Nivada Grenchen’s Antarctic line is named after the polar exploration era; it was, in fact, the first watch to reach Antarctica in 1954, and was tested during the U.S. Navy’s Operation Deep Freeze missions in 1955–1956. The line has a deep tool watch legacy, but for 2026, the brand is presenting a fresh set of models with a mischievous twist.
The six Antarctic Erotic 38mm stainless steel watches take the symbol the line is most associated with, the penguin (the penguin has appeared on the casebacks of several vintage Nivada Grenchen references and recent Antarctic reissues) and makes it their centrepiece. Turning the watch over, the sapphire crystal caseback reveals an automaton featuring two penguins which come to life with the winding of the crown. The ratchet wheel has been re-machined into a cam profile, which converts the winding action into a vertical motion driving the penguin. This is all thanks to the modified hand-wound Soprod P054, adapted to drive the animation. The mechanism is conceived and designed by Dr. Coldwater, an alias for an independent watchmaker.
The watch does much more than tell time and amuse – these releases also support penguin conservation efforts. In partnership with Oceanites, one of the leading organisations dedicated to penguin monitoring in Antarctica, Nivada Grenchen has adopted a colony of 21,000 birds, and a portion of the project budget supports the protection and monitoring of this colony.
On the front, the new watches introduce different dial iterations – black, white, eggshell beige, salmon, and brown – paired with bracelets and straps. The case features alternating polished and brushed surfaces. All the watches are water resistant to 100 metres, with the ‘Antarctic Erotic’ typography at 6 o’clock. While all are time-only watches, the salmon and beige iterations feature dauphine hands with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9; and the black, white and brown dial versions have Super-LumiNova-filled applied indexes and hands. There is also a special ‘Tuxedo’ iteration with a date function and a sector dial with black ring on which rest the applied indexes.
Depending on the version, the watches can be paired with a Beads of Rice bracelet, or a flat links bracelet, black tropical rubber, or leather straps in black or brown, including perforated or contrast stitching variants.
The leather strap versions are priced at Rs 1,60,000 (approx.), while the metal bracelet iterations are priced at Rs. 1,80,000 (approx.).
Images: Courtesy brand
Also Read :
Geneva Watch Week 2026 Preview: Beda’a Watches introduces two new Angles Guichets
|
Watches and Wonders 2026 Preview: Raymond Weil’s new Millesime The Fifty celebrates the brand’s 50 year anniversary
|
Geneva Watch Week 2026 Preview: Breva Genève introduces Segreto di Lario Meridian Gold
More In news
Sign up for our newsletters to have the latest stories delivered to your inbox
