The Most Underrated & Iconic "Do It All" 38mm Chronograph: The Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Watch
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Just when I thought I was out (of vintage-inspired chronographs) another one pulls me back in! Today we look at a watch that's highly underappreciated by the mainstream (but revered by collectors and watch enthusiasts)-the aptly named Chronomaster from Nivada Grenchen. In this video we'll take a look at its history, inspirations behind its game-changing design, in-depth specifications, as well as the positives and negatives of this modern interpretation of a '60s icon. The watch known as the "Super Chronograph" is quite clearly back-but is it any good? Join me for another independent review of a very special watch, and why it's not only an Urban Gentry #strapmonster, but also, the ultimate do-it-all chronograph.
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My first real watch purchase, paid £8.5shillings (£8.25 today’s money) in 1967, still have the watch , still love it, figures regularly in my rotation, so glad to see a revival 🔥🔥
I must admit at first when I started having an interest in watches. I found your reviews a bit boring. But later found that you have the most informative channel out here. And you don't bash on any brands except for fake brands. Thank you for teaching us here in the you tube universe 👍
same. the more I venture into this horology world, the more I adore TUG videos. Phenomenal stuff brother!
It’s like sitting down by a cozy fire listening to the stories of these watches here ☺️
@@AndreiLucaa who's tug lol try again lol look at his ring with the entwined initials tug lol so funny
@@darrenfry4695 TUG. The Urban Gentry. The name of the channel.
I got mine this Tuesday. Haven’t taken it off yet. Love this watch. Perfection!!
WOW, congrats, I totally see why, it's such an amazing watch!
Thank you Jesse, I always love hearing back from owners of the watches in question.
Best regards,
TGV
@@theurbangentry Imagine when these were originally knocking around getting orders from armed forces to cut down on watch procurements by having the same type of watch for the airforce and navy
Lucky you 👍🏻
@@oliver1965 thanks buddy!
My black dial Chronomaster arrived last week, hasn't been off of my wrist since. Can't seem to stop taking pictures of it, timing things unnecessarily, etc. Love it. It truly belongs on a short list of great watches. There's the iconic Rolex sub, of course -- the first "Bond Watch", as in, it was in a movie, which is cool (though I prefer my Omega Planet Ocean). BUT THEN there's the Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster, which, given its drive fast fly high dive deep, go anywhere, do anything, multi-function capabilities, makes it the ultimate contender for "The James Bond of Watches."
Very nice watch, actually one of the most beautiful chronographs. May I ask you how accurate it is in daily use?
I always enjoy your historical introductions in your videos. I inherited my father's Nivada and I'm glad to see this brand coming back. Thank you very much.
Very cool looking watch , always love vintage inspired (and sized) chronographs. No faux lume is a big plus in my books.
Thanks for introducing a watch/ brand I’ve never heard of. Perfect for the small wristfed.
Always a pleasure, thank you for the support!
Best regards,
TGV
Finally a sub-42 retro chrono utility watch! Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Your productions are always of such high quality. I feel like your a friend whom we get together at a dinner to share watch enthusiasm over a breakfast before we begin our busy days.
Love it. This watch looks very similar to my dad's old Westclox chronograph that was made in Switzerland and has either the Valijoux 7733 or Venus Cal. 188 hand wind movement inside. He purchased it in the early 1960's after graduating from college. He gave it to me after it stopped working, so I had it cleaned and serviced and now it works again.
I bought the black dial version (with the broad arrow hands of course) and manual movement, which I understand is the original style. But all the versions are gorgeous.
Wow. Just when I thought 2022 was not going to offer anything exciting in the way of design. It just goes to show that 60s & 70s watch designs remain timeless. Outstanding work TGV!
Lovely do it all watch, I'm a big fan of the different coloured lume. Shame I don't have the money to add a watch at this point because a multi purpose tool watch would be right up my street! Excellent work as always TGV!
Thank you Ben! Very much appreciated.
Best regards,
TGV
(Try a seiko flighty, its the modern equivalent and $250)
@@theurbangentry These look lovely and are very interesting
As always a great video, with the history and the path that the company went through really gives us a colorful picture. We can all agree with the well deserved pedigree of Omega, Rolex, Zenith...the list goes on and on, but i am with you when a watch brand like Nivada Grenchen has a restart and makes a nice name for itself.
Thank you TGV for such as interesting and unique watch brand review! I have never heard of this brand before. Thank you so much for expanding my horizon! I really enjoy your reviews! You have really inspired me to enjoy the art of watch making and horology! Thank you so much again! Stay healthy and well as always! Nicholas 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻⏱⏱⏱❤️❤️❤️
I’m the owner of a 1970 Chronomaster, and a desirable one at that....it has the lollipop seconds hand and the Valjoux 23 column wheel movement. I have been lucky enough to obtain a great deal of important vintage Chronographs over the years, and this one has always been one of my favorites. When the Chronomaster was re-introduced, of course It caught my attention right away. After watching this review, I am now convinced that it is the next watch that will be added to my collection. I’m thinking I need the true panda version to contrast my original version in reverse panda scheme. Beautiful job as always T! Thank you for your continuing commitment to our hobby and continuing the tradition of these mechanical wonders.
Thank you Bill, lovely to read this comment and to hear you are a fan of this brand/watch.
I hope all is well, onwards and ever upwards!
Best regards,
TGV
stick 😅 with the original
What a cool bit of watch history! Very elegant, yet rough and tumble. I like it!
It's a nice one. Several nice variations are available, too. I think a sub 40mm and relatively thin profile at under 14mm for having a valjoux 7750 base movement is pretty damn good. There are so many 41mm< mechanical chronographs that exceed 14mm thickness, this is a great example and reminder that it is indeed possible to get a fairly compact Swiss mechanical chronograph these days and at a relatively affordable price range, also.
How do you order one
Excellent review TGV and pleasing to watch your video with a cold beer on the day of the big rugby game between England and Ireland! Coincidentally I got my first chronograph delivered today, not an expensive one, as I'm not sure long term if I really want one, it's an Orient quartz (not the neo 70's) Panda style, a JDM release that was actually very difficult to find! I got the last one in Turkey, and can only find one for sale in Finland and two on a JDM seller site. It's actually a gorgeous style watch at 43mm it suits my 8" wrist. This Nivada is in a different class altogether of course but 38mm is a bit small for me. Although at only 10mm thickness, quartz has its benefits!!
Nice to see the name of Croton Watch Co. splash across the screen. My first chronograph was a Croton, that I bought directly from their facility in the mid '60s when they were located in Croton-on-Hudson, NY; just two miles north of my hometown of Ossining. I wore that watch constantly for years until it finally "went south;" it may still be floating around in my attic somewhere in a box of old stuff...
Great video (as usual); thanks.
Great video as always and what an interesting watch. Really glad you cover these brands It's refreshing at a time when CZcams is just saturated with basically Rolex content
Never heard of Nivada before... interesting video!
Love this piece! Brands like Nivada Grenchen and Ollech and Wajs are such amazing tool watches. Thanks for the review TGV!
This is the reason TGV why the gentry loves your channel. Thank you for the watch review Sir 😊👍⌚
What a little beauty this watch is. Thank you TGV for drawing our attention back to this forgotten superstar. Would love to get my hands on that book too.
We crave knowledge and you give it to us . Thank you my friend 🙏🏼
I can't decide if this or the Doxa Sub is the cooler Jacques Cousteau watch. Oh wait, it's not a competition, both are amazing. Well done TGV.
Good evening TGV, as always a great review. I love that the Nivada Grenchen comes in at pleasing 38mm. Great size! Have a great evening! Best regards!
Lovely watch. Thank you for introducing me to a brand I had never heard of. I appreciate learning about these brands. I very much love the square case vintage Antarctic model, very much up my alley! Fantastically informative video as usual sir. Hope all is good with you and your family? Do you have any plans for some outdoor videos in the summer? Once again great video 👍
Thank you Chris, I am so glad to hear that. I am very well, well all are thank goodness, I hope you and loved ones are too are too. As for Spring and Summer, a ton planned! Lots more travel, outside shoots, I can't wait to do it!
Best regards,
TGV
Questo orologio è un capolavoro...I bought the one with the hand-wound black dial just this week (with the broad arrow hands). It's gorgeous. Thanks for the always very well done review
Hello Fabrizio, do you still have this watch, what is the s/d accuracy?
I completely get the "icon" impression you're talking about. Absolutely striking. Great review; I always appreciate when you cover lesser known brands and watches. Sorry that they don't do better for you - they really should!
Ive always been a fan of nivada, my dad used to have one of their chronos but sadly i never got to see it. So happy they got resurrected. If possible it would be amazing to see the newly resurrected darwil too. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for the introduction to this piece. Hard to take my eyes off this beauty.
Really, really, really love this watch. I realize it's not authentic to the original but I'd love to see a date option.
dude I know this is off topic, but every time I see your Lorier I swear I let out an audible 'ohhhh yea!' that watch is so stylish
Educational, entertaining, and well done TGV as always thanks for what you do
with every single video i learn a new thing about watches....thanks alot sir.your great great fan from iran.👍
I always enjoy the reviews and I always learn something about watches. Many features are pointed out that I would have missed.
That is an amazing timepiece. I really like the design and the symmetry of the chronograph dials. I will be adding this one to my wish list. Thank you TGV, keep up the great work.
love these brand spotlight videos. keep up the excellent work
Excellent content, as always. Ti voglio bene. 🍻
Gorgeous watch that I honestly knew nothing about. Another for the Wishlist. Great video..
Ooooooo yes this is the stuff! I’ve just been handed a Depthmaster! The first dive watch to go 1000 metres deep IN THE 60’s!!!! Love this brand ! Very easy to fall in love with what they are doing! I can see a Chronograph coming into the fleet one day!
Haha, fantastic Russ, perfect timing, the depth master is a beast, but you know me, I had to go for the Chronomaster first.
Looking forward to your Depthmaster review, KBO old chap and have a great weekend. Cheers 😎🥂
Best regards,
TGV
Love it! So glad your wrist size is so close to mine. Makes it easy to see what would or wouldn't work for me. :) Also Jazzed to see the name Croton show up. A Croton was one of the first vintage watches I bought--at a flea market almost 30 years ago.
Yay, new content. Thank you TGV. Have a lovely weekend mate ❤️
Thank you Derek, have a great weekend too!
Best regards,
TGV
Thanks again for another deep-dive in a watch(brand) I wasn't familiar with, TGV. Expanding everyone's horizon with every video. Just great
Another fantastic video and review. I love being introduced to a watch I wasn’t previously aware of.
An amazing watch a review. This very well be my next purchase. Well done, sir!
Love the tropical dial version!
I've been bringing in some freshness to the chronograph part of my collection. I purchased a chrono from Knot watches and the subject of this video is also a strong consideration. Great video , and for me , perfect timing. Thanx
Loved the "hogarthian gin-soaked knees-up" as a potential situation lol. Great review!
Now this is a brand I didn’t hear since the 90s. I recall some local jewelers would mention them in their ads along with its phonetic nemesis, Movado. Good to see new brands in the channel. Keep up the good work. Saludos Tristano!
Nivada (alone) was acquired by mexican co salins group, they make cheap quartz. That why we are very confused about it
Just what needed on this Friday night while the world seems to go mad !!
Another banger of a review... Another history lesson in the books and another chronograph to lust after. Thanks for documenting, putting this together, and revealing the brand. First time familiarity for myself. That book you referenced too... Incredible. Blows my mind that this is 38 mm because it looks beefier under your lens. Though I guess one gets a real sense of that scale in the Brian Kelly photo. Selecting the panda version was a nice choice. Gonna have to watch this again. Definitely more to pick up on a second trip.
I purchased one last year and have to say it’s my favourite day watch. More people look at my wrist while wearing this watch than any of my other watches.
You got panda or what dial color? Manual wind?
Thanks for the review TGV. Superb job as always! This watch has been on my radar for some time, so great to see a review.
So happy to hear that,
Thank you my friend,
Best regards,
TGV
I had to watch that intro twice and the watch it again!
Stunning.... I missed out on a vintage nivada grenchen about five years ago now, always kicked myself about it too! It's my 50th at the end of the month....... Hmmmm new watch time maybe 😂
Great review! Great videography and editing! Informative, entertaining and enjoyable👍🏻😊 I was not even aware of this brands existence. Very nice chronograph! I viewed their website and found a couple additional nice offerings. This is one of the reasons why I enjoy the CZcams Watch Review channels. Thanks!
This is a beautiful watch, I’m very appreciative of you for making this video. Top notch editing as always. It truly does remind me a little of a speedy, a Squale, and a Tag but all wrapped up into one. This will be on my radar. Although I have a thing for pure divers. The SM PO in 39.5mm is one I’ve almost saved enough for. But something like this or a Squale could surely come next! Well Played Sir.
Excellent piece, I-D Guy also did a superb review of this last week.
Beautiful watch and another great video brother ❤️
Great watch TGV, a beautiful chronograph. In Mexico we have Nivada Swiss owned by Carlos Slim and it sucks, I think this guy owns the name anyway. Great to know the brand is going back to its origin making great time pieces.
I’ve got one of these (version with the lollipop hand). The size is perfect for my 7.25 inch wrist and it is not too top heavy for a chronograph (I’ve got the manual version). It wears really well and looks great.
However, it is the first watch I’ve had with a friction-based bi-directional bezel. Something to be aware of is that you have to constantly adjust the bezel so the triangle is true at 12 o’clock, as it gets knocked either side of 12 very easily. It you are OCD that can be very annoying 😀
In a break from surgery... a welcome relaxation are these videos. So much history, knowledge, information, inspiration and intrigue. Never sure if people (TGV) reads such comments. Just would like to put forward the concept for 2/3/4 watches for an industry? for example, if a car mechanic, they would need something hard, robust, water proof (id imagine) etc? An office worker? a (obvious) pilot? I, personally work in medicine... how do i pick a watch? just a thought? Either way, as you know, adore and appreciate the channel. wonderful work and the best of quality.
Thank you so much Rory, I always try to read and respond to as many comments as possible/time allows and yours has made my day. Incidentally, my father was a surgeon, so I know the long hours and hard work required, you have my respect. As for watches for those working in medicine, it's a really fascinating sub genre and subject, I will deffo cover it as some point.
Thank you again for the support, kind, thoughtful words and ideas for future content, it is Gentry like you I make videos for!
Onwards and upwards.
Best regards,
TGV
@@theurbangentry well, my (digial) friend, of your father is part of the industry i am more than sure you have an understanding of the plights of the industry. As for watches in any industry... to be a first year doc (£500) to be a surgeon (£1000) to be a specialist (£more). That goes to say, in the same vein, as an apprentice mechanic etc , etc. i do hope that makes sense?
As for the Gentry, is a welcome escape from life, a trip into the nonsense horology,populated
appreciated and thanks.
Get better soon! :- ]
Amazing video, really enjoyed and satisfied. I don't know what can I say more, many thanks !!
Nivada WE love you
It reminds me of the Yema speedgraf panda dial. With the seiko NE86 auto chrono movement. I have one and it is one of my favourite watches. Great review as always. I really like the intro collages you make. They are very artistically constructed and very well edited.
And the NE86 movement in mine gains less than a second a day, and is bomb proof. The speedgraf has a screw down crown and 100meters WR Too.
Awesome video. Was looking at one of these but ended up getting their latest issue of the Super Antarctic , the 3.6.9, as I wanted an explorer style watch with the vintage look and the heritage that went with. I'll say it has quickly become my everyday/go to watch and loving the brand. As for the chronomaster, they've been doing some collabs with other brands to give more flair but one collab with worn & wound did see a version with a restored val-joux 72 movement (which quickly sold out as there were only 20 units) so hopefully they do more in the future.
Deeply in love with the design 😍
It's the first time I see that brand but I like it! Thanks 👍
Finally Nivada have some recognition.
Very cool review - again! Greetings from Grenchen!
Love diving chronographs. A difficult to pull off but endlessly useful design. This one looks fantastic. As long as it’s solid to 100m I’d live with that WR.
I love these as vintage watches and now too as modern interpretations. And if you haven’t done a review on Montblanc or Bucherer chronographs I can lend you mine. These are also very different and I’m not far from Philly.
I stumbled across this brand just a few days ago thanks to an advertisement on Instagram. I’m quite smitten!
Love this Nivada Grenchen. However, I'd still not take it under the waves or even close to waves splashes. Great review.
I love that watch! Great video my friend! Hope all is well. Cheers!
Beautiful watch, nice review, thanks for sharing.
Probably one of the best watch video presentations lve see , keep up the great work and l look forward to your next one !
Thank you so much Sam!
Best regards,
TGV
That was a dope intro. You should make a stand alone for your intros. This one is next to the Tudor BB Chrono my favorite. By the way you brought me to my Tudor. Good work keep it up!
Nice review! These are gorgeous vintage reissues. Hopefully i can get my hands on one in the future. Exciting side note: the "Nivada Sports Chrono" prototype will be coming back as well next year
Sharp piece dear Veneto.
I was not decided between this and Antarctic... finally the Spider won this time..
Thanks
The honor is on my side....just don't know what to do....😀
@TGV As usual another Great Video!!! You are truly the most talented Watch Reviewer of all time! I love watching your videos! 👏
Thanks for this informative post. Now I know something about this brand. What a cool watch!
Great review, thanks for the history lesson, took me on a journey to their website. Always a pleasure your videos Brother✊🏾
Lovely review and the watch is beautiful. Thank you.
The case looks great on this. Has a Seiko sumo style to the side profile with the recessed bezel.
Love this watch. I'd pick the "Orange Boy" version. My main negative, however, is the height (13.8mm) makes this annoying to wear under sleeves during the colder months (similar to my TSAR, which sits in a box at this time of year). I tend to gravitate to watches with a lower height during months where I'm wearing warm clothes all the time.
I have a GSAR and the same problem😊
No need to watch the video twice….I am getting one! Thank you!
Great video, really enjoying your content TGV. Keep up the great work, you are a credit to the world of watches.
A 38mm dive chronograph is something of a grail for me, though options aren’t exactly plentiful. This seem to check all the boxes; but something doesn’t quite do it for me. 100m is plenty, but I think visually this comes across as more of a chronograph with a dive bezel and not a diving chronograph, if that makes any sense. By no means a bad thing though. Great review and good show for bringing this brand to light, for me anyways. Cheers!
Great watch and review. Thank you. I'll dive further in this brand for sure. Love vintage inspirate watches. Unfortunatly, the negatives you mentioned, doesn't give me the feeling yet to own this Nivada.
The 100m WR is a dealbreaker. My Hanhart MK1 has the same WR and is only a pilot watch... Missed chance here.
Looking forward to your next video.
A really nice piece, a brand I came about a few weeks back purely by chance!
Great video as always. This has been on my radar for months but just haven’t pulled the trigger. Only a matter of time before I do.
Makes you wonder, how many brands have a watch called a chronometer lol. Great video and love the background story in this brand. Got to check out an aquastar next!!
A definitely good-looking watch that appeals to me. Thanks .. Cheers to you ..
thanks for showing penn's landing.....originally from philly. i really miss some of the best the area has to offer.
What a stunning chrono. I love it. Sadly it’d be too small for my 8” wrist.
Great review. I would love it if you did a review of one of the current offerings from Favre-Leuba. They have a history of horological innovation that every watch collector could appreciate.
I like the original with the Valjou 92 movement which I think was a column wheel. The originals have soared in price and are beyond my budget. Design was beautiful.