AUTOCHRON
Collection
AUTOCHRON
Collection
Collection
AUTOCHRON COLLECTION
Autochron: From Forgotten Prototype to Modern Swiss Collection
The Nivada Grenchen Autochron is one of the most intriguing chronographs in the brand’s history. Developed in the late 1970s, the original Autochron never entered full-scale production and remained a limited prototype, with fewer than 20 known examples identified by collectors today.
Conceived as a versatile multi-sport chronograph, the Autochron was designed to bridge the worlds of motorsport and diving. Its unconventional dial layout, rotating bezel, and integrated date function reflected a bold experimental approach uncommon among Swiss sports watches of the era.
Decades later, Nivada Grenchen reintroduced the Autochron as a modern chronograph collection, preserving the distinctive design language of the original while incorporating contemporary Swiss movements. Today’s Autochron models are powered by the Valjoux-7750-ETA automatic and VK67 meca-quartz movement, offering reliability, precision, and versatility for modern use.
Jean Singer Dial Design and Its Influence on the Autochron
A defining element of the Autochron lies in its dial design, created by Jean Singer, one of the most influential dial manufacturers in Switzerland during the mid-20th century. Singer’s work is widely recognized among collectors, with iconic designs produced for legendary chronographs such as the Rolex Daytona and the Heuer Skipper.
The Autochron draws from this heritage, integrating key design principles associated with Singer’s dials while maintaining a distinctive identity of its own. This combination of historical craftsmanship and unique execution contributes to the Autochron’s appeal among knowledgeable collectors and enthusiasts of vintage-inspired Swiss chronographs.
The art of the Autochron Dial
Singer, one of the most respected Swiss dial manufacturers of the 20th century, played a key role in shaping the visual identity of the Autochron. Known for producing some of the most iconic chronograph dials in watchmaking, Singer was recognized for its precision printing, balanced layouts, and highly legible designs used by major Swiss brands.
The Autochron dial reflects many of these signature elements, including distinctive subdial typography, clear markers, and a carefully proportioned layout designed for immediate readability. High-contrast printing and finely executed details contribute to both functional clarity and visual depth.
Original vintage Autochron models featured flat dials with tachymeter scales, precise text execution, and subtle surface textures. These elements, combined with bold hour markers and characteristic fonts, made the Autochron instantly recognizable and positioned it as one of the more distinctive Swiss chronographs of the 1970s.
This attention to dial design remains central to the Autochron’s identity today, reinforcing its connection to Swiss watchmaking heritage and its appeal among collectors who value clarity, function, and historical authenticity.
Vintage Autochron 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.
Key features of vintage Autochron models:
- 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 racing chronograph and professional diving instrument, an approach that was highly unusual at the time.
How the Tachymeter
Scale Works?
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 as possible to the original prototype while incorporating modern upgrades for improved wearability and durability. While the original Autochron remained a prototype, the new Autochron brings this historic design to life as a full-production model.
The revival preserves the core aesthetics of the 1970s version while enhancing materials, movement efficiency, and water resistance to meet modern standards.
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
