CHRONOMASTER ONLY The Super-Chronograph by Nivada & Croton

Grégoire Rossier Anthony Marquié l

CHRONOMASTER ONLY The Super-Chronograph by Nivada & Croton

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Introduction

CROTON NIVADA GRENCHEN

Five different badges

It is possible to distinguish five badges

Over the years CROTON’s activities ex-

among the Chronomaster models:

panded considerably as it accumulated a

•• NIVADA and NIVADA GRENCHEN

wide range of watch models under its name.

(with or without logo) for watches

In 1970, the company seemed to have

marketed by NIVADA SA outside the

changed its name, becoming CROTON

United States;

TIME CORPORATION INC.

•• NIVADA GRENCHEN, CROTON NIVADA GRENCHEN, CROTON, and CROTON 1878 (with or without logo) for watches sold by CROTON WATCH CO. INC. (later CROTON TIME CO. INC.) in the United States.

Photograph taken in August 1970 in front of the premises of the company henceforth known as CROTON TIME CORPORATION INC. Acknowledgement: The Croton Historical Society.

This change can be seen engraved on movements from that time on (see Part 2.

Main components, Chapter 2. Caliber, page 34).

It also appeared to coincide with the introduction of a new identification, CRO-

14

TON 1878, which emerged on the models

A New York retailer advertises a NIVADA GRENCHEN

in the collections of the time.

Chronomaster in the 1960s.

1 /1

It

should

be

noted

that

NIVADA

GRENCHEN watches sold in the United States seem to have been marketed by CROTON WATCH CO. INC. rather than directly by NIVADA SA. They are in fact given a reference code that is specific to CROTON (see Chapter 3.

Understanding the references of Chronomaster models, page 23).

Story’s end In the 1970s, the watch industry had to confront the quartz shock immediately after the oil crisis of 1973. It was a difficult time for the whole sector and proved fatal for some brands that lacked the means to fight off Asian competition.

Among them were NIVADA SA and CROTON TIME CO. INC., which failed to cope with the times and had to give up their businesses. The two brand names have changed hands several times since and still exist today, but they have nothing in common with their prestigious predecessors.

That is why it is impossible to find archives or any official information about models that came out before the end of the 1970s.

A NIVADA advertisement of 1966.

15

Main Components

Dial

The evolution of Chronomaster dials

This is a non-exhaustive overview for illustrative purposes.

60

2 /4

by NIVADA and CROTON

This is a non-exhaustive overview for illustrative purposes.

61

Main Components

Hands

Configuration B3. Painted Baton 2 / Lollipop 2 References examined • 85004/3730 (dials NIVADA GRENCHEN with logo)

Style

Hours

baton (1) white tritium

Minutes

baton (1) white tritium

Chrono. seconds lollipop type 2 Small hands

Color Luminescence

red

tritium

baton white –

Long tritium groove.

(1)

Configuration B4. Painted Baton 2 / Triangular References examined • 85004/4076 (dials NIVADA GRENCHEN with logo) and 0/4076 • 85017/4531 and 85017/5312

Style

Color Luminescence

Hours

baton (1) white (2) tritium

Minutes

baton (1) white (2) tritium

Chrono. seconds triangular red (3) – Small hands

baton

Long tritium groove.

(1)

(2)

Black on the E4 dial.

Orange on the C7 and C8 dials.

(3)

(4)

130

Black on the E3 dials.

white (4) –

2 /6

Configuration B5. Painted Baton 3 / Triangular References examined • 85017/4773

Style Color Luminescence

Hours

baton (1) white tritium

Minutes

baton (1) white tritium

Chrono. seconds

triangular red

Small hands

baton

–

white (2) –

Hours: short tritium groove; minutes: long tritium groove.

(1)

(2)

Black on the gray counters.

Configuration B6. Painted Baton 4 / Straight References examined • 105/903006 (4-figure s/n)

Style Color Luminescence

Hours

baton (1) white

tritium

Minutes

baton (1) white

tritium

Chrono. seconds

straight red –

Small hands

baton white –

Shorter tritium groove than on the previous models.

(1)

131

Models Venus 210 Caliber

CNG – CHRONOGRAPH High SWISS This entirely original example of the Chronomaster/Chronograph is in perfect condition.

The SWISS inscription in a higher position is what differentiates this model from the previous one.

Popularity

¬¬¬¬

1/2

Reference 105

(5-figure s/n + 5-figure s/n) Caliber

Venus 210 CROTON, NIVADA SA GRENCHEN

Caseband

1. 1st Generation

Dial

A5. CNG – CHRONOGRAPH High SWISS

(1)

Bezel

1. Pointed Top 4

Hands

A1. Large Broad Arrow / Metal

Crown

A2. 36 Teeth

Pushers

1. Small

Caseback

A4. SHOCKRESISTANT Small

(1

On this reference can be found the rare transitional dial type A4. CNG – CHRONOGRAPH Double SWISS, in which the second SWISS inscription is often invisible because it is situated too low beneath the minutes scale on the dial (see page 170).

172

Models Venus 210 Caliber

CNG – CHRONOGRAPH Aligned Ns The CROTON brand name was probably added to the dial as an afterthought. The type size of CROTON turns out to be slightly bigger than that of NIVADA GRENCHEN, and the letters N of CROTON and GRENCHEN are aligned.

Popularity

¬¬¬¬

1/2

Reference 105 / 8987

(5-figure s/n)

174

Caliber

Venus 210 CROTON, NIVADA SA GRENCHEN

Caseband

1. 1st Generation

Dial

A7. CNG – CHRONOGRAPH Aligned Ns

Bezel

1. Pointed Top 4

Hands

A1. Large Broad Arrow / Metal

Crown

A2. 36 Teeth

Pushers

1. Small

Caseback

A4. SHOCKRESISTANT Small

Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver: this singular name belongs to one of the most original professional watches of the 1960s, combining an unparalleled number of functions with a timeless design.

Created in 1961, this chronograph was produced for around ten years under several brand names, through a partnership between the Swiss company NIVADA SA and the American firm CROTON WATCH CO. This led to some of its dials bearing probably the most complicated name in watchmaking history: CROTON NIVADA GRENCHEN Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver.

Thanks to the authors’ trademark rigorous methodology, the signature of the “ONLY” reference works, this book reveals the incredible diversity of the Chronomaster models. It is intended both as an initiation for connoisseurs of exceptional watches and as a reference guide for collectors. This legendary watch will doubtless thus regain the place it deserves among the most desirable 1960s chronographs.

ISBN 978-2-940506-25-5