Croton Aquamatic

Not every great timepiece is a known quantity from a marquee brand commanding lofty prices.

No, sir — sometimes an excellent watch flies well under the radar, delivering outsize value and a well earned sense of joyous discovery. This small Croton Aquamatic is one such watch: Featuring a 34mm chrome plated case with long lugs, an unsigned crown, and an acrylic crystal, it features a silvered dial with an outer printed minute track, luminous tritium plots, applied 'dart' and 'Arabic' indices, and a luminous 'alpha' handset with beautifully patinated tritium material. 

Powered by an automatic movement from ETA, this piece even comes with its correct box and hangtag. (Original price? $69.50!) For someone in the market for a full-set watch from the 1960s with beautiful looks and proportions — not to mention the convenience of automatic winding — this neat Croton is the perfect candidate.

The only issue? It's in such beautiful shape that you might find it tough to wear! 

Though many are likely unfamiliar with the particulars of its history, Nivada Grenchen — and by extension, its American distributor, Croton — forms a crucial part of the story of vintage watches. Entrepreneur Jacob Schneider founded the firm in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1926, while his son, Max, took over in 1976. In the United States, their watches were distributed under the Croton name to avoid a trademark dispute.

Early automatic watches in 1930 were followed in 1950 by the firm’s first waterproof model, called the Antarctic, which accompanied the U.S. Navy’s Deep Freeze 1 personnel on an expedition to Antarctica from 1955 to 1956. During this operation, led by Admiral Richard Byrd of the U.S. Navy, Americans first set foot on the South Pole. Further, Deep Freeze 1 cemented Nivada Grenchen’s/Croton’s reputation as a producer of watches for men of action and adventure.

1963 saw the launch of the Chronomaster, a chronograph christened on its dial with three words: “Chronomaster (or, sometimes “Chronograph”),” “Aviator,” and “Sea Diver.” This unique design was aimed squarely at the mid-20th century adventurer, and featured 200m of water resistance, plus a chronograph, a unique count-up dive bezel with additional 12-hour GMT scale, and a regatta countdown timer. (Certain versions also included a date window.)

Other innovative models followed, such as 1964’s Depthomatic, a dive watch with a manual depth gauge. Another timepiece, the Depthmaster, featured a water resistance rating of 1,000m and a quirky case shape that has been christened “the Baby Panerai” by modern collectors. (A certain rare version of this watch, dubbed the “Pac-Man,” is particularly sought-after.)

In what has become a familiar story, Nivada Grenchen folded in the 1980s, but has since relaunched to much fanfare, reissuing new versions of the Antarctic, the Depthmaster, and, most notably, the Chronomaster. (Certain versions have even been fitted with refurbished Valjoux hand-wound movements.) In a sea of modern brands cashing in on the cachet of long-defunct names, this is one example of a company doing vintage reissues right.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.