Founded in 1926 in Grenchen, Switzerland, by Otto Wüllimann, Hermann Schindler and Jakob Schneider, Nivada Grenchen is an independent manufacture whose golden age spans the 1950s and 1960s. This is when its most iconic models were born: the Antarctic, an automatic watch worn during the US Navy's Operation Deep Freeze polar expedition; the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (nicknamed "The World's Busiest Watch"); and the Depthmaster, water-resistant to 1,000 metres. After decades of silence caused by the quartz crisis, the brand was relaunched in 2018 by Guillaume Laidet and Rémi Chabrat, who faithfully reproduced the historical models with modern Swiss movements. Nivada Grenchen has since established itself as the benchmark for accessible neo-vintage watchmaking. At The Swiss Collector, our pre-owned selection is constantly evolving, with every piece being unique.

Origins and Early Innovations (1926–1950)

Founded in Grenchen (home to many Swiss watch manufactures) the company Wüllimann, Schneider & Cie, Fabrique d'horlogerie Nivada specialised from the outset in precise, functional watches. In the 1930s, Nivada was among the pioneers of the automatic watch in Switzerland. In 1939, a dispute with Movado (which claimed the name "Nivada" was too phonetically similar to its own) led the brand to officially adopt the name Nivada Grenchen in 1958. Around the same time, Nivada began a collaboration with the American Croton Watch Company, which imported watches under the Croton Nivada or Croton Nivada Grenchen names for the US market.

The Golden Age : Antarctic, Chronomaster, Depthmaster (1950–1970)

The 1950s and 1960s represent Nivada Grenchen's true golden era. In 1950, the brand launched the Antarctic, its first water-resistant automatic watch. A few years later, it accompanied Admiral Richard Byrd on the US Navy's Operation Deep Freeze expedition to Antarctica. In 1963, Nivada launched the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, a multi-function chronograph capable of combining up to nine complications : chronograph, dive bezel, aviation timing, tachymeter, and yacht timer. The brand marketed it with the slogan "The World's Busiest Watch." In 1964, the Depthmaster arrived: water-resistant to 1,000 metres, it was one of the first professional dive watches to achieve this rating. At its peak, Nivada Grenchen was distributed in more than 84 countries.

The Quartz Crisis and the Silent Years (1970–2018)

Like many Swiss manufactures, Nivada Grenchen was badly hit by the quartz crisis of the 1970s–1980s. Production ceased by the late 1970s. Over the following decades, the brand changed hands several times and lost its identity : a controversial Mexican chapter in the 2000s temporarily damaged its reputation. It was in 2018 that a landmark book (the Chronomaster Story by Grégoire Rossier and Anthony Marquié) catalysed the renaissance : Guillaume Laidet and Rémi Chabrat acquired the licence and relaunched the brand with exemplary respect for the original designs.

The Neo-Vintage Renaissance (2018–Today)

The 2018 relaunch was built on absolute fidelity to the originals : same proportions, same typography, same spirit. The first reissues (Chronomaster, Antarctic, Depthmaster) were welcomed with enthusiasm by collectors worldwide. Social media played a key role in this rapid comeback. Powered by Sellita and Soprod Swiss Made movements, Nivada Grenchen has established itself as one of the rare brands capable of delivering an authentic vintage reissue for under CHF 2,000. The F77, an integrated bracelet watch inspired by 1970s designs, further expanded the range from 2022.