Naga Granturismo Chronograph 39 Dakar

A Serpent That Shines

February 26, 2026

by Anna Kubasik

I need to start with a confession: I'm becoming a bit of a Naga collector. I already own their green Naga 39 - my first from the brand and very sentimental to me. Then came the Opera 39 Lapis Lazuli with that stunning stone dial. And now? The Granturismo Chronograph 39 in Dakar.

When Naga announced they were adding a chronograph to their lineup, I was curious but also a bit cautious. Chronographs usually mean bigger, bulkier watches. Would this still feel like a Naga? Would it fit on my 14cm wrist? Would that signature snake-scale bracelet work with a sportier design?

The moment I saw the Dakar in person, those questions disappeared. This is a really beautiful looking chronograph. It's rich in detail but clean at the same time. There's this mix of different textures - the hands and indices have both lumed parts and polished parts that catch light beautifully. And here's what surprised me most: for a chronograph, it's actually quite small and wearable. It sits nicely on my wrist in a way I didn't expect.

Size and Proportions

The Granturismo Chronograph is 39mm, same as my other Nagas. But here's something interesting - because the dial is busier with those sub-dials, it actually feels like it wears a little bit smaller than the previous versions. The dial surface looks more compact somehow, even though the case dimensions are identical.

For a chronograph, 39mm is really the perfect size. It's large enough that you can read all those registers and sub-dials easily, but it's compact enough to maintain elegance on the wrist. It doesn't overwhelm. I was genuinely pleasantly surprised by how wearable it is - I was expecting something more substantial and maybe difficult to pull off on my smaller wrist.

The case is made from 316L stainless steel with that characteristic rounded-hexagonal shape that defines all Naga watches. It's not a perfect circle - it has these subtle angles that reinforce the snake-scale theme throughout the design. The finishing is exceptional, with mostly satin-brushed surfaces and highly polished chamfered edges that catch light beautifully.

What impressed me is that despite being a chronograph with pushers, Naga managed to achieve 100 meters of water resistance with a screw-down crown. The crown itself has that hexagonal shape echoing the case design, and it's signed with the Naga logo. This is a nice touch - it's not as obvious as one might think, because achieving good water resistance on a chronograph requires attention to detail with those pushers. It makes the watch more practical for daily wear.

The Dakar Dial

Naga offers the Granturismo in different variations inspired by motorsport venues - Monza, Le Mans, Millemiglia, and this Dakar edition named after the legendary off-road rally. The Dakar is perhaps the most eye-catching with its color scheme and finishing.

I need to be honest - I'm not personally very interested in rallies in general. Many chronographs are inspired by racing, so it's not unexpected. But what I do appreciate is how this inspiration translated into the color scheme. The combination of colors feels very me - it's lighter, shinier, and draws attention to the wrist. I actually think this particular version would speak more to women than some of the other Granturismo variants. It has this elegant, shiny quality that makes it feel special. At the same time, it's not a watch that looks feminine - it perfectly works with the whole "unisex" value of the Naga brand in general.

The dial layout is bi-compax with two sub-dials and a date window at 6 o'clock. Usually chronograph dials are quite busy, but this one keeps a nice balance. I really like it. A nice touch is that the sub-dials have this hexagonal texture characteristic to Naga - that snake-scale pattern. It's a nice attention to detail that ties everything together. Everything is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with a subtle dome that adds a touch of vintage character at the edges.

The hands and indices deserve special mention. They have this beautiful mixed finishing - part lumed, part polished - that creates visual interest and ensures legibility in all conditions. When the lights go down, this watch really shines. The lume is very generous, competing with dive watches in terms of brightness and longevity.

The Meca-Quartz Heart

Inside is a Seiko VK64 meca-quartz movement. I know some people have strong preferences about movements, but I genuinely appreciate all types - quartz and meca-quartz are real innovations that changed watch history.

Yes, some people will say watches lost their soul with quartz. But I think it's actually the way to allow more people to appreciate traditional analog watches. Many people wouldn't be bothered with a watch they need to wind regularly, that stops if you don't wear it for a few days, that needs servicing every few years. They want something they can just pick up, put on, and go. Thanks to movements like this, we still have a chance to make more people wear traditional watches instead of smartwatches.

The meca-quartz is particularly interesting because the chronograph complication - the main feature that attracts people to these watches - is mechanical. It operates like a mechanical chronograph. We have a sweeping seconds hand. We have that instant snap back to zero when you press reset. That's the charm of meca-quartz - you get the emotional satisfaction of mechanical operation with the practicality of quartz timekeeping.

I personally appreciate the practicality. I'm busy quite often, always chasing my own tail, but I like having a watch on my wrist to feel myself. So I appreciate having a couple of quartz or meca-quartz watches in my collection. This has become my main grab-and-go watch over the last couple of weeks. I just pick it up and go - I don't even have to check if it runs on time because it's quartz. It always runs on time.

Have I used the chronograph function? Yes, actually. Sometimes for beauty treatments where you need to time 1 or 2 minutes for a specific treatment. I know it sounds maybe silly, but I'm a woman, and these are real situations in my life. If you already have the watch on your wrist, it's perfect for that.

But honestly, I think for many people, the chronograph isn't about the function they'll actually use. It's about the historical importance, the beauty of the design. Chronographs are always interesting to look at, and that's what speaks to people. Naga really excelled in that regard here - they created a beautiful, well-designed chronograph that's a pleasure to wear whether you use the complication or not.

The Snake-Scale Bracelet

If you've read my other Naga reviews, you know about this bracelet. But for those who haven't - this is Naga's signature design element. The integrated snake-scale bracelet with its five-link pattern that really does look like serpent scales.

On the chronograph, it feels the same in terms of wearability and comfort. I was wondering if maybe there would be some mismatch - the bracelet is more artistic than sporty, and this is definitely a sportier watch. But actually, they complement each other beautifully. The contrast between the artistic bracelet and the sporty chronograph dial adds to this kind of elegant, shiny character that many people will appreciate.

The bracelet features alternating polished central links and brushed outer links, creating dynamic light play as you move. It tapers from 23.6mm at the lugs down to 18mm at the clasp, which reduces weight and keeps everything balanced. The way it articulates and drapes on the wrist is exceptional - it really does feel like a snake skin made of metal.

The clasp is a hidden butterfly deployant, beautifully finished with internal decorative patterns. Some people might mention that with this type of clasp, it's difficult to have on-the-fly adjustment. But I feel the ergonomics of this bracelet are so good - the individual parts are very small, so you can really adjust it precisely to your wrist in a way that's very comfortable. I don't feel it's a problem that it doesn't have micro-adjustment.

For sizing, Naga uses split pins instead of screw links. This isn't my absolute favorite system, but once you have a really cheap pin tool (like $5-20), it's very easy to adjust. I size all my bracelets myself, and this was straightforward. Even if someone doesn't want to do it themselves, any watchmaker will do it in 5 minutes.

Wearing It Daily

This watch has quickly become one of my most-worn pieces. Over the last couple of weeks, it's been my main go-to. The combination of comfort, size, and that grab-and-go convenience makes it perfect for daily life.

My Opera 39 Naga is more for evenings, especially with that stone dial that resembles a starry sky - it's like an evening watch. My green Naga is sentimental, my first from the brand, and I wear it when I want to have an automatic on my wrist and I have time to wind it and appreciate it.

But this Dakar? This is for when I'm rushing around, when I just need to throw on a watch and go. And it looks good doing it. A few days ago during kindergarten pick-up for my son, one of the dads asked me about the watch. I also feel people notice this watch on my wrist - maybe I'm imagining things, but I feel it's definitely eye-catching enough that it's actually possible. The shiny finishing, those sub-dials, that distinctive bracelet - it stands out.

The truth is, we don't really need watches anymore. We have phones for telling the time. But watches are about so much more than that. They're about horology history, the legacy of watchmaking, appreciation for complications and design as applied art. After so many years, so many designs, so many brands - and in the last couple of years, so many microbrands - there are still new things, new ways to approach chronographs. That's genuinely impressive.

I would rather focus on that appreciation than on pure usability. The Dakar works as a beautiful piece of design and engineering that happens to be very functional when you need it.

The Value Question

The Granturismo Chronograph is priced at €499, which is notably less than the Opera 39 at €849 or the original Naga 39 automatic at €790. I think this is Naga's way to speak to more people, to give options so everybody can enjoy this particular design.

Pricing in watches is so subjective. Yes, €790-850 for what you get with the Opera 39 stone dial versions or the original automatic is affordable for what it is. But for many people, it's still a lot for a watch. €499 is more attainable. Maybe people can more easily justify spending this amount for a watch they love, for a beautiful and functional chronograph with this particular design.

For someone who couldn't spend that much for the stone dial version or the automatic version, but wants a Naga with this distinctive design and that incredible bracelet - this is perfect. I think it was a brilliant move by Naga to expand their collection this way. It shows they're thinking about making their design language accessible to different people at different price points.

For this price, you're getting premium 316L stainless steel, true sapphire crystal, 100m of water resistance, that intricately finished snake-scale bracelet, generous lume, and a reliable movement. The meca-quartz might make some purists hesitate, but for many people it actually adds value - it's practical, accurate, and still delivers that mechanical chronograph feel.

Who Should Buy This

This watch is perfect for someone who loves the design of a chronograph but wants something practical and wearable. If you appreciate Italian design sensibility - that blend of style and substance - you'll love this. If you want a chronograph that doesn't overwhelm your wrist, that you can actually wear daily without thinking about it, this delivers.

It's also great for someone who wants to enter the Naga world at a more accessible price point. You get that signature snake-scale bracelet, that hexagonal case design, that distinctive character - but in a more affordable package.

I think this particular Dakar version would appeal especially to people who like a bit of shine and elegance in their sports watches. It's not a dark, brooding tool watch. It's bright, it catches light beautifully, it has personality. Women especially might gravitate toward this version because of that lighter, more elegant character, but it maintains that unisex appeal that Naga does so well.

What Surprised Me

The wearability genuinely surprised me. I was expecting a chronograph to feel more substantial, maybe too much for my smaller wrist. But the 39mm size with those proportions just works. It's comfortable, balanced, and never feels like too much watch on the wrist.

The way the busier dial actually makes the watch feel smaller on the wrist surprised me too. Normally you'd think more visual elements would make a watch feel larger, but somehow it creates the opposite effect here.

I was also surprised by how much I ended up wearing it. With my other Nagas being automatic, they require more intention - winding, checking accuracy, that whole ritual. This one just works. It's always ready, always accurate, always comfortable. That convenience is genuinely valuable in daily life.

What Stays With Me

After wearing the Naga Granturismo Chronograph Dakar, what stays with me is how Naga managed to keep their design identity while expanding into a completely different type of watch. The serpent theme, that incredible bracelet, the hexagonal details - it all feels cohesive with their other models, but this chronograph has its own personality.

I'll remember how it became my grab-and-go watch, how it fit so naturally into my daily routine. The way those polished and brushed surfaces play with light. The satisfying click of the chronograph pushers. That instant snap-back reset that always makes me smile.

But mostly, I'll remember how this watch proves that Naga isn't just doing one thing. They have a clear design language, but they're exploring it in different directions. The stone dial Opera is artistic and unique. This chronograph is practical and sporty but still elegant. Both are distinctly Naga, but they serve different purposes in a collection.

My Recommendation

If someone asks me "Should I buy the Naga Granturismo Chronograph Dakar?", here's my honest answer:

Yes, absolutely - if you want a practical, beautiful chronograph that doesn't compromise on design. If you appreciate meca-quartz for what it offers rather than seeing it as a compromise. If you want that distinctive Naga aesthetic in a more accessible package.

This is Naga showing they can do more than one thing well. It's them expanding their vision while staying true to their design DNA. For under €500, you're getting a watch that looks more expensive, wears comfortably, and brings genuine pleasure every time you put it on.

Having now owned three different Nagas, I can say this brand is doing something special. They're not trying to copy anyone. They're not chasing trends. They have a clear vision - that serpent mythology, that Italian design sensibility, that attention to finishing - and they're executing it across different types of watches.

The Granturismo Chronograph Dakar is proof that you can make a chronograph elegant and wearable. That you can blend sporty and dressy. That you can deliver quality and character at an accessible price point.

And for me personally? It's become my daily wearer, my reliable companion, my grab-and-go choice when I'm rushing out the door. That's maybe the best compliment I can give a watch - it's earned its place on my wrist through actual use, not just because it looks good in the watch box.

Specifications: