Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster - Revival of a 1960's Watch Icon

Just recently Nivada Grenchen had found 10 original Depthmaster orange dials and ETA movements (new old stock)
So they manufactured 10 limited edition Vintage Depthmasters and they sold out straight away
Now they have released this watch that looks so close to the vintage one, its uncanny.
Major differences are the movement, a modern dial and of-course a cheaper price
link to website: nivadagrenchen...
link to watch: nivadagrenchen...
Thanks for watching..

[@Justme0495]

You are absolutely spot on putting an orange strap on an orange dial watch. Don't know why Nivada didn't come up with this in the first place 😅 This makes me remember, I still don't have an orange dial watch 😂

[@khronokraze]

Very cool. I owned one.. a limited edition x Revolution, the "No Barracuda". I personally like the "Pac-Man" dial more. Has more character and playful. I also considered the case to be like a baby or mini Panerai. Very comfortable. I was immediately impressed once I saw in person and had one on wrist at a Wind-Up Watch Fair in San Francisco in 2022. So, compact and relatively thin for a 1000m WR. Kind of amazing. It totally breaks popular opinions that a dive watch needs to be bigger and thicker to achieve higher water resistance. I mean NG did it way back in the days already with this Depthmaster design and it all seems like a faithful recreation of what once was, now. I don't mind the domed crystal. I rather enjoy a bit of distortion as it adds a little more character and magnified effect which in turn adds a bit more visual depth, seemingly. For a vintage design, a domed crystal seems appropriate. For a more modern dive watch, a clean flat crystal makes more sense.

[@dissident_mantis7]

I can’t help but return to videos of this watch. There’s something about it that is so charming and unique. Personally I would opt for the black and white pacman

[@paulkukula6541]

Love this watch. I agree with you, with the flaws you found. Orange on orange is stunning. I have this colour combo on a Lorus dive watch. It’s only cheap, but I love it. Thanks for bringing this watch to our attention. Look forward to upcoming reviews.

[@samuelball8775]

Think I prefer the character/nostalgia you get with the domed crystal. It’s a good looking piece. Thanks for the review.

[@jazzman5598]

Beautiful watch Peter and perfect dimensions

[@PeterKotsa]

My pleasure 👍

[@michaelcoates7475]

Personally, I prefer a domed crystal. To my eye, a flat crystal just looks cheaper. I also love the orange.

[@PeterKotsa]

You're probably right Michael..maybe a double dome would have been a better choice here

[@melissasmess2773]

I love orange watches too and bought the OG, Doxa Sub 300T Pro, it's stunning.

[@Blinkeebill]

Thanks for reviewing this, I've been thinking about picking this one up. Black strap all the way though.

[@michaelj8793]

I have the benefit of an authorized dealer here in Florida Exquisite Timepieces with fantastic customer service and on the steel bracelet I sold Always appreciate your honest opinions my friend keep em coming Be well and God Bless and of course Happy Fathers Day as well 👍

[@oliver1965]

Good review. Vibes of Panerai with Tudor Ranger hour hand. Get going 🚀

[@Supercruze]

Personally, I like the slight doming of the crystal as it gives it more of a vintage vibe. I picked one of these up in bronze with the Pac Man dial. Looking forward to receiving it. Thanks for your review, Peter.

[@mikek6478]

Great review, Peter! I agree with everything you said. I also find the case to be very top heavy and thick. If this is due to having 1000m of water resistance, I would rather have less water resistance to obtain a lighter and thinner case. Cheers.

[@michaelcoleman7260]

Great review. Looks great on the orange strap to me, and the underside of the stock strap would drive me bonkers too. For a thousand bucks, that should not be the issue it is. Happy Father's Day Pete.

[@timetowatch_francois]

Orange is Simon Sinek’s color. He is the founder of “The Optimism Company” and he associates orange to optimism. Since I’ve been following him on social media, I wear Orange-on-Orange as much as I can. Absolutely LOVE that color for its vibrance and association to optimism. Thanks for sharing Peter. It seems to be a rock solid build and never be shy to wear orange-on-orange 😊

[@etebol]

I like it with the domed sapphire man. Is just a matter of taste I guess. I would just sand those cappers and keep the black tropic strap with the squares below every perforation, because they don’t make me sweat unlike the orange example with a smooth side, from experience those types make you sweat a lot and stick to the skin. Great video though and thanks for showing Nevada G. I think they are a great brand with some really nice watches for every occasion.

[@adk7962]

Oh that’s very nice. It’s not something I can buy nonchalantly but definitely attainable for me. I’ve always liked Panerai (ok that’s a lie, I like them because TGV likes them) but found them too large. Anyway. Thanks for the great review! I don’t have an orange watch, but I think I need to change that! Oh and I swim like a cinder block so the 1000m is completely useless to me. 😅

[@simonwright6882]

I'm looking for a splash of orange and this one is cool. However I'm leaning towards the Doxa sub 200t professional. Great review as always.

[@PeterKotsa]

Very cool look that Doxa 💪

[@Profile659]

The black strap is a no brainer. It makes the dial pop more

[@martinkaplan1805]

I like it, Peter! I suppose orange is still the new black!!

[@neilbotha3527]

Great review Pete and a beautiful piece. I have to admit that to me a single dome crystal is the best. Just adds a different dimension to the dial

[@astorbeijer9424]

The weak lume on the hands kills it for me. A 1000 meter dive watch should have blazing lume. It should knock your socks off.

[@hattyfarbuckle]

My orange Monster scratches the orange itch and despite being nearly 20 years old looks have better hand lume - it lives on black rubber as I doubt I could find a good orange match without too many failures. I have just purchased my first yellow dial diver and it came on a matching yellow rubber strap with clasp which looks fantastic, though I bought an OEM black for variation.

[@DavidDatura]

For me the domed sapphire is actually an advantage. I think the shape and distortions add character. I agree with you, when it comes to the strap keepers though, but that’s easily dealt with by replacing it, with the drilled lugs helping there. I also agree they need to do something with the lume issues. It’s a diver, a deep sea diver at that. The lume should be exceptional! I have two gripes here. The first is the dial, I know it’s historically correct for this watch. Still, I would have preferred applied indices/numerals. I think printed ones just cheapen the look of a watch, any watch. But that’s just me 🤷‍♂️ my other gripe is with these ETA clone movements. In that why can’t these companies take advantage of more modern materials and techniques and give them a decent power reserve! 38 hours is ridiculously short nowadays and quite unexceptible, to me anyway. But overall a very nice watch. Even if I would have gone with the more conventional black dial over the orange. I think orange on a watch dial only goes with a Doxa, as it’s sort of their trademark 😏

[@PeterKotsa]

👍

[@Zotrax1946]

I agree with you, they could have designed it slightly differently-and it would have been a stunner.

[@vladpiranha]

I consider orange the unofficial color of Nivada Grenchen. They incorporate it into quite a few of their watches in a way that's unique. Last year's limited edition Chronosport racing chronograph from Fratello is what finally made me a customer.

[@greggusan]

Really like this. Panerais tend to be too big for me, or don't have much WR in their smaller sizes. So love this case, and the amazing WR for its thickness. Incredible. But on this orange variant, wish the color of the hands matched the hour markers better. The aged lume tones don't match. Also wish the hour markers had a bit of a black perimeter, or "shadow" to match the black frames of the hands. So maybe I'd go for the black dial instead.

[@JoaoPedroMonteiroGarciaDavila]

Nivada has been releasing some amazing looking watches lately! This one, the F77, the Antartic. What's your favourite so far, if you could only choose one?

[@PeterKotsa]

Personally I like the Super Antarctic 369 👍

[@piotrszmidel]

Fun fact-its a sister brand to Filippo Loreti😜Though have Antarctic Spider on my shortlist

[@AlexanderB.]

Very nice retro watch. The bezel reminds me of some Vostoks. But sadly I heard some rumours the Nivada Grenchen customer service isn't as good as it should be.

[@millersciencesms762]

Their customer service is a nightmare. I will not purchase any more of their watches.

[@PeterKotsa]

Thats something that needs to be worked on Alex for sure 👍

[@kevinhuber8723]

For the price point they could have enlarged it a bit. It is basically to small diameter for me to even consider no matter how cool it is.

[@RJtoon1]

I really hate when keepers move. It drives me nuts when the end of the strap pops out of the keeper and it doesn't stay where I put it. I have the orange Tiisot Seastar 1000 and it's keepers stay put even though they are smooth so that's a bonus. But maybe that's what they were going for if they're a little rough those keepers they won't be moving around too much?

[@michaelcollins2473]

I don't much care for dive watches, but this one's a beauty. I really like the orange dial, but would prefer the black strap (or a different back strap).

[@PeterKotsa]

👍

[@leonm2407]

Food for thought as I was looking to Gruppo Gamma for my Panerai fix. But on the downside, Nivada does not really offer watches for those of us seeking 40mm+ watch diameters. We of the large wrist community are not catered for.

[@Robert-vw3od]

Its is a great looking watch, I think they are on the right track. The problem is the level of accuracy for me is just ridiculous. I don’t understand how in this day and age we are still selling automatic watches for anything over about 700 uk that are not accurate to within COSC at the very least. I’m someone who thinks that if you buy something like a Seiko for about 1500 you should be looking at within 4 seconds a day.

[@MegaRich7]

The hour hand is the best thing on this watch. Don't care much for the rest.

[@themls122991]

Can you please provide a link or let us know where you bought the orange strap? It looks great on this watch. Thank you,

[@PeterKotsa]

www.borealiswatch.com/collections/borealis-boavista-vintage-style-tropic-straps/products/copy-of-borealis-boavista-20mm-black-vulcanized-rubber-best-offer-in-market-for-diver-watches-1?variant=41309510238364 👍

[@benjaminvis]

Everyone once in a whille a watch comes along that one can just immediately forget about. This is such a watch. Although the case design is interesting, I don't find the face at all attractive and see no use case for 100atm. I fully realise, however, that there is probably a niche of peope who think otherwise. I am perfectly fine with the orange on orange though. It looks better than the black.

[@PeterKotsa]

Definitely a niche audience for sure....but I like it 😊😂

[@benjaminvis]

@@PeterKotsa and let me never be the person to say you shouldn't!

[@PeterKotsa]

@@benjaminvis hahaha..amen

[@jameswong6590]

That is a Tudor Ranger hour hand.

[@a7128]

Big fan of orange watches. Nice work. What's your favourite?

[@PeterKotsa]

Loved the Seiko Orange Samurai back in the day...that had a good spot in my heart 👍

[@DrDjDD]

Reminds me of Jean Richard aquascope, but that was much pricier and better watch.

[@mb9472]

I know this brand has a long history but when I look at this dive watch I can't help but see a vostok amphibia

[@blairdalgleish8247]

Love the pac man one

[@leonkaragiann7552]

Small watch small strap remember me the Timex PS: 😂1000m wr Without reason expensive 😮 Περιλαμβάνει απάντηση με πληρωμή

[@millersciencesms762]

I have the same hand lume issues on my Super Antarctic. Also Nivada Grenchen has the worst customer service I've experienced.

[@PeterKotsa]

Not good, if thats the case, they need to sort that out 👍

[@TheBimmer74]

All of the Nivada Grenchen watches are too small for me, and my wrist size is average at 7.25 inches. I have an orange Helm in 42 mm on the way!

[@PeterKotsa]

Nice...enjoy 👍

[@melissasmess2773]

It looks too small on his wrist as well.

[@2500MSUB]

Agreed, I have an 8 inch wrist and I for one am over this tiny watch trend!

[@MattSeesGray]

38mm is the perfect size to me, and I have a wrist size of 7”. To each their own though. Anything above 42mm looks like a hockey puck to me.

[@TheBimmer74]

0.25 inches is 6.35 mm, so a quarter inch makes a big difference

[@zillsburyy1]

u would like hemel

[@marcuschamp1460]

...... it is a pretty watch but +9 seconds a day ! ....... ouch ........ your average Steeldive , Seestern or San Martin will do way better than that for a fraction of the price .........

[@melissasmess2773]

Agree, my expensive watches are all COSC and within a couple minutes over a month.

[@zillsburyy1]

the other devil diver?

[@LabofmusicRecords]

oh dear watchgod... why, why always the same rubberband..? All these microbrands use the same. That's because they are still microbrands.

[@BAF605]

Too many phoenix microbrands trying to overcharge on past glories they haven't yet reclaimed This is one of them.

[@martinharrison4245]

Not a big fan of this watch. The black outlined hands dont match the indices , the indices should have been black outlined , to tie in , the look. I dont like the stainless steel bezel , a black ceramic would have made that dial colour really pop. The lume is odd as you pointed out peter , and 38 power reserve is a bit 1970 too. 1000 meters is unnecessary, 200 would have been fine. The strap could have had a deployment clasp and done away with those terrible keepers . The case is nicely finished , my first positive, but i dont like the case shape , i have always hated this type. I love orange on a diver , but have never owned one. I havent really bigged this watch up in any way really , but ive seen it done so much better , by the likes of doxa , seiko and tag heuer to name a few. Strangely enough the 70s doxa had a stainless steel bezel , but it just seemed to suit, although im not a fan of the new style doxas either that imitate the classic old ones , mainly because they look cheaply made by comparison. Great video work as always pete, sorry its not a love on this one.

[@PeterKotsa]

No apologies brother...each to their own. thats what the hobby dictates, individual taste 👍😊

[@taham33]

there is no way that watch has a 1000 meter of water resistence, be real

[@fredtafel]

Way too expensive

[@Noyb.265]

"Baby Panerai". 💯% NOT a compliment.

[@PeterKotsa]

ouch,...😊😂