1970's Nivada Grenchen Chronograph Panda Dial

It is an easy thing to forget that just a few short decades ago, the world was a much smaller place. In the years following World War II, mankind was still exploring the far reaches of our planet in earnest. There were mountains to climb, depths to explore, islands to discover - hell, we had barely explored the arctic regions or colonized New Jersey. It's pretty amazing to think that there was still something new to see that hadn't already been seen by human eyes, and that just couldn't be pulled up on the internets.

This is a major reason why we're so fascinated with objects from the past. They hearken back to an era where the world was still there to be explored, discoveries to be made, and glories to be achieved on the cover of National Geographic. Of course we have a soft spot for tool watches for this very reason: these were the objects that literally made so many of these exploits possible: from timing a dive to timing the burn in an Apollo Capsule, these were the instruments of explorers: so important then yet entirely obsolete today.

In the 1960s and 1970s, there were a multitude of small companies producing pretty heavy duty timepieces for explorers, divers and aviators that just don't exist today. Nivada Grenchen is one such example. Killed off by the quartz crisis at the end of the 1970s, Nivada's historical models don't even register on the radar of the elitist collector, but hold a special place in our hearts just for being purpose built tools with a sense of adventure and exploration at their very core: not for marketing, but for real.

This piece is a super cool triple register chronograph with a killer Panda Dial layout, suspended inner Tachymetre ring, and bakelite bezel insert. Featuring Valjoux internals and a bomber steel case, this was the watch you would have taken into the field if you were the ultimate in badassery, circa 1970.

Circa: 1970's

Hands/dial: Tritium

Bracelet: Brown Leather Strap

Case: 43.5mm x 17mm Thickness - Stainless Steel

Lug Width: 19mm

Movement: Valjoux 7786 - Manual

Functions: HMS, Chronograph

Box and Papers: No box or papers - watch only

Crystal: Acrylic

Bracelet size: 7.5"

Case has light normal micro wear, with nothing notable. Strap is in normal used condition. Dial has light spotting with lume intact. Hand lume is intact with light wear. Bezel has minimal wear for being a bakelite bezel. Runs great at (+10 s/d 290 amp)

Nivada Grenchen, established in 1926 in Grenchen, Switzerland, quickly became renowned for its rugged tool watches that pushed the boundaries of horological innovation. The brand solidified its reputation with the introduction of the Antarctic in 1950, the first waterproof automatic watch. This timepiece gained fame when it accompanied members of the U.S. Navy's Operation Deep Freeze I during their South Pole expedition from 1955 to 1956.



In 1961, Nivada Grenchen launched the Chronomaster, a versatile waterproof chronograph designed for aviators, divers, and sports enthusiasts. The company continued its innovative streak with the release of the Depthomatic in 1964, the first diver's watch featuring a depth indicator, followed by the Depthmaster in 1965, capable of withstanding pressures up to 1,000 meters.

After a period of dormancy, Nivada Grenchen experienced a rebirth in 2018, reintroducing two of its most iconic models—the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver and the Antarctic—at the forefront of its revival. The relaunch paved the way for the brand’s enduring appeal among modern watch enthusiasts while honoring its storied heritage.