Nivada Grenchen continues to focus on affordable watches, despite so much of the Swiss watch industry moving price points upmarket in recent years.

The new Chronoking Mecaquartz Salmon is not a mechanical watch, instead, it has a VK63 meca-quartz hybrid movement (made by Seiko). This means timekeeping is controlled by a quartz movement, whereas the chronograph is actuated and controlled by a traditional mechanical chronograph module — both are powered by a battery. This configuration costs less to make and service than a traditional mechanical movement, yet offers some of the benefits, and is more accurate.

Giving the Chronoking a conservatively sized 38 mm x 12.95 mm (46.5 mm lug-to-lug) 316L stainless steel case that’s got 100 meters of water resistance — with a domed sapphire crystal, applied indices, a bi-directional 60-minute count-up bezel, and lugs that look like they came from the same group’s Excelsior Park brand — the watch looks good and offers a great alternative to Seiko, Tissot, Baltic, or Hamilton watches around the same price points.

Admittedly, the stamped logo on the dial at 12 o’clock does not have the same premium appearance as a logo on a more expensive mechanical Nivada Grenchen timepiece, but again they’re hitting an accessible price point, and that’s appealing in today’s market that’s flooded with overpriced timepieces.

As usual with Nivada Grenchen, you have a broad variety of strap and bracelet choices. The retail price varies between $479 and $679 and you can pre-order now with deliveries beginning in September.

Learn more at Nivada Grenchen.

 

Photo by Nivada Grenchen.