CROTON NIVADA GRENCHEN – is in fact the result of a business deal between two companies: NIVADA SA, A Swiss company, and the Amerian company CROTON WATCH CO. INC.

Nivada SA is a watch company that was founded in the town of Grenchen, Switzerland in 1926. It was founded by Otto Wullimann, Hernan Schindler, and Jakob Schneider under the name “Wulliman, Schneider, Nivada SA.” Jacob Schneider’s son, Max, took over from his father and was still running the company on its 50th birthday in 1976. In the first 50 years of the company, Nivada developed a wide range of watches, having decided to case up calibers supplied by various Swiss movement manufacturers.

In 1930, Nivada was one of the first companies to manufacture automatic watches. This led to the creation of Nivada Grenchen’s first waterproof automatic watch called the Antarctic in 1950. The watch was worn by the members of the American Navy’s Deep Freeze 1 during their expedition to the South Pole from 1955 to 1956.

Nivada was also notably present at the 1939 Swiss National Exhibition in Zurich. Over the years, Nivada offered several watches of a professional nature in its collection, namely models with specifications that go beyond the simple indication of the time.

Croton, an American company founded in New York in 1878 by Jacob Horton to do business in the watch and jewelry trade. Managed by the founder’s son, Harold I. Horton – an American watchmaker trained in Switzerland, the company assumed the name of Croton Watch Co. INC. in 1928 when they decided to branch out into assembling watches from Swiss and American components.

The first signs of cooperation between the Nivada and Croton companies date from 1939 at the New York World’s Fair. In the United States, Croton was the distributor for Nivada products, so many were sold under the 'Croton Nivada', 'Croton Nivada Grenchen', and simply 'Croton' names.

The Super-Chronograph/Chronomaster by Nivada & Croton

A watch for all time – Nivada Grenchen CHRONOMASTER

“The Chronomaster is a super-chronograph.” “Just telling time isn’t enough. No for someone who takes time seriously. He has to measure it too. And the Chronomaster performs every timing function known to ma. Down to 660ft. underwater. It is a stop watch for athletes, doctors, photographers. Solves time-zone riddles for travelers. Calculated speed. Even gives yachtsmenthe 5-minute warning signal.”

CROTON NIVADA GRENCHEN
CHRONOGRAPH AVIATOR SEA DIVER
Swiss Made Chronomaster Wristwatch

Today we have the honor to present what was the best endowed chronograph watch in the market in the 1960s. A magnificent example of a first generation Chronomaster/Chronograph. This is a vintage Croton Nivada Grenchen Chronograph Aviator Sea Diver wristwatch also known as the super-chronograph or chronomaster. From the first generation and marketed by Croton, reference 105-18478.

This chronomaster model was launched in 1961, probably intended for the United States and advertised as THE WORLD’S BUSIEST WATCH – HAS MORE USES THAN EVER COUNTED.

This super-chronograph watch was for sure quite revolutionary at the time, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that this Chronomaster model manages to combine:

*stop watch (chronograph),
*time out stop watch,
*doctor’s watch,
*yachting timer,
*tachymeter scale,
*aviator’s watch,
*second time zone (on the bezel),
*skin diver’s watch,
*rotating bezel for diving,
*200m water resistant and
*regular watch.

The only watch to combine all these features in 1961. This model met everything that the market wanted at the time and epitomized the professional sports watch. This model also won considerable popularity in the United States where it seems to have been sold the most.

Imported to the United States by Croton, this is a manual-wind chronograph watch powered by a high-quality movement caliber Venus 210 and signed by Croton Nivada SA Grenchen. 17 jewels, sub-second at 9 o’clock, chronograph: central 60 seconds, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. 18,000 A/h, 40 hours power reserve, Swiss made.

It still features the original black dial with the two sub-dials: sub-second and 30- minute counter, one of which features a red colored section (the so-called yachting countdown sector covering the first 5 minute of the counter). Painted hour markers, a tachymeter scale around the minute scale. Large broad arrow metal hands. The dial is also signed “Croton Nivada Grenchen Chronograph Aviator Sea diver.”

All the hands are original with the possibly exception of the left sub-second-hand that in fact was used by Croton Nivada Grenchen in future generations of this watch.

Cased in a 38.5mm round all stainless-steel case and the wide rotating bezel with black aluminum inset and twin scales. Original teeth crown and small pushers. 200m waterproof and shockresistant. It comes on a new-old-stock brown Technos two-piece strap.

This watch is also coming with the “Chronomaster Only The Super-Chronograph by Nivada & Croton” book by Gregoire Rossier and Anthony Marquie.

This watch is still in very good condition! Runs very well and keep great time!

Thank you for looking! Please feel free to contact us with any questions or respectful offers.

Movement:
V34 A593
CROTON
NIVADA SA GRENCHEN
Seventeen 17 Jewels
Venus 210
Swiss
Unadjusted
COW

Case Back Marks:
ALL STAINLESS STEEL
WATERPROOF
SHOCKRESISTANT
105 - 18478

Nivada SA Grenchen
Croton
Swiss
39421

Measurements (mm):
Case Diameter 38.5
Case with Crown 41.5
Case Lug to Lug 44.7
Case Thickness 12
Lug Width 20
Band Width 20

Vintage watches are traditionally smaller than today's watches. Men’s watches typically measure between 29-36mm wide (some larger, some smaller) excluding the crown. In the listing details we typically try to do our best to list all pertinent dimensions of a watch. If you don't see it, or we failed to do so, please reach out to us. Women’s watches from the 1900s-1970s were also much smaller than today's offerings. Please also feel free to ask any questions you have pertaining to size.

We prefer to shoot photographs outside when weather is permitting. However, when we shoot indoors, please be aware that we shoot our photographs inside of lightboxes that are lit with 360 LED bulbs. This indeed magnifies any flaws. Usually, they are much less obvious to the naked eye. Having said that, we never photoshop any of our photography, remove blemishes, etc. We adjust lighting when necessary, but what you see is what you are getting, and we take pride in that.

The condition is pre-owned.
The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear but is fully operational and functions as intended.
Please review the photos and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

It will be carefully packed.

Please view our other listings.
Thank you for looking!

WA-3597