Nivada Grenchen's Chronoking Chronograph Gets a Modern Makeover
Vintage meets contemporary in Nivada Grenchen's latest creation.
Nivada Grenchen, a Swiss watchmaker renowned for its mid-century tool-watch mastery, has been making waves since its resurrection in 2018 by Guillaume Laidet. The brand's modern catalog showcases watches that seamlessly blend vintage aesthetics with contemporary materials, movements, and finishing techniques. One such masterpiece is the Chronoking chronograph, which has just undergone a stunning makeover.
A Chronoking with a Twist
The Chronoking chronograph, a member of Nivada's more attainable, battery-powered line, has been given a cosmetic revamp by UK-based jewelry store Wallace Allan. The result is a stunning timepiece that combines vintage charm with modern elegance. The watch features a grain-textured black dial resembling asphalt, with three tonal subdials in a concentric ring pattern. The vibrant royal blue hands and applied hour markers add a pop of color, while the white lume on the hour and minute hands ensures readability in low-light conditions.
Interchangeable Bezels and a Limited Edition Collaboration
The watch also boasts Nivada's interchangeable bezel system, offering five bezels with different color combinations. The best-looking bezel, as evidenced by its use in promotional imagery, combines blue, white, and black, with white printing on the blue worldtimer half and vice versa on the tachymeter half. The other four options include black with white printing, white with blue markings, and two bicolor options: royal blue and sky blue, and gray and white. All bezels feature 'Ayr,' the Scottish town where Wallace Allan is located, in place of Greenwich.
A Limited Edition Collaboration
The Wallace Allan x Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Mechaquartz is a limited edition collaboration, with only 50 pieces available. The watch is sold on Nivada's Beads of Rice bracelet and includes an additional black Tropic rubber strap. The caseback is closed, labeled 'Chronoking x Wallace Allan' and 'Limited Edition' to commemorate the collaboration.
Pricing and Availability
While Nivada's quartz-powered Chronoking with interchangeable bezels typically retails for $810 on the BoR bracelet, the Wallace Allan version comes with a premium price tag. The watch is available exclusively through the UK retailer for £820, which converts to $1,135 at the time of writing. The limited edition nature of the watch makes it a sought-after piece for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
A Thought-Provoking Question
Nivada Grenchen's Chronoking chronograph, with its modern makeover, raises an interesting question: Can a watch blend vintage and contemporary elements while maintaining its authenticity? Do you agree or disagree with Nivada's approach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
