Meteorite Watches: What a Meteorite Dial Is and How to Choose One
A meteorite watch has a dial cut from a real iron meteorite. The slice is polished, then etched with acid to reveal the natural pattern of the metal, so no two dials are the same. Nivada Grenchen (1926, Grenchen) uses meteorite dials on the F77, its integrated-bracelet sports watch, in 37, 38 and 41 mm. The F77 SST Meteorite MK2 38 mm uses Muonionalusta, a meteorite found in northern Sweden.
In short
- Real meteorite: each dial is a thin slice of iron meteorite, etched to show its natural pattern.
- Every dial is unique: yours will be close to the photos, never identical.
- At Nivada Grenchen: the F77 in steel, Grade 5 titanium and black ceramic, in 37, 38 and 41 mm.
In this guide
What is a meteorite dial?
Most watch dials are painted or printed. A meteorite dial replaces the painted surface with a thin slice of metal that came from space. Once cut and polished, the slice is etched with acid. The etching brings out the pattern: crossing lines and bands that formed naturally inside the meteorite over millions of years. This pattern is called the Widmanstätten pattern.
Because nature made the pattern, every dial is unique. Two watches of the same reference never show the same lines. The photos on a product page show one example, and your dial will be close in tone but never identical.
Muonionalusta, the meteorite on the F77 MK2 38 mm
Muonionalusta is an iron meteorite found in northern Sweden, made of iron and nickel (about 7.65% nickel). Nivada Grenchen uses it on the F77 SST Meteorite MK2 38 mm, where it keeps its natural metallic grey colour. Shiny silver applied indexes and white Super-LumiNova dots sit on top of the pattern, so the time stays easy to read.
What to look at before buying a meteorite watch
The Nivada Grenchen meteorite watches
Every current meteorite reference is built on the F77, the integrated-bracelet sports watch Nivada Grenchen first drew in 1977. The MK2 case has more curved lugs for a closer fit, drilled lugs for quick strap changes and an octagonal bezel held by eight screws.
F77 SST Meteorite MK2
- Case
- 316L steel, 38 mm
- Thickness / lug to lug
- 12.2 mm / 46.2 mm
- Movement
- Soprod P024, no date
- Detail
- Muonionalusta dial, Dauphine or baton hands
F77 Titanium Meteorite MK2
- Case
- Grade 5 titanium, 38 mm
- Thickness / lug to lug
- 12.2 mm / 46.2 mm
- Movement
- Soprod P024, no date
- Detail
- Integrated Grade 5 titanium bracelet
F77 Titanium Meteorite Open Heart
- Case
- Grade 5 titanium, 38 mm
- Thickness / lug to lug
- 11.6 mm / 46.2 mm
- Movement
- Soprod M100BV, 42 h
- Detail
- Balance wheel visible at 6 o'clock, sapphire caseback
F77 SST Meteorite MK2 41 mm
- Case
- 316L steel, 41 mm
- Thickness / lug to lug
- 12.05 mm / 50 mm
- Movement
- Soprod P024, date optional
- Detail
- Bracelet 24 mm at the case
F77 Black Ceramic Meteorite MK1
- Case
- Matte black ceramic, 37 mm
- Thickness / lug to lug
- 12.85 mm / 45 mm
- Movement
- Soprod P024, no date
- Detail
- Ceramic bracelet and caseback, darker dial, limited edition
All are water resistant to 10 ATM, or 100 m, with a double-domed sapphire crystal.
38 mm or 41 mm?
Meteorite and the other natural dials
Meteorite is one of several natural materials Nivada Grenchen uses for F77 dials. Aventurine, lapis lazuli, tiger eye and the stones of the 100 Years editions follow the same idea: every dial is different. See them all in the stone dial watches range.
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