The new Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic 3/6/9 model is a tribute to the first watch to set foot on Antarctica, the Earth’s southernmost, most hostile landmass and the last continent to be discovered. This timepiece features a 38mm diameter stainless steel case and SOPROD P024 self-winding mechanical movement. Two dial variants are available: Black and Tropical.
NIVADA ANTARCTIC
Ever since it was first discovered over two centuries ago Antarctica, continues to be a source of fascination for explorers, scientists, and historians. In 1955, the United States undertook a series of missions to Antarctica in support of the National Science Foundation.
Operation Deep Freeze, the first permanent base to be established in one of the coldest and most austere environments on planet Earth, has been in place since the 1950s. Polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd was President Eisenhower’s logical choice to serve as Officer in Charge of Operation Deep Freeze I.
During this exploration, Richard E. Byrd worn a NIVADA ANTARCTIC tool watch originally conceived for Antarctic exploration. This robust, shockproof and anti-magnetic timepiece was also able to withstand great variations in temperature and humidity.
Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic 3/6/9
The new Super Antarctic 3/6/9 has a large gold medallion on the case back: a tribute to the vintage Antarctic model – the first watch to set foot, as it were, on the 5th continent – which sported such a decoration.
It is one of the most intriguing aspects of the watch, depicting a scene from Operation Deep Freeze I, the first of several missions to establish a permanent base in Antarctica: the engraving shows an airplane and an icebreaker under the stars and a crescent moon; a mountain range and glacier in the distance.
The medallion was originally incorporated into vintage Nivada Antarctic models to commemorate the International Geophysical Year (1957) and the impetus it gave to the exploration of Antarctica.
The watch is available in two versions: Super Antarctic 3/6/9 with a deep black dial mounted on black perforated leather strap; or Super Antarctic 3/6/9 “Cadran Tropical” – with an intense and shimmering brown dial, the color of dark chocolate, coffee beans or tobacco drying in the sun, mounted on a caramel leather strap.
Very often, prolonged exposure to light and humidity can cause the dial to age prematurely, the hands to fade and the indexes to yellow.
The developers at Nivada Grenchen decided to replicate this effect on the hands and indexes; the so-called tropical dial bears the imprint of an accelerated “chocolate” discoloration.
Technical details
Model: Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic 3/6/9
Case
Material: 316L stainless steel
Case finish: Polished & satin-brushed
Lug width: 20mm
Case diameter: 38mm
Case thickness: 12mm
Lug-to-lug distance: 45mm
Screw down crown
Crystal: Double-domed sapphire
Case back: Golden medallion, representing an ice-breaker and a plane
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Movement
Automatic, SOPROD P024
Self-winding – 3 hands
Power reserve: 38 hours
Dial
Black dial (ref.32032A10) or tropical dial (ref.32031A23)
Indexes: Creamy color patina, 3/6/9
