Sunday Morning Showdown: Serica 1174 Parade Vs. Echo/Neutra Rivanera

We know you’re probably reading this in your pajamas like you should on a Sunday morning. However, imagine you have an invitation to a more formal party during the coming Christmas holidays. Of course, you have to decide which watch you will wear. So, what if you had to choose between the Echo/Neutra Rivanera or the Serica 1174 Parade? These recent releases each provide a different take on where the design of modern dress watches is heading. But which one would you vote for?

Indeed, these two watches are quite different from each other. The Parade’s has a stainless steel case, while the Rivanera’s case is bead-blasted titanium. The Parade also has a self-winding movement, whereas you’ll need to wind the Rivanera by hand. In addition, their shapes are completely different. At the same time, they’re both modern and creative interpretations of a dress watch, and they even have the same €1,490 price. But before Daan and Thomas go head to head to convince you, let’s look at what happened in last week’s showdown.

Last week, on Sunday Morning Showdown…

A week ago, Jorg and Mike fought an ever-appropriate battle with two reasonably affordable divers. In the left corner, it was Jorg with the Seiko Prospex SPB483, and in the opposite corner, it was Mike defending the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80’s honor. Both watches offer some distinct features. For example, the SPB483 has a divisive octagonal bezel, and the Seastar has a vertically brushed gradient dial. In the comments, there was support for both sides. But while the Tissot Seastar offers a lot of bang for your buck, the Seiko SPB483 still went home with the victory. With its more original design, it was able to gather 60% of the votes, so it certainly wasn’t a landslide but still a clear win. Let’s see what happens during this week’s installment.

Daan: Serica 1174 Parade

Honestly, when Nacho sent me the first pictures of the newest Serica design when he was in Paris recently, I didn’t quite know how to react. And I still don’t exactly know what to think of its muscular case in combination with the decorated dial. However, what I do know is that the watch felt great on my wrist and that I thoroughly appreciate Serica’s original approach to designing a modern-day dress watch.

Yes, of course, its stadium-like shape reminds many of the Patek Philippe Ellipse. The same goes for the Echo/Neutra Rivanera, by the way, which seems almost like a Cartier Tank on steroids. However, in my eyes, both these watches also offer enough originality. I’ll let Thomas cover the greatness of the Echo/Neutra’s design, and I’ll focus on the Serica’s.

A familiar stadium

Let’s start with the Parade’s stadium-shaped case because that’s my favorite feature. As I said in my introduction article, at 41mm long and 35mm wide, it felt a bit big when I first held it in my hands. It also looked a lot more muscular than most dress watches out there due to its stepped case and wide bezel design. But as there are no lugs and the dial isn’t nearly as large as the case, the watch feels smaller on the wrist than it initially seems. In addition, it’s very comfortable as it’s rather svelte at 8.6mm thick.

But what I also find fascinating is how the Parade simultaneously seems rather different from and similar to Serica’s previous models. The shape and concept are, of course, rather novel for the brand, but with the vertically brushed bezel and the polished bevel around it, the 1174 Parade still feels quite familiar and reminiscent of the brand’s 6190 field watch. I appreciate how well the Parade fits Serica’s design language. It’s certainly not the sports watch we were used to, but it’s still very recognizable as a Serica.

I find it hard to say the same about Echo/Neutra’s Rivanera. This is also a brand that mainly offers sports watches. But if you had told me the Rivanera came from a different brand, I would’ve believed you. It’s so different from the rest of the company’s designs. Just take a look at the Rivanera next to the other Echo/Neutra watches, and you’ll see what I mean.

A very capable and practical dress watch

What I also appreciate about the Serica 1174 Parade is that it is almost just as capable and practical as the other watches in the brand’s portfolio. Most dress watches are fragile little things that you have to take off when doing the dishes. In addition, like the Echo/Neutra Rivanera, you have to wind them by hand almost every day. Well, that’s not the case with the Parade. I wouldn’t take it swimming on its supple black calfskin strap, but on a textile strap or steel mesh bracelet, I would thanks to the case’s 100m water resistance.

But the best part has to be its Soprod M100 automatic movement. No, its 42-hour power reserve isn’t all that impressive, but who cares when the rotor does the winding for you? All right, at 5.9mm thin, the Rivanera is slimmer, but as the Parade’s case back sinks in your wrist a little, it feels just as thin. Besides, at 8.6mm thick, is still by no means chunky, especially when that gets you a convenient automatic movement.

An impressive first iteration

Admittedly, I don’t think the Serica 1174 is perfect just yet. I’m not convinced about the dial design. The waves on the dial look a bit farfetched, and I think the polished and domed hands lack character. But this is just the first iteration of the Parade. Serica is known for optimizing its products along the way, for example, by improving the movements’ reliability and accuracy and slightly tweaking the watches’ designs. I’m hoping the same will happen with the Parade.

For me, the brass dial color and the tiny hour markers can stay; I like those. But instead of the waves, I would opt for lines in the shape of the case, just like the tracks in a stadium. I also think sharp dauphine hands would look much better. Besides, they’d match the style of the Broad Arrow hands on the other Serica watches. But even without those changes, I would choose the Parade over Echo/Neutra’s Rivanera. However, I know you wouldn’t, Thomas, so let us hear why.

Thomas: Echo/Neutra Rivanera

Thanks, Daan! This is probably the first time anyone ever said that the best thing about a watch is a Soprod caliber. I wholeheartedly disagree. In fact, to me, that is the worst part of the Serica Parade. Count me in camp hand-wound! And count me in camp ETA.

In fact, the old ETA 7001 caliber inside the Echo/Neutra isn’t just a proven workhorse, but it is also notably pretty for a workhorse. The neatly finished movement sits under a thin layer of sapphire, making it seem almost like a photo stuck to the back of the Rivanera. It looks very cool indeed. It also allows for a 5.9mm overall thickness. Now, the Parade isn’t exactly obese, but its shape makes it feel quite bulky on my wrist.

But the pretty case back is only the icing on the cake with the Rivanera. Turn it over, and you have a watch that looks like a 1930s Patek that died in an accident and was brought back to life in half-robot form. This is a Terminator dress watch. The aesthetic is truly unique, and it caught the entire Fratello team by surprise when we got our hands on it.

Rivanera versus Parade from a brand perspective

I have to agree with you about branding, Daan. Serica is extremely good at building an image and a very specific vibe around its watches. The style speaks to me, as it does to you. Hate it or love it, at least it is something distinct and recognizable. Indeed, the Parade sits perfectly within that brand as a logical new extension of it.

The Echo/Neutra Rivanera, not so much. I feel the brand started with a clear style, which I would describe as tactical, embellished Bauhaus. This is why I never really clicked with the brand because Bauhaus, by definition, is not embellished. The mixture never quite worked in my eyes. The company later branched out into different styles, now ending up with the Rivanera. I share your sentiment that it does not feel at home with the brand. Scrolling the homepage, I see the Rivanera and then the Cristallo. I see no shared DNA there. I also share your feeling that Serica makes its watches feel a little more desirable.

However, I hope this is Echo/Neutra’s new direction. It can take a little time for a brand to find its true north. I hope that this is it and that we’ll see more of it soon. I see much more distinctive power in this design language than in the brand’s other lines.

Rivanera over Parade

I want to like the Parade, Daan; I truly do. However, the design does not quite sing to me. I completely agree with your notions that a different handset and different dial striping would massively improve it. So, why do I still want to like it when I don’t? I guess this is because it is such a brave new direction and a daring design. Maybe it is because it is so close to what I like, but it just misses the mark for me. Maybe it is because the Serica brand resonates with me.

The Rivanera is less daring, for sure. A more traditional basic shape makes it easier on the eye. Make the case sterling silver and the dial eggshell white, and it could simply be a 1930s watch. The stealth treatment makes it stand out. The bead-blasted titanium and ominous dark dials look so out of place in this style, yet they magically work.

This makes the Rivanera stylistically flexible too. It works as a dress watch, but it does not shy away from a denim or other casual pairing either. I am not exaggerating when I say that this watch is perfect for me. I would not change a thing about it. This is one cool-looking watch and it is very well made to boot.

Cast your vote!

There you have it! Two capable, non-round dress watches at the same price. Which would be your pick? Cast your vote, and share your motivations in the comments section below!