Nivada Grenchen has made chronographs in Grenchen since the 1960s, when the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver was built for pilots and divers. Today's collection continues those designs in 38 and 41 mm steel cases, with sapphire crystals and three types of movement: automatic, hand-wound and meca-quartz.
Three ways to power a chronograph
- Automatic: the Chronomaster 41 mm runs on the Landeron 72 automatic chronograph, in panda, tropical or broad arrow dials. The Autochron 38 mm uses the Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph with date and is water resistant to 200 m.
- Hand-wound: the Chronomaster 38 mm with interchangeable bezel uses the Landeron 70, wound by hand, with about 45 hours of power reserve. The Reverse Panda carries a Valjoux 23, one of the classic Swiss column-wheel chronograph calibres.
- Meca-quartz: quartz keeps the time and a mechanical module runs the chronograph, so the seconds hand sweeps and resets with a snap. Find it in the Autochron (VK67, with date), the Chronoking racing chronographs (VK63) and the F77 Chrono on its integrated bracelet (VK64).
Which size of chronograph?
Most Nivada chronographs measure 38 mm, close to the proportions of the 1960s originals, and suit most wrists. The Chronomaster 41 mm is for larger wrists or for a more present dial. Every product page has a size guide with the full dimensions.
For three-hand automatics, see our Swiss automatic watches.
Chronograph FAQ
What is a chronograph watch?
A chronograph is a watch with a built-in stopwatch. The pushers start, stop and reset a central seconds hand, and the sub-dials count the elapsed minutes, and on some models the hours.
Automatic, hand-wound or meca-quartz: which one to choose?
An automatic winds itself as you wear it. A hand-wound chronograph is wound through the crown and lets you watch the movement work. A meca-quartz is the most practical: it keeps quartz accuracy and needs no winding, while the chronograph keeps a mechanical feel.
What is a panda dial?
A panda dial is a light dial with dark sub-dials. A reverse panda is the opposite: a dark dial with light sub-dials. See all our panda dial chronographs.
What is a meca-quartz chronograph?
A meca-quartz is a hybrid movement: a quartz module keeps the time and a mechanical module drives the chronograph. Read what is a meca-quartz chronograph or see all our meca-quartz chronographs.
Can I change the bezel?
Yes, on the Chronomaster InterBezel and Chronoking models. The bezel is swapped by hand in a few seconds, without tools, and each watch comes with five bezels. See our interchangeable bezel watches.
