This watch has captured my attention. My parents, in 1960, bough themselves/each other Croton wristwatches as wedding presents. I have my dad's, my sister has my mom's.

The Croton Chronomaster with the "broad arrow" hands seems like a neat watch and I would like to have one. Have any info to share? Which movement does it have? Looks like I might have to spend $1500 to get a good one? What strap or bracelet?

Hate stick hands, so it's broad arrow hands or nothing.

Tom

 

You may appreciate this thread: https://omegaforums.net/threads/niv...ronomaster-aviator-sea-diver-only-book.82319/

And you might want to invest in the book, since it details all of the different variations.

I've posted it before, but this is my Valjoux 92 version, on a Nivada beads-of-rice bracelet.

 

Check your pm

 

The one I'm chasing.

 

A couple for a couple:
Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Reference 85001 / 3011 and Croton Nivada Grenchen Aquamatic



The book is great for homework. There are plenty of versions out there.
Chronomaster Only: The Super-Chronograph by Nivada & Croton

 

You are not going to pick up what you want for $1500. These have warmed up in the past few years.

 

I also think it should be around ~2k mark

 

I saw a couple of these at Grand Central Watch when I was getting my Baltic serviced (twice sigh), and they immediately caught my eye more than anything else in their showcase. Really great looking watches in person.

 

You'll find details/images of several on my blog: http://nivadanirvana.blogspot.com/

Nivada/Croton watches are very characterful and rewarding to own. Good luck with your search.

 

This is my dad's watch!

Tom

 

Some interesting story about the first model here:

https://www.watchbooksonly.com/arti...ian-kelly-croton-nivada-grenchen-chronograph/

 

Hi can anyone tell me about my version? This is the stick version with a landeron movement. But I’m not sure if it’s from 60s or 70s or much more about it. Thanks.

 

Nice watch!

According to the great reference book Chronomaster Only it dates from 1966/67 until end of 60ties.

 

very cool! Thanks. I don’t know where else
I could have gotten that Info. The only difference about mine that I can tell is it appears to be a reference 106/903006. At least that’s what it says on the caseback. Is there any mention of that reference in the book? Other than that it’s exactly like the one above.

 

Here some info regarding reference 106/903006 (here with white dial)
Edit: There is a typo error in the book. The table says 105/9030006, but the caseback photo 106.

 

If you understand french (or use a translator) here a good serie of articles about the CASD

Overview
Gen. 1: Venus 210
Gen. 2: Valjoux 92
Gen. 3: Valjoux 23/234
Gen. 4: Landeron 248
Gen. 5: Valjoux 77xx and 72
As you can see, they were written before the Chronomaster Only book exists and they were updated to recommend it.

Very quickly:
- Not counting specific versions, the Venus 210 is the most sought-after CASD, then the broad-arrow R23
- Gen. 1, Gen 2 and early Gen. 3 have a broad arrow (and Venus ones are broader)
- First panda came at the end of R92
- The R23 introduced stepped subcounters (afaik, from the start), then lollipop chrono hand, then baton hands
- L248 was only used by Croton

As usual with old watches and especially early tritium, a lot of dial varition exists and some are way more harder to find than others

 

Here is my Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Reference 85001 / 3011 with a "vintage" leather racing strap, newly acquired from Heuertime.

 

wow, that is an amazing version of the casd

 

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone here can help. My Dad recently showed me a watch he owns that I really liked the look of, and I've spent ages trying to find out more about it. After serveral weeks of searching and even purchasing Chronomaster Only, I know it's the first variant of the Chronomaster but it needs some TLC. I'm wondering if it's worth investing in getting it serviced (also needs a repair).

Any advice is appreciated.

 

1st Gen indeed, and for sure it worth service/repair it!

Now, be careful because I think the Chronograph Sea Diver used radium, not tritium.. A Geiger counter should go crazy next to this one, confirming radium presence. If it would be for my own usage, I will contact a skilled person and ask to relume the hands as they are flaking, making the watch especially dangerous if opened...

The hand relume would be the only cosmetic work I would do. You can eventually replace the chrono (central) hand as it seems bent a bit but good luck finding an original one I guess. Mine (Gen2) also had a slightly bent chrono hand, and I did not even bother to search for one