AUTOCHRON
Collection
AUTOCHRON
Collection
Collection
AUTOCHRON COLLECTION
Autochron: From Forgotten Prototype to Modern Revival
The Vintage Autochron: A Prototype That Never Reached Production The Nivada Grenchen Autochron is one of the most mysterious and intriguing watches in the brand’s history. Unlike its more famous siblings, the Chronomaster and Depthmaster, the Autochron never entered full-scale production. Instead, it remained a prototype, with only about 20 known examples produced in the late 1970s, making it an exceptionally rare collector’s piece today. Designed as a multi-sport Autochron, the Autochron was intended to be a versatile timing instrument that could cater to both racing and diving enthusiasts. It featured an unconventional dial layout, a rotating bezel, and a date function, making it one of the more experimental designs in the world of sports watches. However, despite its promising features, the model was never released to the public, remaining an obscure piece of Nivada Grenchen’s heritage—until now.
Jean Singer Dial design
Another notable element is the origin of its dial, designed by Jean Singer at the time, one of the largest dial manufacturers in Switzerland. His exotic creations, such as the Rolex Daytona and the Heuer Skipper, are among the most sought-after in the watchmaking world. The Autochron integrates these successful elements with a unique style that is sure to appeal to savvy collectors.
Singer, a Legendary Dial Maker – A company known for crafting some of the most iconic dials in Swiss watchmaking, including designs for major brands.
Unique Typeface and Subdial Styling – The Autochron subdial numerals and markers were characteristic of Singer’s signature style.
Precision Printing and Layout – Ensuring high legibility and a distinctive, high-contrast aesthetic.
Singer’s involvement in crafting the Autochron dial adds to the watch’s historical significance, as many of the most collectible vintage Autochron today feature dials from this legendary Swiss dial maker.
The Autochron original dial had a flat layout with precise, fine printing, a tachymeter scale, and subtle texture variations, making it both functional and aesthetically refined. The bold markers and distinctive fonts made it instantly recognizable, further cementing its reputation as one of the more unique Autochron of the 1970s.
VINTAGE MODELS
The Autochron original dial had a flat layout with precise, fine printing, a tachymeter scale, and subtle texture variations, making it both functional and aesthetically refined. The bold markers and distinctive fonts made it instantly recognizable, further cementing its reputation as one of the more unique Autochron of the 1970s.
While most Autochron of the 1970s were primarily designed for motorsports, the Autochron was envisioned as a hybrid sports watch, capable of both land and sea applications.
- High-Precision Autochron – Ideal for timing races, aviation use, and endurance sports.
- Bi-Directional Rotating Bezel – A critical tool for both navigation and diving.
- Red Depth Rating on the Dial – Reinforcing its water-resistant capabilities.
- Date Function – Offering everyday practicality.
- Durable Stainless Steel Case & Bracelet – Built to endure extreme conditions.
This combination of timing functions and dive-ready features made the Autochron a rare fusion of a racing Autochron and a professional diving instrument—an approach that was highly unusual at the time.
By BULANG & SONS
Tachymeter Scale
How Does It Work?
Start: When the object or vehicle starts moving, start the Autochron. Stop: Stop the Autochron after the object or vehicle has traveled a known distance (1 km or 1 mile). Reading the Speed: Read the average speed directly on the tachymeter scale where the Autochron second hand has stopped. For example, if a car travels one kilometer in 30 seconds, the second hand will stop at the 120 mark on the tachymeter scale, indicating an average speed of 120 km/h.
The Autochron Revival: A Faithful Reissue with Modern Enhancements
In 2024, Nivada Grenchen revived the Autochron, staying as true to the original prototype as possible, while incorporating modern upgrades for enhanced wearability and durability. While the original Autochron remained a prototype, the new Autochron finally brings this design to life as a full-production model. It preserves the core aesthetics of the 1970s version while improving materials, movement efficiency, and water resistance.
Reviews & Press
"Instead of just picking a vintage model, we launched a new watch. It comes in a case with a dial that has not been made before. The inspiration came from a couple of models that the brand introduced in the 1970s. We used the case of the Nivada Autochron for our new watch. The dial, however, is inspired by another Nivada model from a bygone era.”
— Balazs Ferenczi, Fratello
