THE PANDA

Panda chronograph the watch that does everything, then changes its face for the occasion

In the language of watch collecting, the term panda dial is one of the most immediately understood and most consistently searched dial descriptions in existence. It refers to a chronograph dial configuration where a white or cream main dial surface contrasts with darker, typically black or dark grey, subdials at the chronograph registers. The visual effect is graphic, bold and unmistakably reminiscent of the markings of a giant panda, which is precisely where the name originates.
The panda configuration is considered by many collectors to be the definitive chronograph dial layout. It provides maximum contrast between the main dial and the registers, making elapsed time readings instantly clear at a glance. It was the dial format of choice for a range of highly collected Swiss chronographs of the 1960s, and it remains the most searched vintage chronograph dial aesthetic among buyers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and Japan who are looking for a Swiss made panda dial watch that performs at a price that makes sense.

Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Panda with black perforated leather strap held between hands on a dark wooden bench with spring bar tools

The story behind the watch

The Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, known among enthusiasts as the CASD, is one of the most functionally ambitious watch designs to emerge from the 1960s Swiss watchmaking industry. Originally developed in 1963, it was conceived as a chronograph capable of operating in any environment and fulfilling any timing demand a professional user could encounter. Aviator, diver, racing driver, physician, sailor, the CASD was designed to serve all of them with a single instrument.

A movement with genuine Nivada Grenchen roots

The Landeron 70 is a Swiss manual winding chronograph movement with a history that connects directly to Nivada Grenchen's own production archive. Landeron was a historic Swiss movement manufacturer that supplied calibres to Nivada Grenchen during the brand's most celebrated production decades. The decision to equip the contemporary Chronomaster models

Case

38mm, 316 L stainless steel, brushed & polished

Glass

Domed sapphire crystal

Dial

Matte white “Panda” dial with black sub-dials and vintage N logo

Movement

Hand-wound Valjoux 23 VZ

Crown

Signed push-pull crown

Water resistance

10 ATM / 100 m

strap

Racing Strap 20mm

Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Panda on a black leather watch cushion over a black marble stand with watchmaking tools behind

The panda dial in detail

The dial of the Panda Manual is constructed around the classic panda configuration with every detail chosen to maximise both visual impact and functional legibility. The matt white main dial surface provides a clean, bright backdrop that reads clearly in all light conditions. Against this, the black subdials at the three o'clock and nine o'clock positions create the high contrast graphic composition that gives the panda layout its iconic character.

The interchangeable bezel system explained

One of the most distinctive features of the Panda Manual is the interchangeable bezel system, which includes five complimentary bezels in black, red, green, blue and black with red, supplied with every watch. The system requires no tools and no skill beyond your fingers to operate, allowing the bezel to be swapped in seconds and the character of the watch to be transformed completely.

Discover the Chronomaster collection