Adventurers were setting new benchmarks, armed with experimental tool watches designed to withstand Earth’s harshest environments. You might think of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic summit of Mount Everest in 1953, alongside Tenzing Norgay, with the renowned Rolex Explorer prototype. However, another noteworthy watch from that era is the Nivada Grenchen’s Antarctic. This 34mm watch became the first wristwatch worn in Antarctica in 1956 when Admiral Richard E. Byrd donned it during Operation Deep Freeze I, the U.S. mission to establish a permanent base on the continent. 

The revived Nivada brand has been crafting modern Antarctic watches for several years, offering an affordable alternative to the Rolex Explorer, with its own significant historical narrative. Today, Nivada has enhanced its Antarctic lineup with the introduction of the Super Antarctic and Antarctic Spider, now available in a more period-appropriate 35mm case, alongside the previously offered 38mm size.

The new Super Antarctic and Antarctic Spider maintain the design elements of their larger counterparts but in a more compact form. The Super Antarctic features a classic black dial, reminiscent of the Explorer, with the choice of white or beige lume for its triangular and baton indices and a replica Rolex-inspired handset.

The Antarctic Spider, on the other hand, offers a silver sunburst or matte black dial with a distinctive printed “spidered” pattern radiating from the center to the applied silver indices. It also includes a cyclops date window at the 3 o’clock position. Both watches boast 35mm stainless steel cases, sapphire crystals, screw-down crowns, 50m water resistance, and Landeron 21 manual-wind movements. The casebacks are adorned with a gold-tone medallion depicting a penguin, a charming nod to the brand’s mid-century Antarctic heritage. 

Nivada previously offered a 35mm standard Antarctic model, but its elegant silver Arabic numeral indices gave it a dressier appearance. The new 35mm Super Antarctic aligns more closely with the 36mm Rolex Explorer in terms of visual design and historical significance.

While the clone Rolex Explorer is undoubtedly more robust, with 100m water resistance, superior craftsmanship, and a higher quality movement and bracelet, the Nivada Super Antarctic 35 offers an attractive starting price of just $850 on a leather strap (with an optional bracelet for an additional cost). It presents a compelling option for those who find the $7,250 price tag of a new Rolex Explorer (or the often higher prices on the secondhand market) beyond their budget.