Let's Talk About Nivada Grenchen/Croton
Nivada/Nivada Grenchen/Croton - Is it Nivada, Nivada Grenchen or Croton? Yes - depending on location and year of issue. Founded in 1926 in Grenchen, Switzerland a famous watchmaking home to brands such as Breitling, Certina, Eterna, Fortis and movement makers ETA and A Schild. Founded by Otto Wullimann, Hermand Schlindler, and Jacob Schneider the brand was very similar to other Swiss brands of its time developing dress watches, sports watches and chronographs. Movements were sourced from the major Swiss ebauche producers such as A Schild, ETA, Landeron, Valjoux and Venus. Nivada entered into a partnership with NY-based Croton Watch Company in 1939 for US distribution. This was due to Movado taking successful legal action against Nivada using its name in the US market - as sounding too similar to Movado (surprising but true). So the same models branded Nivada or Nivada Grenchen in Europe were branded Croton in the US. This has led to much confusion for collectors between the models labeled Nivada, Nivada Grenchen, Croton, Croton Nivada, and Croton Nivada Grenchen. Nivada's peak production was in the 1960s and its most famous model released in 1963 was the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, previously Nivada's most popular model was the Antarctic dive watch in the 1950s. Another company brought to its knees by the quartz crisis of the 1970s, the brand has now been revived to its former glory when in 2018, under new ownership, it released the revival of the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, then in 2020 the Antarctic, and subsequently in 2021 the Depthmaster ans 2022 the Datomaster. These new models stay very true to the original designs and functions of the historical models.
A great article from Fratello can be found here: A Brief History Of Time: Nivada Grenchen's Complete Brand History
Here are some vintage and modern examples from my collection:
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1960s) ref. 85004 Movement: Manual Valjoux 23 Case size: 38mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1960s) ref. 85001 Movement: Manual Valjoux 92 Case size: 38mm Condition: Vintage NOS including original vintage black Tropic rubber strap
Nivada Chronoking / Chronomaster (1970) ref. 85017/4773 Movement: Manual Valjoux 23 Case size: 38mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (2020) ref. 86001A04 Movement: Automatic Sellita SW510 BH B Case size: 38.3mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (2021) ref. 86012M Movement: Manual Sellita SW510 M BH B Case size: 38.3mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (2020) ref. 860011WM01 Movement: Manual Sellita SW510 M BH B Case size: 38.3mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Paul Newman "Panda" (2021) Movement: Manual Valjoux 23 VZ (NOS vintage Valjoux movement) Case size: 38mm
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Valjoux 23 "Big Eye" (2021) ref. 85006 Tribute Movement: Manual Valjoux 23 VZ (NOS vintage Valjoux movement) Case size: 38mm
Nivada Grenchen Datomaster Mecaquartz (2022) ref. 88001Q04 Movement: Mecaquartz Seiko VK64 Case size: 36mm
The definitive book on the Nivada/Nivada Grenchen/Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver models:
Croton 1878 Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1969) ref. 107-37198 Movement: Manual Landeron 248 Case size: 38mm Condition: Very good - all original including original box & papers and original tropic rubber strap
Croton Super Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1960s) ref. 105-63072 Movement: Manual Valjoux 23 Case size: 38mm Condition: Very good - all original except replacement strap includes original box
Croton 1878 Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1978) ref. 105B-953022 Movement: Manual Valjoux 7733 Case size: 38mm
Croton Super Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (1970s) ref. 106-903011 Movement: Manual Landeron 248 Case size: 38mm
Croton 1878 Computer Tachymetre Chronograph (1970s) ref. 95012-103 Movement: Manual Valjoux 7733 Case size: 36mm
Croton Chronograph (1970s) ref. 29959 / 903009 109A Movement: Manual Case size: 36mm Condition: Very good - all original with original bracelet
I really like chronographs especially vintage ones.
Needing an Antarctic, it’s been on the radar for a while.
Wow! What a collection!
I found this review to be a lot of fun. Hope you do too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZYMm7mTmgg
Wow! What a collection!
I found this review to be a lot of fun. Hope you do too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZYMm7mTmgg
Yes - I really enjoy IDGuy's videos and he has done a really nice job on the Nivada Grenchen reissues. There are also some other good videos on YT recently as NG seems to be spending more money promoting the brand in media.
Great reference and photos. A Chronoking is on my short list
What a collection! congratulations!
could you please tell me, if the Chronoking is also featured in the book?
What a collection! congratulations!
could you please tell me, if the Chronoking is also featured in the book?
Thank you!
Yes - the ref. 85017/4773 is featured on pages 92/93. There is also an index in the front which shows all of the references featured in the book.
This book is truly the most comprehensive, important and essential reference if you plan to collect Nivada Grenchen/Croton Chronomasters.
BTW - I was just reading James Michener's novel Caribbean and in it he discusses the famous plant of the Caribbean islands the "Croton" - who new they named the brand after the plant.
Thank you!
Yes - the ref. 85017/4773 is featured on pages 92/93. There is also an index in the front which shows all of the references featured in the book.
This book is truly the most comprehensive, important and essential reference if you plan to collect Nivada Grenchen/Croton Chronomasters.
Thank you for your detailed reply. I really appreciate it! However what I meant with Chronokin, was the reference 87033. The one with the date at 12. It is not listed in the picture you took from the index, so I guess it is not in the book. after all it is called “Chronomaster only” 😜
Thank you for your detailed reply. I really appreciate it! However what I meant with Chronokin, was the reference 87033. The one with the date at 12. It is not listed in the picture you took from the index, so I guess it is not in the book. after all it is called “Chronomaster only” 😜
Wow! I had not seen that variety before. Just went over to the Nivada Grenchen web site and saw that they had reissued the Chronoking 87033. I looked again through the book and could not find a reference for the 87033 in the book. Sounds like a part two is needed. Thanks again!
Revival! So has anyone any experience with the flat link bracelet offered with the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver? Can anyone compare to thr BoR?
I'm particularly interested in the manual wind version of this watch.
Thanks!
Revival! So has anyone any experience with the flat link bracelet offered with the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver? Can anyone compare to thr BoR?
I'm particularly interested in the manual wind version of this watch.
Thanks!
Yes - I have one, but it's still in its box as I have not decided to use it yet.
Forstner makes excellent bracelets and they also make the BOR bracelets for NG. I do have several of the BOR bracelets and they are fantastic.
It's a matter of preference - so whichever look suits you best - that's what you should go with.
The manual Sellita movements are also really well made and I have had no issues with any of the ones I've purchased - same for the automatics.
You can't go wrong with any of NG's watches - they have done a fantastic job on the revival of the different classic references.
Yes - I have one, but it's still in its box as I have not decided to use it yet.
Forstner makes excellent bracelets and they also make the BOR bracelets for NG. I do have several of the BOR bracelets and they are fantastic.
It's a matter of preference - so whichever look suits you best - that's what you should go with.
The manual Sellita movements are also really well made and I have had no issues with any of the ones I've purchased - same for the automatics.
You can't go wrong with any of NG's watches - they have done a fantastic job on the revival of the different classic references.
Yeah I am really considering it for the next watch.
Why have you not yet tried the bracelet?
Yeah I am really considering it for the next watch.
Why have you not yet tried the bracelet?
Just haven't got around to swapping out bracelets to try it out. I find swapping out bracelets that don't have quick release spring bars is a real pain in the a$$ - you have to use the tool with the two spring bar release and carefully execute so as not to scratch anything.
I'll get around to it on a day when I am relaxed and willing to be frustrated - sometimes you nail it on the first attempt and sometimes it takes a few goes. About as much fun as adjusting a bracelet with pin and collar systems (yes you Zodiac and Seiko).
Sadly these only have WR of 100M but that's definitely better than 30M or 50M. I think with a case thickness of only around 13mm, you are not likely to get much more than 100M or 150M. My guess it was the challenge of keeping the watch slim versus the WR rating. Similar to the way Oris has built the Divers Sixty-Five.
I believe the dials are both based on vintage dials, but I haven't pulled the sources on them so now you have given me a new project to research. The Panda dial was described as "Paul Newman" tribute and the "Big Eye" dial was described as reference 85006 tribute.
Here is an image of the vintage 85006 (not in my collection sadly)...
So you can see it's a pretty decent tribute to the original which was also used as a Yachtimer.
The movements are vintage Valjoux 23 VZ NOS and work beautifully. The 38mm case size puts them squarely in the vintage category as the originals are all 38mm.
Hope that helps. I'll update if I can find more about the Panda dial.
Oh I forgot to mention that Singer was the dial company that made the original dials for Rolex and a number of other brands. They are known for the way that they have patinated over the years due to the manufacturing. That's how you end up with those "desirable" chocolate dials that have deteriorated from the black that was used by Singer. Here is a good link for more info:
https://www.fhs.swiss/eng/2016_05_19_01_Jean_Singer.html
Found it...with Croton branding instead of Nivada...probably exists with the Nivada branding...I'll have to keep looking...
Manufacturer: CROTON
Model: CASD "Panda"
Reference: 105 / 9839
Year: 1960s
But this one had the Valjoux 92 instead of a Valjoux 23.
Would like to know you find the bezel action on the Chronomaster. I know it's non-clicking, so wondering how well it stays in position as you wear it? Thanks