Nivada Grenchen Aquamar Diver

Among the vast world of vintage timepieces, there is no doubt that vintage dive watches hold a special place in the hearts of many collectors, ourselves included. With their simple, clean designs and reliable, robust movements, the tool watches of the 1960s and 1970s were built to accompany the adventurer across the globe and to keep time at its great heights as well as its dark depths.

Nivada (or Nivada Grenchen) should be a familiar name to vintage watch collectors. Their sporty diver's chronograph, the Chronomaster (or sometimes the Chronoking) Aviator Sea Diver, has been gaining well-deserved traction on the vintage chronograph circuit. But in the 1960s the brand was also a trailblazer in the realm of dive watches, producing handsome examples such as this handsome and simple skin diver, the Aquamar.

While there are myriad executions of this simple diver, this particular example is a late '60s or 1970s cushion-cased variant. Measuring 35mm and with an outer plating, it features short, integrated lugs; an unsigned crown; a cool bi-color bezel insert with an elapsed time scale in silver and blue; and an acrylic crystal. Its grey sector dial is pure midcentury fun: With an outer minute track in white; prominent orange indices; a luminous white 'baton' handset with an orange sweep seconds hand; and a 3 o'clock date window, this highly legible diver is ready for everyday wear.

Powered by a Swiss-made, hand-wound movement and paired to one of our Analog:Shift straps, this Aquamar is more than just a vintage watch — rather, it's a conversation piece and a historical artifact from a wonderful era in industrial design. And while Nivada-Grenchen makes a reissued Aquamar, why not spring for the real McCoy?

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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.