Grégoire Rossier Anthony Marquié l
CHRONOMASTER ONLY The Super-Chronograph by Nivada & Croton
watchprint com publications on jewelry and watches
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.