HISTORY
OF NIVADA GRENCHEN
Origins of Nivada Grenchen (1926–1939)
Nivada Grenchen is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1926 in Grenchen, Switzerland, by Otto Wüllimann, Hermann Schindler, and Jakob Schneider. Originally operating as Wüllimann, Schneider, Nivada SA, the company focused on producing Swiss watches built around precision, functionality, and everyday reliability.
In its early years, Nivada Grenchen was among the pioneers of automatic watch manufacturing. The brand became known for instrument watches featuring water resistance, chronographs, and high-precision movements.
By 1939, Nivada Grenchen had earned recognition within the Swiss watch industry and participated in national exhibitions, reinforcing its position as a serious manufacturer in the era’s competitive landscape.
By the late 1930s, Nivada Grenchen expanded into the United States through a collaboration with Croton Watch Co. Inc. (founded in 1878). This partnership helped establish the brand in the U.S. market under names such as Croton Nivada and Croton Nivada Grenchen.
In 1939, Movado challenged the similarity of the Nivada name, and after years of legal pressure the brand adopted Nivada Grenchen in 1958. Despite the dispute, the company continued to grow internationally. By the 1960s, Nivada Grenchen was distributed in over 84 countries worldwide.
Croton Nivada Antarctic, The watch of Admiral Richard Byrd of the Deep Freeze expedition
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957) was a U.S. Navy aviator and polar explorer, widely credited for his 1926 North Pole flight and awarded the Medal of Honor.
In 1955–56, he served as officer in charge of U.S. Navy Operation Deep Freeze I, a landmark mission that helped establish permanent U.S. presence in Antarctica.
1954
Antarctic
Worn during the U.S. Navy’s « Operation Deep Freeze » expedition to Antarctica (1955-1956), demonstrating durability in extreme conditions.
1961
Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver
A multi-functional chronograph combining a tachymeter, rotating bezel for diving, and regatta timer.
1964
Depthomatic
Among the first automatic diving watches, water-resistant to 200 meters.
1965
Depthmaster
One of the early dive watches with 1,000 meters water resistance.
1968
Alertamatic
A watch featuring an integrated alarm function.
The Quartz Crisis of the 1970s reshaped Swiss watchmaking as affordable, highly accurate Japanese quartz watches surged in popularity. Nivada Grenchen, like many Swiss brands, struggled to adapt and saw its business decline.
Combined with the 1973 oil crisis, falling demand contributed to the closure of Nivada Grenchen’s Solothurn, Switzerland production facilities in the late 1970s. Over the following decades, the brand changed hands multiple times and largely disappeared from the market while vintage Nivada Grenchen watches remained sought after by collectors.
Nivada Grenchen Returns in 2018: Chronomaster, Antarctic & Depthmaster Reissues
In 2018, Guillaume Laidet and Rémi Chabrat relaunched Nivada Grenchen, bringing the brand back through faithful reissues of classic designs updated with modern manufacturing techniques.
The first releases focused on some of the brand’s most recognizable names: Chronomaster, Antarctic, and Depthmaster. These reissues were quickly embraced by collectors and enthusiasts, helping re-establish Nivada Grenchen’s place in the vintage-inspired watch world.
Social media also played a key role in the comeback amplifying the relaunch and introducing the brand to a new generation of watch fans.
Nivada Grenchen Modern Era
Today, Nivada Grenchen produces Swiss watches based on its historical designs. The successful relaunch of the Chronomaster, Antarctic and Depthmaster has renewed interest in the brand among collectors and professionals.
The company continues to develop models that reflect its heritage while incorporating modern manufacturing advancements.
Nivada Grenchen remains a recognized name in Swiss watchmaking, with a history of technical innovation and durable designs.
A Conversation Between Passion and Heritage
Step into the world of Nivada Grenchen through an intimate conversation between Guillaume Laidet, CEO of Nivada, and Harm, one of the brand’s most devoted collectors. In this exclusive video, they explore what makes Nivada so special, from its revival story to the details that make each model a faithful tribute to the past.
