Nivada Grenchen CASD

NIVADA GRENCHEN, CHRONOMASTER, CHRONOGRAPH AVIATOR SEA DIVER (CASD), SECOND GENERATION, « FLOATING SWISS »

ICONEEK price: SOLD

Iconeek is very proud to introduce here a very fine, unusual and highly attractive, early, stainless steel vintage chronograph by Nivada Grenchen (NG): the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, aka C.A.S.D.

The first generation of the model was launched in 1961 and was designed to be a Super-Chronograph, combining the functions of two or three ordinary chronographs, for the time. The Croton advertising was stating « If you’re about to buy a watch why not make sure it’s a 1- stop watch, 2- time out stop watch, 3-doctor’s watch, 4- yachting timer, 5-tachometer, 6-aviator’s watch, 7-time zone watch, 8-skin diver’s watch, 9-regular watch, Why not make sure it’s the Chronomaster by Croton ». When the model was launched it was the most advanced and complicated chronograph available on the  market. Croton was the distributor of Nivada for the USA, raison why the present watch features a serial number starting with « 105 » like a Croton model.

The first models were powered by a caliber Venus 210. The dial was bearing the name « Chronograph » whereas the next generations were printed « Chronomaster ». Circa 1962/1963, the model was updated with the caliber Valjoux 92, such as the present watch, and shortly after the word « Chronograph » was replaced with « Chronomaster », such as the present watch. Our model, here, is from the first generation fitted with « Chronomaster » and from the second generation of the model equipped with the caliber Valjoux 92.

Under the hesalite glass, a first generation, matte black dial « Chronomaster » , with painted luminous Baton numerals, painted with dots at 12,  an outer tachymeter scale, without serif writing for the 7 of the 70,  luminous large steel broad arrow hour hand, luminous steel dauphine minute hand. Being from the first generation of « Chronomaster » dial, the present dial is fitted with a high Swiss or Floating « Swiss » indication at 6. The painted luminous indexes are not detached from the minute/second division. The 30-minute register at 3 is fitted with a 5-minute red section with radial Arabic numerals for the 5-minute countdown of Regatta race before starting.

The model comes with a three-body construction: a snap on bi-directionnal rotating bezel with both decompression time and 12 hour division, a polished stainless steel tonneau-shaped case with lapidated lugs, a screwed case back, round small chronograph pushers in the band, a screwed case back. The inner case back is engraved « NIVADA S.A GRENCHEN CROTON SWISS » and bears the case number « 9812 » and painted « 315 ».

The case back is engraved  outside « ALL STAINLESS STEEL – WATERPROOF – SHOCKRESISTANT » and reference-serial « 105-62944». The present bezel is correct for this early model, bearing a 7 without serif writing on the 12-hour division, flat top four 4 and elongated zero 0, for the 60-minute division, a total diameter of 38.5. The present model is fitted with a Second generation case, where the pierced lugs come slightly over the bezel. The Second generation of case is 1 mm. higher than the first one (designed for Venus 210).

Inside ticks a caliber Valjoux 92 (1950s-1960s), mechanical, hand wound, 17 jewels, rhodium-plated, engraved COW, with straight line lever escapement, shock-absorbers, two-arm monometallic balance with timing screws, self-compensating flat balance. The chronograph bridge is engraved « NIVADA SA GRENCHEN, CROTON, V34/A593 ». The « COW » engraving stands for the importation of the movements by Croton in the USA. Dial, case and movement are signed. The present model by Nivada is described and illustrated in Chronomaster Only, by Grégoire Rossier & Anthony Marquié, pages 180 & 181, Watchprint edition.

A collector !! in superb condition!

Condition: 9/10, in close to new old stock condition, some very light signs of wear in places, in working condition