Nivada Grenchen F77 MKII 100 Years: Stone Dials and a Serious Movement Upgrade

Nivada Grenchen turns 100 this year. Founded in 1926, the brand disappeared for decades before relaunching in 2020 under Guillaume Laidet, the same creative mind steering Vulcain and Space One. Since then it's been a focused operation: dig into the archive, pick the icons, update them carefully. The F77 has been one of the standouts from that relaunch, and now it gets a proper upgrade to mark the centenary.

The F77 MKII 100 Years isn't a cosmetic refresh with a special caseback. The changes are real. Seven new dial executions, including stone dials, and a more powerful movement inside. That combination makes this the most fully realized version of the F77 to date.

What Actually Changed

The biggest mechanical news is the movement. Nivada has fitted the F77 MKII with a more capable caliber than its predecessor. The brand hasn't been shy about using quality Swiss movements, and this upgrade continues that approach, giving the watch better performance specs to match its elevated presentation.

Then there are the dials. Seven variations total, and the stone dials are the headliners. Using natural stone as a dial material isn't new to haute horology, but it's genuinely rare at Nivada's price positioning. Each stone dial will look slightly different from the next, which is either a feature or a complication depending on how you feel about consistency. Most people will consider it a feature.

Beyond stone, the seven dial variations give buyers genuine options. Nivada clearly wants this collection to have range, not just one hero piece with a premium ask.

The F77 Design, Revisited

The F77 is Nivada's integrated sport watch, sitting alongside the Antarctic and Chronocommaster in the lineup. Integrated bracelets were having a moment when the original F77 concept was conceived, and they haven't stopped being relevant. The design language is clean, the case and bracelet flow together well, and the MKII keeps that DNA intact while sharpening the details.

The facelift Fratello references is worth paying attention to. This isn't just new dials slotted into an old case. The MKII designation signals that Nivada treated this as a genuine second generation, not a limited edition dressed up to look like one.

• Seven dial variants, including natural stone options that will each have their own character
• Updated movement with improved performance over the original F77
• Integrated bracelet design retained from the original, with refined execution
• Centenary context: this is a milestone release, not a routine update
• Guillaume Laidet's direction keeps Nivada consistent across its portfolio

Who This Is For

If you've been watching Nivada since the 2020 relaunch, you already know the brand punches above its price. The F77 MKII 100 Years is for the buyer who wants something that looks expensive without requiring a finance plan, and who appreciates that the stone dial story is backed by a real mechanical upgrade rather than just pretty packaging.

It's also a strong entry point if integrated sport watches are your thing but you're not ready to commit to something Swiss and five figures. Nivada sits in that productive middle ground where the design ambition is high and the price stays honest.

How It Compares

Integrated sport watches crowd the market right now. You've got everything from Grand Seiko's SBGX series on one end to the Royal Oak on the other, with a long tail of microbrands in between. Nivada's advantage is credibility: a real 100-year history, a focused creative direction, and a track record since 2020 that shows the brand isn't just riding nostalgia. The F77 MKII earns its place at the table.

Pricing hasn't been confirmed at time of writing, but Nivada has historically kept the F77 accessible relative to its visual competition. Expect that approach to continue here, even with the stone dial premium factored in. Keep an eye on Nivada's official channels for the full spec breakdown and retail information. This one is worth the wait.