Nivada is paying homage to its original Antarctic Diver model with a contemporary reinterpretation of the classic diver. First debuting at the end of the 1950’s, the watch was born in the golden age of undersea exploration and has since become a flagship model for the brand. The current version sports an enhanced version of the historic design aesthetic and is supported by modernized dive technology. With an increased water resistance and improved movement, the new Antarctic Diver is bringing Nivada’s history to life.
For the exterior, Nivada opts for satin-brushed steel with a 38mm diameter. Completing its moderate footprint, the watch wears 12.9mm high on the wrist. The unidirectional bezel is a black ceramic insert with bold contrasting white minute markers and tick marks. On the reverse, the caseback is engraved with an image of a penguin along with the brand and collection names. With its screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, the case offers water resistance up to 200 meters.
For the dial, Nivada opts for a crisp black hue as the backdrop for the recreation of the original layout. The hands and indexes are a patinated “cream latte” shade that contrast the dark dial quite well. Honoring the previous dial design even further, the newcomer includes discrete cross hairs marking the four quadrants of the dial. The date window is located at 3 o’clock and is topped with a magnifier to increase its legibility. Completing the retro-inspired aesthetic, the Nivada Automatic logo is situated proudly at 12 o’clock, while the Antarctic-Diver name is written in script at 6 o’clock.
Ticking inside of the Antarctic Diver is the caliber SOPROD P024, a three-hand self-winding mechanism. Capable of displaying hours, minutes, and seconds, the movement has a power reserve of approximately 38 hours.
The new Nivada Antarctic Diver retails for $900. It is available with five strap variations and five bracelet variations, all available on the brand’s website.
To learn more, visit Nivada here.
Just received mine. I wish the buying experience was better. Had to fill out customs and import forms for both Nivada and FedEx to allow the watch to be released to me in the US. Also disappointed to see that only the movement is Swiss. The rest of the watch is of Chinese origin (case, materials, etc). Though the description says unidirectional bezel, it is bidrectional. The build quality doesn’t seem to match the pictures. At this price point it is a disappointment.