"Inferior" specs for historical accuracy
Full discretion before reading this, these statements come from someone who has not seen these watches in person, so my opinions are only from pictures and video, perhaps they would change if I saw them in real life.
So I've been looking recently at the Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic. This watch interests me greatly as I am very fascinated by Antarctica; I would love to travel there someday (or work there if that ends up being possible for me), so naturally a watch with this heritage, name, and design on the case back feels perfect for me. I'm a huge fan of the "explorer" dial design, and it would be my first Swiss-made watch. Plus I would be over the moon to be able to bring this and the RZE Ross Ice (set to arrive on Monday) to Antarctica!
However, the bracelet on this watch has a pressed clasp which, at $950, doesn't feel great. Now, from my understanding, a pressed clasp is more historically accurate, and that is likely why it was used (or from a more cynical point of view, it's a good excuse). I don't particularly mind the pressed clasp, and it certainly doesn't make me any less enthusiastic about the watch, but it does also make it more likely that I'll pay $750 and just get it on a leather strap option or something.
I know Lorier does something similar with their crystals. My initial reaction to this was negative, but with the inclusion of polywatch with your order, and the fact that the crystal makes a much more noticeable difference in the visuals of the watch than the clasp, I've come around to it.
I'm curious on others' opinions about this. Do most people prefer sacrificing some modern quality for accuracy? Do you just want the best quality even if it wasn't what was used at the time? Or (as I expect will be the case for most people) are there some things you prefer one way and some the other? If so, what are those things? Obviously for me, the clasp compared to the crystal would be a good example. I can't comment on the faux patina because, as I mentioned, I haven't seen the watches in person, and that is an aspect that I think I need to really get a proper view of before I have an opinion on it.
Thank god I have friends to remind me how little I need another watch...
Give me vintage style with modern construction. If we never moved forward on technology at all, then we'd still be using sun-dials. I prefer milled clasps and solid endlinks. There's no reason not to have them with today's manufacturing processes, unless you're trying to save a buck in manufacturing. Back in the day, they didn't have the computerized milling machines we have today, or the ability to make sapphire glass in virtually any shape affordably.
Give me vintage style with modern construction. If we never moved forward on technology at all, then we'd still be using sun-dials. I prefer milled clasps and solid endlinks. There's no reason not to have them with today's manufacturing processes, unless you're trying to save a buck in manufacturing. Back in the day, they didn't have the computerized milling machines we have today, or the ability to make sapphire glass in virtually any shape affordably.
I largely agree with you, especially with the milled vs pressed clasps. My reasoning for supporting what Lorier is doing is that it (supposedly) has a significant effect on the visuals and their inclusion of polywatch is a great way to mitigate the downside.
As a owner of the Lorier Hyperion and Falcon, both sporting Hesalite (cough cough plexiglass) crystals, they look great and do not scratch that easily. At least, I do not wear them for manual labour, I have beaters for that (Casio or Invicta Pro Diver). Though, for travel, vacations, walks in the forest... no scratches what-so-ever (at least not visible to my eyes). I think the owners of Lorier made a good job of explaining the pros and cons of their decision wrt Hesalite and Igues historical accuracy is something important/interesting (i'm biased as a historian) for this particular aspect. Anyway, the Nivada Grenchen Super Antartic looks like a strap monster so perhaps get the leather strap version and buy a good third party Beads of rice bracelet.
I went for the retro Seamaster 300 because it looks like it was made in the 50's but is cutting edge materials and construction.
I love retro style but have zero interest in owning an old one, so why would I want a modern repro using old/inferior quality materials?
Imho it's a cost cutting way of jumping on the bandwagon.
As a owner of the Lorier Hyperion and Falcon, both sporting Hesalite (cough cough plexiglass) crystals, they look great and do not scratch that easily. At least, I do not wear them for manual labour, I have beaters for that (Casio or Invicta Pro Diver). Though, for travel, vacations, walks in the forest... no scratches what-so-ever (at least not visible to my eyes). I think the owners of Lorier made a good job of explaining the pros and cons of their decision wrt Hesalite and Igues historical accuracy is something important/interesting (i'm biased as a historian) for this particular aspect. Anyway, the Nivada Grenchen Super Antartic looks like a strap monster so perhaps get the leather strap version and buy a good third party Beads of rice bracelet.
I agree completely with regards to Lorier. And yep that's pretty much my plan if (when) I buy the super antarctic.
I want the real deal, not something polluted with modern nonsense. Pressed clasps are thin and light. Newer is not always better.
I'm not an authenticity nut, but there is no point in being half-assed about it. Be all in or all out.
I want the real deal, not something polluted with modern nonsense. Pressed clasps are thin and light. Newer is not always better.
I'm not an authenticity nut, but there is no point in being half-assed about it. Be all in or all out.
I can respect that.
You can always change out the bracelet to something higher quality. You can't easily change the dial/look of the watch.
You can always change out the bracelet to something higher quality. You can't easily change the dial/look of the watch.
100%. Plus I hear the leather options for the Super Antarctic are very good.
100%. Plus I hear the leather options for the Super Antarctic are very good.
The world is your oyster as long as the lug width is standard 18 or 20mm. It's much tougher for an odd number lug width.
I have a Super Antarctic sitting in my office now. It is on its way back to Hong Kong with a QC issue (strip of gasket floating around the dial).
I was debating between this, the Lorier, and the Nodus Sector Sport. I am not in my happy place right now. I will reserve judgment to see how customer service handles this. I did not size the bracelet, but I can say that the sapphire crystal on the Nivada outweighed the pressed clasp. I am no stranger to acrylic crystals and Polywatch and I wanted something else.
The watch itself feels substantial and is ticking happily away until the packing slip arrives.
The world is your oyster as long as the lug width is standard 18 or 20mm. It's much tougher for an odd number lug width.
Yeah, I always make note of the lug width when I'm looking at a watch. Unless I'm absolutely positive I'll adore the strap I like to keep it an even number.
I have a Super Antarctic sitting in my office now. It is on its way back to Hong Kong with a QC issue (strip of gasket floating around the dial).
I was debating between this, the Lorier, and the Nodus Sector Sport. I am not in my happy place right now. I will reserve judgment to see how customer service handles this. I did not size the bracelet, but I can say that the sapphire crystal on the Nivada outweighed the pressed clasp. I am no stranger to acrylic crystals and Polywatch and I wanted something else.
The watch itself feels substantial and is ticking happily away until the packing slip arrives.
Do you have a picture of that watch with the gasket strip? I'd also appreciate it if you could tell me how your experience with customer service is. I've heard that Nivada Grenchen's customer service isn't the best. I don't know how common QC issues such as that are though, I haven't heard about it before.
Do you have a picture of that watch with the gasket strip? I'd also appreciate it if you could tell me how your experience with customer service is. I've heard that Nivada Grenchen's customer service isn't the best. I don't know how common QC issues such as that are though, I haven't heard about it before.
I will post about it when it all settles out. It is neither positive nor negative at this point.
I will post about it when it all settles out. It is neither positive nor negative at this point.
Fair enough 👍
The Super Antarctic is what I'd buy if I were spending around $1000. I love it so much.
Yeah it's a great looking watch
Whoa, the Bible verse gave me flashbacks to my fire and brimstone youth pastor ("everyone gets eternal life, it is just that some of us spend it burning in h%%fire forever!!!").
To the topic at hand, I like solid end links but don't care about the pressed clasp (who sees it anyway) unless it's a sign of cutting corners and expenses other places where it matters.
Hesalite for my Speedy for the dial distortion (don't need a stepped dial) and in case NASA calls.
So my choices are Hell or eternal life with Evangelical Christians? Somebody needs to tell him its not the selling point they think it is.
I own the super Antarctic and the clasp itself is milled and thick metal, good quality (although it’s friction fit, no buttons). It’s just the swing arm that is pressed.
It’s a bit disappointing, I agree, but not enough to detract from an otherwise really nice watch.
Weirdly, I also recently bought the newly released Antarctic diver and that does have a fully milled clasp, swing arm and twin button pushers. Not sure what the thinking was by Nivada but it’s not a dealbreaker for me either way - just my two cents. 🤷🏻♂️
I have been developing a controversial opinion on bracelets recently and it's this: cheap and/or lighter bracelets are more comfortable.
I wear a mix of about 50/50 bracelets and straps. The light cheap bracelets are always more comfortable over time for me. The reason most people don't like them is because they rattle and feel less expensive. But I value comfort more. The rattling is not obnoxious to me and that's coming from a guy with OCD!
My advice would be not to focus on the mechanical design of the bracelet but rather on the look, materials and comfort.
I definitely agree with you. The good thing is we can have both there is some days I love the lightness of pressed elements and other time rather milled heavy duty stuff.
It can hide. Like an eyelash, it is invisible if it is at the edge of the dial. When it moves out front it is very noticeable against the black dial. I am not happy.
Ugh...just reading about the description makes me unhappy. Hope they fix it fast.
Some of these microbrands really take the piss but, as always with them, it's that little sprinkle of fairy dust (whether some story about a history they're not part of, or where the watch was designed but not actually made, etc), and they have people lining up to buy their watches and defend them at every corner.
Jingly jangly = more comfortable
Agnostic about end links, but hate pressure fit clasps.
They don’t make milled claps that are pressure fit, right?
I have a Ball Marvelight that's a butterfly milled clasp and pressure fit. A bit of a PITA to be honest but it actually looks very clean and nice when it's buckled up.
Not my pic here but you get it...
I have the Spider, Forstner bracelet, strapsco BOR bracelet. Well you can buy the watch for 750 and buy a forstner bracelet for 130 directly from them and save $70. A milled clasp on a vintage beads of rice does not sit well with me. The quality of the Forstner is 100x better than a strapsco beads of rice. I don't have a problem with clasp, I have a problem with Nivada selling a +200$ up charge for a bracelet that cost $130 directly from the manufacturer, Forstner.
I have the Spider, Forstner bracelet, strapsco BOR bracelet. Well you can buy the watch for 750 and buy a forstner bracelet for 130 directly from them and save $70. A milled clasp on a vintage beads of rice does not sit well with me. The quality of the Forstner is 100x better than a strapsco beads of rice. I don't have a problem with clasp, I have a problem with Nivada selling a +200$ up charge for a bracelet that cost $130 directly from the manufacturer, Forstner.
I don't know if this is a dumb question, but are bracelets not more specific to each watch? Like a bracelet has to be specifically made compatible with a watch in order for it to fit no?
The crystal + polywatch thing strikes me as appropriate and charming. I don't think I'm quite as set on sapphire as some, having spent a lot of time with Soviet watches early in my collecting days. But I tend to feel that bracelet construction is a different thing (and that's true well before you enter the Nivada's bracket). For that reason, I didn't even consider getting mine with a metal bracelet, and just saved some money. It helped that none of the NG bracelets particularly appealed to me, anyway, other than the Bonklip style, and I already have one of those on a different watch.
In contrast, the "period correct" pressed clasp on my Timex Q Chrono-GMT didn't bug me. But it would've if it had cost hundreds more, for sure.
100%. Plus I hear the leather options for the Super Antarctic are very good.
They're nice!
This is my modern Chronomaster... thanks to a kickass vintage watch store in the area I've seen the original and this stacks up pretty well 😀....note...my own alligator strap ..
Cheap pressed clasps are better than cheap milled clasps.
I’m always wary of retro watches tying to mimic old - they still lack the character despite honesty to the form (except the Lorier, it’s contrived in its referencing).
Let us know what you decide!