pattern. This model is the most understated of them all. I love how the gray meteorite dial matches the shade of the titanium. As this is a limited-production model, the F77 Titanium Météorite will only be available during the pre-order period. For more details, you have to visit Nivada’s website.
Lapis Lazuli
The second new dial version is called Lapis Lazuli and is vivid blue. As Nivada puts it, “Lapis Lazuli is an intensely blue ornamental stone composed of several minerals, a testament to the complex and dynamic processes that occur across the ages within Earth’s crust. It has spanned epochs without losing its splendor, from mosaics to decorative arts.” While this F77 comes in a steel case, that does not take away one bit of its mesmerizing wrist presence. On the contrary, with a bit more heft to the case, it felt like a solid timepiece when worn.
Aventurine
The third entirely new dial is the Dark Blue Aventurine, which also comes in a steel case, just like the Lapis Lazuli. Of the three, aventurine is the most known and preferred dial material by other brands. You could even say it has become a trend in recent years. Just think of the Christopher Ward C1 Moonphase or the Omega Speedmaster Blue Side of the Moon. Aventurine is incredibly interesting and challenging to photograph. It looks extremely dark in most lighting, but from a certain angle, it shows its deep blue shiny color, which is a sight to behold.
Final words on the new Nivada F77 models
The fourth and last dial iteration is not entirely new but a twist on an existing execution. It is the Nivada F77 Anthracite, which, just like the Météorite, comes in a titanium case. The Anthracite version, however, is based on the basket-weave motif you have seen on the black, blue, or smoked brown steel F77 models. Regarding pricing, the F77 Titanium Météorite is the most expensive at US$1,690. Keep in mind that this will only be available for the pre-order period. The F77 Titanium Anthracite follows it at US$1,490, and the F77 Lapis Lazuli and Dark Blue Aventurine models will be US$1,390. All prices are excluding taxes.
What do you think of the Nivada F77 and these new executions? Let us know in the comments.
