Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver 105/9989

Nivada Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver is the "all-rounder" from the 1960s and a very popular vintage chronograph powered by a reliable Valjoux movement.

The beginnings of the Nivada brand date back to the 19th century, when a family watchmaking workshop was founded in the small Swiss town of Grenchen. The chronograph offered here dates back to the 1960s. The Chronomaster is one of the most famous and successful models of the Nivada brand.

The so-called "do-it-all" chronograph was introduced in 1963 and had a really cool name: Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver. Whether on land, in the air or at sea, the Chronomaster was popular with a wide audience thanks to its versatility.

While you would expect a classic chronograph to have a tachymeter scale, the minute counter in the sub-register at 3 o'clock has an unusual countdown. The first 5 minutes are marked in red and arranged in reverse order, allowing the 5-minute countdown to be displayed before the start of a regatta. Not to be overlooked is the hour hand with its large arrowhead and tritium lume inside. But also the hands in the two sub-registers with their elegant leaf shape catch the eye of an attentive observer.

The rotating bezel features a 60-minute scale for displaying elapsed time and a second 0-12 scale for recording hours or setting the time from another world time zone.

On the wrist, the Chronomaster offers an understated killer look due to the cool combination of an all-black two-register dial and a black bezel. Thanks to its relatively flat profile, the 38 mm case has perfect proportions for a wrist.

Condition report
Dial: well preserved matte black finish - under a 10x loupe, spots are visible in the center of the dial, but barely visible to the naked eye - original tritium lume - matching greenish patina in the luminous material of the hands and markers - signed "T SWISS".

Case: worn but unpolished (sought-after condition by discerning collectors) - lugs with perfectly intact edges and bevels - natural wear marks - deep engravings on the back - excellently preserved rotating bezel without notable scratches - rotates smoothly in both directions - original crown and pushers.

Movement: manual wind caliber Valjoux 92 - timegrapher: rate: +8s/day, amplitude: 285, beat error: 0.6.

Summing-Up
Sporty design, robust movement, complicated dial with versatile features and of course rarity due to collectible condition make this vintage Nivada Chronomaster a special find for any collector of vintage chronographs.

Serial number: 79xxx

Int.Exe.: 12413