A brief saunter into the internet on the subject of Nivada typically yields three key points – that they made the versatile Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver chronograph, that the Antarctic range was popular (and had some memorable period adverts) following their use in the International Geophysicial year of 1957/58, and that they were branded Nivada, Nivada Grenchen or Croton depending on locale and decade.
By: James Vincent
Head-to-head! In this comparison, I’m going to determine a winner based on a grand total of points awarded strictly on technical merit. The watches will be judged on build quality, innovation and special features. I’m not judging the watch on appearance, aesthetics nor personal preference.
Points range from 1-10, with 10 being the best rating.
A watch can gain extra bonus points for unique or particularly functional features. Every bonus point feature can add up to 5 extra points.
But first a short description of our competitors’ key features and specifications…
In the 1920s a Tokyo jeweler named Kamekichi Yamazaki presented a pocket watch manufactured in Japan as a gift to the young Emperor Hirohito. At that time Japan’s watch market was dominated by Swiss and American brands. Yamazaki-san’s first commercial pocket watch was given the brand name “Citizen,” suggested by Tokyo Mayor Shinpei Goto in the hope every citizen might benefit from watches produced by the new company – a desire proven remarkably prophetic.
A client has finally found his personal grail watch after years of searching! It’s a IWC Ingenieur 666A calibre: 853. Lets get it running as it should!
Somehow I have gotten my hands on this classic Rolex Master-GMT.. It looks pretty clean, but the second hand is stuttering and the amplitude is low for a Rolex cal 1570. This has the two toned gold SS case, With a brown/burgundy gilt dial. This is the early mat dial version with the small luminous dots. This model has picked up the nickname “Eastwood” as it’s said to be Clint Eastwood’s favourite Rolex.
Among the premium manufactures of watchmaking’s golden age, Certina ranks as one of the most underappreciated and undervalued brands. Derived from the Latin certus (certain or reliable), Certina became synonymous with durability under the harshest conditions. Considered by some the equal of many better-known rivals such as Omega and Rolex, Certina was among the best values of its era – all the more so today on the vintage market.
If ever there was an appropriately named watch company, Eterna is just that! With the benefit of hindsight, it’s apparent the vast horological lineage descended from this single company bequeathed an eternal legacy to watchmaking. Eterna’s influence on both technological innovation and the Swiss watchmaking industry can hardly be overstated.
A customer has sent in his beautiful Eterna-Matic Centinaire ’61’. It is in excellent condition, but loosing time and due a service.
Tempus fugit, amor manet… “Time flees, but love endures,” or so goes the ancient Latin proverb. Although perhaps not a universal truth, it seems an apt expression for the enduring place Lemania holds in many collector’s hearts.
Here is a cool beast! J.Auricoste Type 20. Issued for the French air force in the early 1950’s. It features a Lemania calibre 2040! The crown keeps unwinding and the movement could do with a service.
