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Nivada Grenchen · Super Antarctic

Super Antarctic

Name: Nivada Grenchen Super Antarctic
Brand: Nivada Grenchen

Upper $900–1,300

This Super Antarctic record tracks Nivada Grenchen’s official Super Antarctic White 38mm ref. 91412B: a 38mm 316L stainless-steel explorer-style watch with double-domed sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, Soprod P024 automatic movement, Super-LumiNova dial accents, and 100m water resistance.

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38mm

Case

100m

Water res.

12mm

Thick

45mm

Lug-to-lug

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Overview

Brand	Nivada Grenchen
Reference	Super Antarctic White 38mm 91412B
Collection	Super Antarctic
Category	Sports
Released	2021
Price guide	Upper · $900–1,300

Full specification

Specs

Case & dial

Diameter	38 mm
Lug-to-lug	45 mm
Thickness	12 mm
Lug width	20 mm
Water resistance	100 m
Crystal	sapphire, double-domed, AR-coated
Case material	stainless steel (316L)
Bezel	fixed
Case back	solid

Movement & furniture

Type	Automatic
Caliber	Soprod P024 →
Power reserve	38 h
Jewels	25
Lume	Super-LumiNova
Strap / bracelet	leather strap (20/16mm); steel beads-of-rice or flat-link bracelet available

On the wrist

Picking up the Super Antarctic for the first time, the 38mm case feels immediately purposeful and unassuming — not trying to be anything it isn't. The brushed flanks keep the tool-watch credentials honest, while the polished bezel and finely applied steel indices give the dial a quiet depth that punches well above its price. The double-domed sapphire catches light at angles a flat crystal simply cannot match, adding a three-dimensional quality that makes the piece feel more expensive than it is.

The decision to revive the lollipop-hand configuration, the railroad minute track, and the triangular quarter markers from the original 1955–56 watches is correct — it gives the Super Antarctic a character many modern Swiss automatics lack. The aged-lume Tropical variants reward close inspection: the fauxtina is applied rather than natural, but it is convincingly calibrated and keeps the dial warm and readable. The 45mm lug-to-lug is a genuine comfort on small-to-medium wrists, and the downturned lugs hug cleanly. Legibility day and night is excellent, and the caseback medallion — a gold-toned IP emblem of the Operation Deep Freeze aircraft — is the kind of small detail that separates watches with a story from those without one.

Bottom line

A genuinely compelling vintage reissue under $1,000 on leather or rubber that earns its price through Antarctic-family heritage, double-domed sapphire construction, and a compact 38mm case — pass if you need a date display, a functional bezel, or anything larger than 38mm.

Highlights

38mm explorer-style stainless-steel case
Automatic Soprod P024 movement
Double-domed sapphire crystal
Screw-down crown
100m water resistance
Tropical and No Vintage Effect variants exist in the broader line

Who it's for

Buyers who want a compact, historically grounded Swiss automatic under $1,000 — particularly those drawn to 1950s exploration aesthetics, a beads-of-rice bracelet option, or the rare combination of vintage character and modern build quality. The 45mm lug-to-lug suits wrists roughly 15–18 cm (6–7 inches) without overhang.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you need a date complication, prefer a case larger than 38mm, or expect a functional rotating bezel rather than a plain fixed one.

Before you buy

This record tracks the 38mm White configuration
Both 38mm and 35mm case sizes exist in the Super Antarctic line — verify diameter when ordering
Yellow availability is configuration-specific and 3.6.9 Black standard has appeared sold out; check current official availability
Strap/bracelet configuration affects final price and feel

FAQ

Is the Super Antarctic automatic or quartz?

The Super Antarctic is automatic. The Soprod P024 winds itself from the motion of your wrist, so it needs no battery. A full wind holds roughly 38 hours, so it keeps running overnight off the wrist; left longer it stops and restarts once you wear or hand-wind it.

What movement does the Super Antarctic use?

The Super Antarctic is powered by the Soprod P024 from Soprod, an automatic caliber with 25 jewels, a 38-hour power reserve, and a 28,800 bph beat rate. Being automatic, it winds from the motion of your wrist and needs no battery.

How water resistant is the Super Antarctic?

The Super Antarctic is rated to 100 m. That covers swimming and snorkelling, though hot water and direct high-pressure water are best avoided, and it is not intended for scuba diving. Whatever the rating, avoid operating the crown or pushers underwater, and have the gaskets checked periodically to keep it reliable.

How big does the Super Antarctic wear?

At 38 mm across with a 45 mm lug-to-lug and 12 mm thick, the Super Antarctic wears as a versatile mid-size watch. Lug-to-lug is the measurement that really decides fit, since it sets how far the case spans the wrist — 45 mm suits most wrists, and smaller wrists especially should check that figure.

What movement does this Super Antarctic use?

This 38mm Super Antarctic White page lists the Soprod P024 automatic movement.

Is it larger than the Antarctic 35mm?

Yes. This representative Super Antarctic is 38mm, while the Antarctic record here tracks a 35mm variant.

How water resistant is it?

Nivada lists 10 ATM / about 100m water resistance.

How does it differ from the broader Antarctic family?

This record is for the fixed-bezel 38mm Super Antarctic White with Soprod P024. Other Antarctic-family models can use different movements, such as the Antarctic GMT with Soprod C125.

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