A Rare 1970s Prototype Provides the Blueprint for the Nivada Grenchen Chronosport

Returning to the scene in 2020 with Guillaume Laidet at the helm, Nivada Grenchen had plenty of tricks up its sleeve thanks to its rich repertoire of mid-20th-century tool watches. Reviving some of its most famous models –  the Chronomaster, the Depthmaster, or the Super Antarctic – Nivada Grenchen has gained a cult following among fans of vintage revivals that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. However, the Chronosport we’ll be looking at today is a true rarity that never made it into full-scale production. A multipurpose instrument with chronograph functions and 200m water-resistance, the Chronosport, which surfaced as a prototype in the early 1970s, has provided the blueprint for its 21st-century revival.

Founded in 1926 by Jacob Schneider in Granges, Nivada Grenchen was one of the first watch brands to produce automatic watches in 1930. It introduced its first automatic waterproof model, the Antarctic, in 1950. If you are interested in the brand’s history, Brice’s article covers most of the early references revived since Laidet took over.

According to the brand, Laidet came across a Chronosport model on an auction site. Since only 20 prototypes of the Chronosport were produced, it was a rare find. After posting it on social media, it went viral, and Laidet seized the opportunity.

The chunky cushion-shaped case of the Chronosport encapsulates the bravado and bold colours of 1970s sports watches to a tee. Despite its compact 38mm diameter, the 15.7mm thickness transmits its tool watch personality, no doubt about it. Admittedly, the height includes the 3mm double-domed sapphire crystal, but it is deliberately accentuated with a thick polished bevel running along the case flanks with the relatively small cylindrical pushers and large screw-down crown. A vertical satin-brushed finish dominates the rest of the case, extending to the blocky three-link bracelet. The case is slightly cambered, and the stocky T-shaped lugs curve to meet the bracelet for a surprisingly comfortable and compact fit.

The matte black unidirectional aluminium bezel has a lightly scalloped edge and features white 60-minute and 12-hour scales. These can be useful for timing a dive (although the 20-minute area is not highlighted), boiling an egg, or even doubling as a second time zone. There are two slightly different versions of the Chronosport, one with a white luminous dot at noon and a funkier model with a burst of egg-yolk yellow on the bezel. The solid caseback is embossed with the brand’s logo and matches the 200m water-resistance rating of the original.

The asymmetrical layout of the dial is kind of quirky, with two taupe embossed sub-dials placed at 9 and 12 o’clock, invading the tachymetre scale. If you look at the markings used inside the sub-dials, you will have noticed the square mallet-shaped indices and Art Deco numerals similar to those featured on the dial of the iconic Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman”. Adding a touch of watchmaking history to the composition, we learn that the dial was designed by Jean Singer & Cie, one of the most famous dial makers in Switzerland, whose dials for the Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman”, the Omega Speedmaster Racing and the Heuer Skipper are part of dial making lore.

Evoking the gritty asphalt of a racetrack, the dial has a grained matte background and an attractive silver printed tachymetre scale for the ultimate sporty touch. Viewed from certain angles, you can appreciate the fun distortions produced by the domed sapphire crystal. The rectangular date window, at 3 o’clock, also features a silver frame to match the tachymeter and is offset with a white background. The indices are rectangular and, depending on the model, have a blob of eggy yellow or white lume at their tips, matching the central hour and minute hands. Another unexpected detail is the bright splash of red used for the depth rating 660ft = 200m.

As a watch that made a tentative debut in the 1970s, the movement powering it also happens to be from the same period. Beneath the solid caseback is the trustworthy ETA/Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement with a 4Hz frequency and a passable power reserve of 42 hours.

Availability & Price

Although we only took pictures of the stainless steel bracelet, the Chronosport can be ordered with ten different bracelets/straps, from a bead-of-rice combo to rally-style perforated leather straps, rubber tropic and leather straps. Models paired with straps start at USD 2,180, while those fitted with a stainless steel bracelet retail for USD 2,380. The pre-order period opened on July 25 and is still open, with the first batches delivered at the end of October 2024.

For more information, please consult nivadagrenchenofficial.com.