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This Classic Affordable Royal Oak Alternative Just Revealed Its Stunning Swan Song

The F77 Mark I is going out in style.

Close-up of a silver metal wristwatch with a textured green dial and a crown engraved with an "N" on a black background.Nivada Grenchen
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By Brad Lanphear

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Earlier this year, Nivada Grench released a new generation of its integrated steel sports watch revival, the F77 Mark II.

With a thinner case and sleeker dial, it is a noticeable improvement over the original. But the F77 Mark I isn’t going away quietly.

Silver stainless steel wristwatch with a textured green marble dial and silver hour markers.
The F77 Mark I is departing with a set of three stone dials, including the aventurine pictured above.
Nivada Grenchen

Nivada Grenchen is sending the first generation of its resurrected 1970s sports watch out on top, with a set of three stone dials placed in four references. One of the stones is repeated in a two-tone gold and steel case dripping with disco-era swagger.

Stone dials are one of the hottest watch trends of 2025, but they are still stunning when appropriately executed, and the F77 is an ideal fit. Integrated steel sports watches and ornate cut-rock dials are twin staples of 1970s horology.

Silver stainless steel wristwatch with green textured dial and metal bracelet worn on a wrist.
The F77 Mark I has a 37mm case.
Nivada Grenchen

The F77 Mark I and precious stone dial plates go together like peanut butter and jelly. Nivada used them during the watch’s original run, starting in 1977, and again in 2024 with the revival.

Two of the stones selected for the F77 Mark I’s last hurrah are obvious choices that appear all over the watch market for good reason, and the third is carried over from the previous run of stone dials.

Going out like a rock star

Green malachite and orange tiger eye are two of the most commonly selected stones for watch dials because of their vibrant colors and rich textures. The F77 Mark I presents both stones in retro splendor.

Silver stainless steel wristwatch with a brown tiger's eye dial and bold hour markers.
The F77 Mark I uses orange tiger eye.
Nivada Grenchen

The third stone chosen is less common and my favorite in the release. Green aventurine is slightly translucent, allowing light to bounce in and out of the rock, creating dense textures and a brilliant shimmer. It almost resembles a shallow stream of green water flowing over the dial, which has been frozen in place.

Nivada Grenchen used aventurine, along with lapis lazuli and meteorite, in its 2024 collection of F77 Mark I stone dials. The results were too good not to bring it back one more time.

Silver metal wristwatch with a textured green dial and bold silver hour markers on a black background.
The green aventurine dial stands out from the commonly used malachite and tiger eye dials.
Nivada Grenchen

Everything else about the watch remains unchanged. It still has an octagonal fixed bezel with exposed screws placed at each corner. The angular 37mm case is finished with vertical brushing on top and smooth polish on the sides.

It comes on a tapered three-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp. The bracelet is removable with end-links, but other strap options are sold separately.

Its the eye of the tiger

As much as I adore the aventurine dial, the most unique reference in the F77 Mark I’s final drop is the Tiger Eye Bicolor, which has a steel and gold-tone case and bracelet.

Two-tone silver and gold wristwatch with a brown wood-textured dial worn on a wrist.
The F77 Tiger Eye Bicolor Mark I is the most retro option in the series.
Nivada Grenchen

The bezel, crown and bracelet center links are gilded and finished with the same vertical brushing as the case. The theme carries over to the dial, where the baton hands, baton hour markers, applied brand logo and “F77/Automatic” are also gilded.

Nivada Grenchen stuck with the same movement that has powered the F77 revival from the beginning, a Soprod caliber P024 automatic with a 38-hour power reserve and a 4Hz beat rate.

Stainless steel wristwatch with a green malachite-patterned dial and silver hour markers and hands.
The F77 Mark I with a malachite dial.
Nivada Grenchen

Nivada Grenchen picked the perfect way to send off one of the best affordable Royal Oak alternatives on the market for the past couple of years. I’m excited to see where the brand goes with the F77 Mark II, but if you’re a fan of 1970s watch design, you should pick up the Mark I while you still can.

Availability and price

The Nivada Grenchen F77 Mark I stone dial series is available now from Nivada Grenchen for $1,560, including the two-tone reference.

The Swiss brand keeps a stock in the USA, so American shoppers do not have to pay import duties, only local sales tax on purchases.

Each of the four references is limited to 75 pieces, and once that stock is sold out, the F77 Mark I is gone for good.

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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