Nivada Grenchen returns with another characterful chronograph with the customisable Chronoking Racing Mecaquartz.
Jam-packed with cool details, the five colourways of this new chronograph can be customised not only with straps and bracelets, but with five different coloured bezels, completely changing the look of the watches.
Chronoking features five dial variations, with typically vibrant contrasting colour and texture details, with one multi-coloured carbon variation being limited to 500 pieces.
Chronograph watches and motor racing are a match made in heaven. You don’t need me to tell you how well-connected watches are with motorsport; it’s a long-discussed connection, and something some brands have built their entire image around. Indeed, motorsport has directly influenced the development of modern chronographs. But one thing is for sure, and that’s the fact that some brands hit every apex, whereas others, well, they can often end up starting in the pit lane… But Nivada Grenchen isn’t one of them. Quite the opposite.
If you think of how a moodboard would look for motorsport, it would combine dark colours of rubber, asphalt, skid marks and carbon fibre, with vibrant pops of number boards, rumble strips and racing helmets. It’s a collision of textures and colour that hits at full speed. It’s that moodboard that has directly inspired Nivada’s latest release, the Chronoking Racing Mecaquartz.
But before we get too carried away with the visuals, let’s take a look at the foundations of the watch. The Chronoking is a 38mm chronograph crafted from 316L stainless steel, featuring vintage-inspired details such as straight-edged lugs and a deeply ridged tachymeter bezel. Despite being a budget-friendly chronograph, it boasts 100-meter water resistance and features a double-domed sapphire crystal for a retro-chic look. Another cool feature is the asymmetric pushers, one of which sports a distinctive flash of colour, a gorgeous little detail for racing chrono lovers.
At 38mm in diameter and 13.7mm thick, it’s eminently wearable, and with the bezel stretching the proportions to 39mm, it’s a similar size to arguably the most famous racing chrono of all, the Daytona, and we all know how wearable that is. Finally, it’s great to see the case is closed with an engraved solid screw-down case back, keeping things simple and functional, rather than fussy and trying too hard, mainly because the movement isn’t the main attraction for this watch.
What is the main attraction, however, is the overall aesthetic, and predominantly the dials. Going back to the moodboard we discussed, the Chronoking Racing features a well-balanced combination of moody, dark details and vibrant pops of colour. It sounds distracting, but like Nivada Grenchen’s other distinctive chronographs, the result is just the right flashes of colour in just the right places.
There are five different dial variations for the Chronoking, ranging from two in black forged carbon fibre (resulting in each example of which being unique, of course), a deep metallic blue, silvery grey and finally a stunning sparkly metallic teal green. Each dial features the typical tri-compax layout, with a 24-hour indicator at 3, a running seconds indicator at 6, and a 60-minute counter at 9. Still, each one features subtly different colour combinations for the printed details in the subdials and chapter rings, varying from yellow to orange, blues, grey and black. Each one is carefully paired for a slightly different style, which, quite frankly, looks fantastic.
It is also worth noting that the dial finishing is superb for this price point, with each colour variation featuring a distinct texture. There’s the high polish of the metallic hardware, the grained finish of the coloured dials, subtle brushing on the silver dial variant and the matte composite of the two carbon dials, all of which contrast with the concentric rings inside the sub-dials. These, paired with the polished applied hour markers, create a refined look that demonstrates strong attention to detail and, importantly, symmetry (with some subtly asymmetric touches).
While we’re on the topic of colour, one important feature to mention about the Chronoking is the bezel. Firstly, you’ll note that each dial has its own colour-paired steel bezel featuring a tachymeter scale, in three glass and two aluminium options. These vibrant bezels can be swapped and changed, depending on your taste, and can be purchased separately to customise the look of the Chronoking as you please. This is a feature you seldom see these days, so it’s a fresh addition that can essentially provide you with endless colour combinations if you end up with multiple Chronokings.
Keeping things reliable and hardworking, Nivada Grenchen have opted for the Seiko VK64 Mecaquartz movement to power the watch. This gives us all the accuracy and longevity benefits of quartz, with mechanical-feeling chronograph pushers. It’s certainly not going to win any beauty contests, so it’s good to see that it’s hidden behind a closed caseback. However, it does thankfully offer an approximate battery life of 3 years, along with an accuracy of less than +/- 20 seconds per month at normal temperatures.
Not content with just offering dial options and customisable bezels, Nivada has given a broad choice when it comes to straps and bracelets for the Chronoking Racing. To start, there are two stainless steel options: one a flat link bracelet, the other a beads of rice option. Then there’s a black Tropic-style rubber strap option, adding a retro 1960s flair. However, if you prefer a more heritage look, there are six different leather strap variations, ranging from browns and blacks to pebbled, smooth, and perforated finishes.
Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Racing Mecaquartz pricing and availability
The Nivada Grenchen Chronoking Racing Mecaquartz is available from September 25th, 2025. The black carbon edition model (carbon fibre dial with multi-coloured subdial details) is a limited edition of 500 pieces, of which we have limited stock in the Time+Tide Shop. Price: starting from CHF 560
Brand
Nivada Grenchen
Model
Chronoking Racing Mecaquartz
Case Dimensions
38mm (D) x 13.7mm (T)
Case Material
316L stainless steel
Water Resistance
100 meters
Crystal(s)
Double-domed sapphire
Dial
Carbon fibre, metallic blue or green, brushed grey
Bracelet
Flat link or beads of rice stainless steel bracelet, black Tropic rubber or leather variations
Movement
Seiko VK64, mecaquartz
Battery Life
~3 years
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, interchangeable timing bezel
Availability
Available from Sept 25th, Black carbon edition limited to 500 pcs
Price
CHF 560 (on rubber or leather)
CHF760 (on bracelet)
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