Nivada Grenchen F77: A Titanium Watch with Integrated Bracelet and Innovative Dials (Meteorite, Lapis Lazuli, Aventurine)

Introduction to the Nivada Grenchen Brand and Its History

Nivada Grenchen, a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1926, has built a solid reputation over the decades by offering watches that combine quality, reliability, and accessibility. Committed to perpetuating the Swiss watchmaking heritage, the brand has navigated through eras while remaining true to its founding values, all while reinventing itself to meet the expectations of fine watchmaking enthusiasts.

The Brand’s Revival with Guillaume Laidet

After a period of relative obscurity, Nivada Grenchen has experienced a spectacular revival since 2018, driven by Guillaume Laidet, a passionate entrepreneur and connoisseur of vintage watches. His ambition: to restore the prestige of this men’s watch brand by reinterpreting its iconic models, respecting their original spirit but with a welcome touch of modernity. A bold and demanding challenge, requiring as much creativity as know-how.

The Original F77 from 1977

A Mechanical Watch with Integrated Bracelet in a Difficult Context

Picture yourself in 1977. The Swiss watch industry is in turmoil, shaken by the quartz crisis. Electronic watches are flooding the market, threatening to relegate mechanical timepieces to the status of relics.

It is in this tumultuous context that Nivada Grenchen, a house founded in 1926, dares the unthinkable: launching the F77, a mechanical watch with an avant-garde design.

With its octagonal case and integrated bracelet, the F77 follows the line of sport-chic watches initiated by the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet in 1972. The F77 is obviously not just a simple copy. Its dial with a complex woven pattern and its distinctive bezel make it a unique piece, a true manifesto of seventies style. The original F77 was equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement, probably an ETA caliber, although precise details are difficult to confirm today. This choice of movement was in itself an act of resistance against the quartz wave sweeping the industry.

A Model That Remained Confidential Until 2020

Despite its audacity, the original F77 did not achieve the expected success: in a market dominated by cheaper and more precise quartz watches, the F77 quickly fell into oblivion.

For decades, it remained in the shadows, known only to a handful of connoisseurs and informed collectors.

But like any good story, the F77’s takes an unexpected turn. In 2020, Guillaume Laidet, the current CEO of Nivada Grenchen, stumbles upon a photo of the F77 on Instagram. Intrigued by this unique design he had never seen before, he embarks on a real treasure hunt to find this forgotten model.

His perseverance pays off: not only does he unearth original examples, but he decides to resurrect this watchmaking gem for the greatest pleasure of lovers of fine mechanics. Here is what he was able to find:

Even back then, textured tropical dials existed

This rediscovery fits into a broader context of renewed interest in vintage watches and retro designs, a trend that has gained momentum in recent years in the watch industry.

The New F77s: Steel and Titanium

The Different Versions: Steel and Titanium

For its 2023 reissue of the F77, Nivada Grenchen thinks big and offers two distinct variations. The first, true to the spirit of the original watch, features a case and bracelet in finely brushed stainless steel. The second range, released in 2024, is made of titanium: these are the ones we will discuss.

Grade 5 Titanium

Have you ever worn a watch that you could barely feel on your wrist but couldn’t take your eyes off? That’s the feat the F77 achieves with its grade 5 titanium case.

And for good reason: the steel version weighs 126 grams compared to 86 grams for the titanium version.

Grade 5 titanium is somewhat the material of choice for the most demanding watchmakers. Typically 30-40% more resistant and about 45% lighter than most stainless steels used in watchmaking, it offers a perfect balance between strength and comfort. Composed of 90% titanium, 6% aluminum, and 4% vanadium, this alloy is the choice of houses that make no compromises on quality.

The use of titanium in watchmaking has a fascinating history. IWC was the pioneer, launching the first titanium timepiece in 1980, the IWC Porsche Design Titan Chronograph. Since then, this material has become essential for high-end sports watches.

But lightness is not the only advantage of titanium. Its corrosion resistance is exceptional, meaning your F77 will retain its shine even after years of use. Furthermore, titanium is hypoallergenic, making it an ideal choice for those of you with sensitive skin.

Focus on Fine Stone Dials: Lapis Lazuli, Aventurine, Meteorite

But the real revolution is to be found in the dials, with the introduction of precious materials from the mineral world. The brand thus offers three variations as original as they are remarkable:

• A lapis lazuli dial: Imagine the purest night sky you’ve ever contemplated. Now, imagine it on your wrist. That’s exactly what lapis lazuli is. This semi-precious stone, with its deep blue sprinkled with golden flecks of pyrite, has been revered since antiquity. Egyptian pharaohs used it in their royal adornments. Discover the F77 Lapis Lazuli at Windup Watch Shop.

This famous blue on pharaoh statues is probably the most famous appearance of lapis lazuli. See details of the F77 Lapis Lazuli here.

• An aventurine dial: If the Milky Way could be captured in a stone, it would look like this. It’s like having a miniature galaxy on your wrist. Aventurine, with its sparkling inclusions on a night-blue background, creates a striking depth effect. It’s the ideal stone for dreamers and romantics, those who see beyond the ordinary. Explore the F77 Aventurine model at Windup Watch Shop.

Aventurine is notably used for jewelry and amulets: Admire the F77 Aventurine from all angles.

• A meteorite dial: Have you ever dreamed of being an astronaut? With this dial, it’s as if you were wearing a fragment of your personal space mission. Each meteorite dial is unique, featuring crystalline patterns called Widmanstätten figures. These patterns formed over millions of years as the meteorite slowly cooled in space. Think about it: every time you look at the time, you are literally contemplating through time and space. See the Nivada F77 Meteorite Titanium on Windheure.

Here are the famous Widmanstätten figures that make this type of dial unique: More information on the F77 Meteorite here.

These unique materials are not there by chance. They are part of a broader trend in watchmaking: innovation in exotic materials.

This isn’t new: for example, Rolex was one of the pioneers in using meteorite dials with its white gold Daytona. However, Nivada Grenchen makes this experience more accessible, allowing a wider audience to appreciate these natural wonders.

However textured it may be, the dial, protected by a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, maintains excellent legibility in all circumstances thanks to its applied indices and luminescent hands.

Technical Specifications of the F77

The Dial

The rest of the dial is relatively classic, which is quite normal given the already exceptional nature of the materials used. I will therefore be quite descriptive.

The dial features a balanced composition, with the brand’s signature applied at 12 o’clock, accompanied by its emblematic logo. At 6 o’clock, we find the collection name and the movement indication.

Hands

The baton-style hour and minute hands perfectly harmonize with the overall dial design. Their luminescent central part ensures optimal legibility, even in the dark. The thin and elegant second hand is distinguished by its also luminescent rectangular tip. This choice of baton hands is not insignificant: it evokes the clean aesthetic of luxury watches from the 50s and 60s. The luminescence, in turn, subtly recalls the heritage of military watches, refined here for everyday use.

Indices

The edge of the dial is delicately highlighted by a minute track, whose silver tone echoes the hour indices. The latter are presented as faceted and applied batons, doubled at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock positions for a more marked visual effect. The minute track, a relic of 19th-century pocket watches, brings a touch of visual precision and a subtle nod to watchmaking history. As for the applied and faceted indices, they give depth and relief to the dial, skillfully playing with light for a dynamic rendering.

This simple configuration fits well with a wide variety of different dials: regardless of the texture, everything remains clearly legible.

The Case

With its 37mm case, it perfectly fits the current trend of more contained cases. The F77 proves otherwise. Its moderate diameter allows it to adapt to a wide range of wrists, while offering a discreet but undeniable presence.

The F77 is designed to be worn, not just admired. With its thickness of 11.5mm, it is one of the thinnest automatic watches with an integrated bracelet that I have seen so far.

The Case Back

To ensure a water resistance of 10 ATM, we also have a screwed case back with the brand logo in the center, as well as the titanium grade.
Nothing special to say about it, except for the alternating finish between polished and grained, which is very effective.

Screw-Down Crown

With its 100-meter water resistance, the F77 is ready for almost anything life can throw at it. A 100-meter water resistance generally allows for surface swimming and light water sports, but is not suitable for scuba diving.

Domed Sapphire Crystal with Anti-Reflective Coating

The sapphire crystal protecting the dial has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. To put this in perspective, only diamond is harder.

This sapphire crystal is also treated with an anti-reflective coating on its inner side, ensuring optimal dial legibility under all circumstances.

The Soprod P024 Movement: A Confidential Swiss Caliber

With an average accuracy of -0/+15 seconds per day, it’s as if your watch only loses one minute every four days.

Question for enthusiasts: did you know that the 28,800 vibrations per hour frequency of this movement is comparable to that of much more expensive watches? This high frequency ensures remarkable fluidity of the second hand, a real pleasure for the eyes of connoisseurs.

The Soprod P024 is not only precise, it is also robust and reliable with a power reserve of 38 hours.

Another fascinating aspect of this movement is its bidirectional rotor. Unlike the more common unidirectional rotors, this one allows for more efficient winding, regardless of the direction of your wrist movement.

The choice of the Soprod P024 movement by Nivada Grenchen is interesting. Soprod, a Swiss company less known than ETA or Sellita, has gained popularity in recent years as a reliable alternative for independent brands.

On the Wrist: Testing the F77 Titanium

When you first handle the Nivada Grenchen F77 Titanium, you are immediately struck by the quality of its finishes and its decidedly assertive design. The grade 5 titanium case boasts a distinctive dark grey hue, darker and deeper than classic steel. The play of alternating brushed and polished surfaces is particularly successful, creating subtle reflections that elegantly highlight the angles and curves of the octagonal bezel.

Bracelet and Comfort

One of the great strengths of the F77 lies in the successful integration of its bracelet. Entirely made of grade 5 titanium like the case, with a uniformly brushed finish, it fluidly follows the curved shapes of the watch. The visual continuity is striking and reinforces the decidedly seventies aesthetic of the ensemble.

The integrated bracelet, with its finely articulated links, perfectly conforms to the shape of your wrist, never bothered me (nor pulled hairs).

Deployant Clasp and Micro-Adjustments

The bracelet clasp deserves special mention. Equipped with a double push-button closing system, it combines security and ease of use. A micro-adjustment system allows for fine-tuning the bracelet length, ensuring a perfect fit regardless of the season or activity. It’s these kinds of details that make the difference between a good watch and an excellent watch.

Comfort and Fit on the Wrist

Despite its contained diameter and great lightness, the F77 Titanium does not lack presence once worn. Its captivating meteorite dial inevitably attracts the eye as soon as a ray of sunlight reflects on it. But this presence remains discreet, and the watch also knows how to be forgotten thanks to its exceptional wearing comfort. Its cleverly studied dimensions allow it to slide effortlessly under a shirt sleeve, while subtly asserting its unique and original character.

This level of attention paid to ergonomics recalls the standards set by brands like Rolex with its Glidelock micro-adjustment system. Nivada Grenchen proves here that excellent wearing comfort is not the exclusive preserve of established luxury brands.

Style Advice

Casual Chic Outfit

I’m wearing the F77 watch with a woven titanium dial here with:
– a Zignone JamaisVulgaire jacket
– a Paname Collections mock neck sweater
– Poszetka trousers
– Alden shoes

This is a slightly dressed-up casual chic outfit that stands out thanks to its textures. Here, the titanium dial with woven texture complements this style well while remaining quite discreet. (Discover the F77 woven titanium here)

Casual Outfit

A more casual outfit for the meteorite dial (more assertive) where I’m wearing:
– a Balibaris leather jacket
– a Paris-Yorker turtleneck sweater
– Poszetka trousers

The meteorite dial stands out much more here: that’s why I chose a more casual and assertive outfit. (Find the F77 meteorite dial worn here)

Conclusion

Nivada Grenchen signs off here with a resounding success, brilliantly proving that vintage still has very bright days ahead, provided it is reinterpreted with creativity, know-how, and passion. A model to follow for all brands wishing to embark on the neo-vintage adventure.

A Well-Executed Neo-Vintage Watch

The Nivada Grenchen F77 Titanium perfectly embodies the concept of a neo-vintage watch, brilliantly combining the timeless charm of the 70s and the demands of contemporary high watchmaking. The reissue of this iconic model stands out for the quality of its finishes, the care given to the smallest details, and the respect for the original spirit of the watch. A true goldsmith’s work, testifying to the know-how and expertise of the Swiss manufacturer.

The Bold Choice of Stone Dials

By daring to integrate fine stone dials, Nivada Grenchen brings a touch of originality and exclusivity to the F77 Titanium. Lapis lazuli, aventurine, or meteorite, each material gives the watch a unique and precious character, while respecting its resolutely sporty DNA. A strong aesthetic statement, which is sure to appeal to enthusiasts seeking distinction.

Convincing Value for Money

Despite the use of noble materials and the numerous manufacturing qualities of the F77 Titanium, Nivada Grenchen has managed to maintain competitive pricing. Convincing value for money, which makes this exclusive watch accessible to the greatest number, without compromising on watchmaking excellence.

The Nivada Grenchen titanium F77 watch is available at:
– €1645 with woven titanium dial
– €1865 with lapis lazuli dial
– €1865 with aventurine dial
– €1865 with meteorite dial