SpotlightNivada Grenchen Unveils A Bronze Depthmaster Pac-Man

From the roster of addictive computer games for the 90s kid, Pac-Man rules the roost. The quick finger tactics employed to ensure Pac-Man eats its way to the big dots that will turn the four ghosts—Blinky (red), Pinky (pink), Inky (cyan), and Clyde (orange) (yes, they have names)—blue, and let Pac-Man eat them. Mixing this wildly popular Japanese arcade game with a serious mechanical timepiece was unimaginable till Nivada Grenchen managed to seamlessly blend the two worlds. Since its launch in 1965, the Depthmaster range by Nivada Grenchen has won endearing nicknames as ‘Pac-Man’, ‘Mini Panerai’, and ‘Baby Panerai’, because of two reasons. First, its iconic cushion-shaped case and sub-Luminor/Radiomir dimensions bear strong resemblance to Panerai watches. And second, the dial draws inspiration from Pac-Man. Moreover, the latest 2024 Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster ‘Pac-Man’ is clothed in a bronze alloy, CuAl8 (copper-aluminum), as opposed to 316L stainless steel that it was cased in earlier.

Packing In The Legendary Pac-Man

First issued in 1965, the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster was launched to jump on the hot trend of that era—stainless steel dive watches. The Depthmaster stood out because it was the first watch to be rated to a depth of 1,000m. Somewhere in the 1980s, the brand again decided to bank on a massy trend, this time based on the video game, Pac-Man. Here, hour markers six and nine o’clock are shaped as the openmouthed Pac-Man, while the three o’clock hour marker is the ghost, but unclear whether its Blinky, Inky, Pinky or Clyde. The subsequent Depthmaster editions till date have stuck to its Pac-Man theme, visible in the new bronze watch that seamlessly integrates pop culture with the old fashioned, as aside the above three hour markers and a 12 o’clock hour marker in the Arabic numeral, the other triangular indexes and the Mercedes hands (hour, minute and seconds), are art deco-styled and all outlined in bronze. All 12 hour markers have vintage-tinted pale yellow applied Super-LumiNova­ for instant readability of time in low light.

The new bronze Depthmaster combines 1980s pop culture game of Pac-Man theme with art deco-styled triangular hour markers and hands (hour, minute and seconds), all outlined in bronze

One noteworthy modification: the bezel that featured an engraved 15-minute scale has now been increased to 30 minutes

Pac-Man In Bronze For A Royal Glint

With the earlier Depthmaster versions, the 39mm case made from 316L stainless steel had a robust, bulky silhouette with a classic cushion-shaped case, which instantly gave the appearance of a serious dive tool watch. The new bronze Depthmaster continues with the 39mm case size but is constructed from CuAl8 (copper-aluminum) bronze alloy (consisting of 92 percent copper plus eight percent aluminum).

The golden pinkish glint covers the 39mm case in brushed polish, screwed-down crown, knurled edge and engraved minute scale, and the outline of white Super-LumiNova-applied hour markers. These golden-white timekeeping elements, when juxtaposed against the contrasting matt black dial, black rubber strap and brown perforated leather options, create an aura of royalty. Bronze, as a material, is environment-friendly because it’s highly corrosion-resistant was commonly used back in the day for diving helmets and other water-resistant gear. Even though constant wear will lead to discolouration or a patina, it works in the wearer’s favour, as no two bronze Depthmaster watches will develop the same pattern.

The Nivada Pac-Man runs on the competent Soprod P024 automatic calibre. This self-winding movement beats at 28,800vph. Unlike the Numerals Date version, that bronze Depthmaster is a time-only watch, without a date aperture at three o’clock.

Additionally, the Nivada bronze watch features signature elements, such as a unidirectional-rotating dive bezel with 120 clicks, knurled edge, automatic helium valve and 1,000m water resistance. One noteworthy modification: the bezel that featured an engraved 15-minute scale has now been increased to 30 minutes.

Inbuilt with professional dive tool watch traits, an exquisite metal silhouette and the epitome of childhood nostalgia with Pac-Man, the Nivada Grenchen Bronze Depthmaster cuts a fine example of balance, blending hard work with fun and games.