Nivada Grenchen was a household name in the mid-century as it manufactured watches of all kinds from the 1920s through the 1970s. No other model from its lineup embodied this do-it-all ethos as strongly as the Chronomaster, a true Swiss army knife of Swiss watches. Designed to be a chronograph, aviation tool, and dive watch all in one, the Chronomaster is considered one of Nivada Grenchen’s signature designs and was chosen as a core model in the brand’s 2018 relaunch.
The Chronomaster’s 316L stainless steel case is 38mm across, 46.5mm lug to lug, and 13.75mm thick providing 10 ATM of water resistance. The Lollipop model features a matte black bi-compax dial with a prominent red lollipop chronograph hand in the center, while the “Orange Boy” variant sports a bold wedged orange chronograph hand. On the edge of the dial is a tachymeter scale, which is paired with a no-click bi-directional dive bezel. The Chronomaster features 20mm lugs and can be configured with a variety of vintage-inspired leather straps, rubber tropic straps, and bracelets.
Powering the Chronomaster is the Sellita SW510 M BH B, a manually wound two-register chronograph movement with 63 hours of power reserve. It features running seconds at 9 o-clock, elapsed minutes at 3 o-clock, and a stopwatch seconds at center. The caseback is solid and brushed, while the front is protected by a double domed sapphire crystal.
- Case: 316L Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black Bi-Compax with Colored Accents
- Movement: Sellita SW5100 BH B
- Complications: Stopwatch with Elapsed Seconds and Minutes
- Lens: Double Domed Sapphire Glass
- Strap: Leather Strap, Racing Strap, and Various Bracelet Options
- Water Res.: 10 ATM
- Diameter: 38 mm
- Length: 46.5 mm
- Thickness: 13.75 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Ref Number: 86011M02
- Case: 316L Stainless Steel
- Dial: Black Bi-Compax with Colored Accents
- Movement: Sellita SW5100 BH B
- Complications: Stopwatch with Elapsed Seconds and Minutes
- Lens: Double Domed Sapphire Glass
- Strap: Leather Strap, Racing Strap, and Various Bracelet Options
- Water Res.: 10 ATM
- Diameter: 38 mm
- Length: 46.5 mm
- Thickness: 13.75 mm
- Lug Width: 20 mm
- Ref Number: 86012M04
Nivada Grenchen was founded in Grenchen, Switzerland, in 1926 by Jacob Schneider. The firm wasted no time innovating and was one of the first companies to manufacture automatic watches at scale. Known for its accessible and reliable watches, Nivada Grenchen first released the Aquamatic and Sea Blade watches for seafarers. In 1950, the Antarctic, which was based on the Aquamatic, became the brand’s first hit model. It was famously issued to the US Navy during Operation Deep Freeze to the South Pole in 1955 and 1956.
Taking things to the next level in 1961, Nivada Grenchen introduced the Chronomaster, a watch designed to do it all: chronograph, aviation watch, and dive watch. The Chronomaster would find great success throughout the following decade and was made in myriad configurations through the 1970s. The Depthmaster, another cult classic, followed in 1965. Rated to an astounding 1000m, it was a marvel of its time and was considered the world’s most waterproof watch.
The company changed hands in the 1980s and again in the 2000s as the quartz crisis disrupted the Swiss watchmaking industry. In 2018, Guillame Laidet and Remi Chabrat relaunched Nivada Grenchen in its home of Switzerland with three of its most iconic models – the Antarctic, Chronomaster, and Depthmaster. With faithful reissues, Nivada Grenchen has captured the hearts of collectors as it continues to build its current lineup.
