Introducing
Nivada Grenchen "Antarctic V"
Circa 1960s
In the 1950s, the end of the World War brought about an age of peace and exploration. Man was emerging from the ghouls of military advancement, and channeled their efforts to furthering science for the benefit of mankind.
Somehow it meant climbing mountains and diving into waters.
And in this fight with the elements, the rich sought technology that could brave the harshest mother nature could throw at them, and that meant swiss-made watches.
This gave birth to the rise of the Rolex Explorer and the Jaeger-LeCoutre Geophysic, each marque seeking marketing and engineering glory atop various cliffs and wintery wilderness.
Once Swiss powerhouse Nivada's venture in to the fray was the Antarctic line of automatic watches. The wristwatches in the collection were delivered in a variety of case shapes, and made for very good conversation.
They faced some naming suit coming into the United States, so they were distributed with the help of the Croton Watch Company, and we sold in the States under the names Nivada Grenchen (after the watches' hometown), Croton Nivada, or Croton.
The dials were usually adorned with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9'O, with mountain-shaped hour indices resembling the very ice they were made to overcome.
These waterproof, anti-magnetic watches has had their day, until Seiko came along with the Astron and the quartz army.
The brand might have survived World War II, but the Quartz Crisis was another monster altogether.
It wiped Nivada out. And they are never again to be seen.
History aside, the dial on this offering is amazing. It took me all of 1 minute to ask for the price, and I didn't even bargain.
Trust me, it's worth it.
1960s Vintage Nivada Grenchen "Antarctic V"
Hour, minute and seconds hands
Textured cream patina dial
28mm stainless steel case
38mm lug-to-lug
20mm lug width
Swiss automatic movement at @ 18,800vph
Acrylic crystal
Aftermarket leather strap
Personal Collection
Historic reference: http://grail-watch.com/tag/nivada-grenchen/
