he launch was preceded by three weeks of teaser videos, culminating in a final reveal film featuring Guillaume Laidet in an Antarctic storm. Lost in the whiteout, he discovers an igloo turned into a penguin club, and the moment he shows the Antarctic found in the snow, the “family” instantly recognizes him as one of theirs. The tone is light, but the complication and the commitment are real: a portion of the project budget supports penguin protection in Antarctica.

Erotic watches are part of a long-standing watchmaking tradition: hidden scenes, automata, and cheeky details designed to be discovered rather than displayed. With the Antarctic Erotic, Nivada Grenchen embraces that heritage through a see-through caseback and a subtle animation brought to life while winding, a discreet wink with just enough irreverence to feel the real Nivada Grenchen vibe.

Advertisement for the Nivada Antarctic in 1967 in Europa Star

©Archives Europa Star

The Antarctic name is rooted in the polar exploration era that shaped the model in the 1950s. Introduced in 1954, the Antarctic was the first watch to reach Antarctica and was tested during the U.S. Navy’s Operation Deep Freeze missions in 1955–1956. Penguins, highly present in expedition imagery, became a natural symbol of that world and appeared on the casebacks of several vintage Nivada models, before being carried through on recent Antarctic reissues. With the Antarctic Erotic, Nivada Grenchen gives that historic emblem a new playful twist while adding a real-world conservation dimension.

In partnership with Oceanites, one of the leading organizations dedicated to penguin monitoring in Antarctica, the brand has adopted a colony of 21,000 birds already tracked by the association as part of its fieldwork. A portion of the project budget therefore directly supports the protection and monitoring of this specific colony in Antarctica.

Over time, Nivada Grenchen will share updates related to this initiative, with content focused on these penguins, the research being carried out, and the conservation efforts taking place on the ground, in order to maintain a tangible link between the watch and this commitment.

The animated caseback mechanism was conceived and engineered by Dr. Coldwater, a codename that hides a highly respected independent watchmaker.

To tell the story, Nivada Grenchen introduces an interview series starring a penguin watchmaker. Half expert, half eccentric inventor, he claims to know penguin life as well as mechanical watchmaking, and presents himself as the one behind the complication. Through this playful character, the brand explains the idea, the engineering constraints, and the final execution, while staying true to the project’s spirit.

The animation is driven by the most natural interaction with a mechanical watch, winding, and remains a private discovery, visible only when you flip the watch over.

At the heart of the watch: a modified hand-wound Soprod P054, adapted to drive the animated caseback mechanism while preserving daily-wear reliability and a clean display on the front. The miniature automaton is connected to the winding system. The ratchet wheel has been re-machined into a cam profile, which converts the winding action into a vertical motion driving the penguin.

The watch features a 38mm “Spider Case” in stainless steel, alternating polished and brushed surfaces for contrast and vintage presence. Depending on the version, the Antarctic Erotic can be paired with Beads of Rice bracelet, Flat Links bracelet, black tropical rubber, or leather straps in black or brown, including perforated or contrast stitching variants.

“What makes this collaboration meaningful is that it connects curiosity about Antarctica with real scientific monitoring happening on the ground. Every penguin colony we track helps scientists better understand how this extraordinary region is changing. Support from partners like Nivada Grenchen helps ensure that this long-term scientific record continues to grow and inform global conservation efforts.” - Ron Naveen, founder of Oceanites.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Case: Stainless steel, 38mm (“Spider Case”) Finishing: polished and brushed
• Thickness: 12.45mm
• Lug-to-lug: 45mm
• Lug width: 20mm
• Crystal: single-curve lens
• Water resistance: 10 ATM
• Caseback: see-through and animated “Erotic” scene
• Movement: modified Soprod P054 (hand-wound)
• Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds (date on “Tuxedo version” only)
• Retail price: Leather strap USD 1,569 I Metal strap USD 1,769
• Pre-order system (time-limited): Pre-order opens April 30th — 4PM Geneva Time. Window: Salmon: 69-minute pre-order window. Beige: 69-hour pre-order window. Other versions: 6.9-day pre-order window. Once the window closes, the pre-order closes permanently.