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Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (Ref. 106) "Yachting" Valjoux Cal. 7733, 1970s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (Ref. 106) "Yachting" Valjoux Cal. 7733, 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Croton (maker)
Date
1970s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 38 mm
Stock no.
CTNCASD106Y
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (CTNCASD106Y)
Catalogue title (original)
1970s Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver (Ref. 106) "Yachting" Valjoux Cal. 7733 (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number CTNCASD106Y), this is a wristwatch by Croton, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 38 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

The Chronomaster range of watches from Nivada Grenchen and Croton were produced at a time when adventures and exploration were at the forefront of what was happening in the world and within the pop culture of the 1960s. Within the expansive world of vintage timepieces, there is no uncertainty that vintage tool watches hold a particular position within the minds of numerous collectors. The 1960s and 1970s were what we now know as the golden era of sports watch design where the form of a watch needed to meet its intended function to support the adventures that the watch was created for. Nivada Grenchen or Croton in the States was founded in Grenchen, Switzerland in the 1920s by Jacob Schneider, Nivada Grenchen was actually one of the first watch brands to manufacture automatic watches. Nevada encompassed other modern wristwatch innovations as well, creating waterproof and “rustless” watches that would stand up to the rigors of the outdoor adventures they were creating a watch for. This Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver ref. 106 “yachting” utilizes a Valjoux cal. 7733 chronograph movement with a simple and no-nonsense dial that is beautifully executed and in flawless condition, featuring a vibrant red and blue 10-minute countdown on the left sub-dial. The classic large stainless steel 38mm stainless steel case with long and angled lugs and The case is outfitted with an aluminum minute/hour bi-directional bezel that is not only unique but useful. The Aviator Sea Diver covers all of these classic sport watch queues from this golden era of classic sports watch design. SPECS Stock # CTNCASD106 Brand Croton Style Aviator Sea Diver Model 106 Serial 031 Size Men's Material Stainless steel Dial Matte Black "Reverse Panda" Millimeters 38 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The charmingly angular case is very well-preserved with honest signs of light use and crisp geometry throughout. The bi-directional bezel exhibits general wear and is in overall excellent condition. The unsigned crown and large pump pushers remain original to the watch. The case back retains its factory engraving in clear and visibly present condition. The watch will come supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The matte black (reverse-panda) dial with white sub-dials is exceptional, showing no damage whatsoever. The white sub-dials remain crisp with no age or wear present. The tritium-filled markers have achieved a beautiful creamy patina and exhibit no degradation when inspected under U.V. light. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly with no degradation present under U.V. light inspection. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Dive and water-resistant watches

Keeping water and dust out of a wristwatch was a long-standing challenge. Rolex's screw-down Oyster case (1926) and Omega's Marine (1932) were landmarks; in the early 1950s Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms and Rolex's Submariner defined the professional dive watch with rotating bezels for timing dives, luminous dials and high water resistance. The ISO 6425 standard (1982) later codified what a 'diver's watch' must do.

Dive watches became icons of post-war design and exploration, and their evolution — helium escape valves, ceramic bezels, saturation-diving depth ratings — records the history of underwater work.

What to look for

  • Unidirectional or bidirectional rotating bezel with minute markings.
  • Screw-down crown and case back; depth rating printed on the dial.
  • Luminous hands and markers (radium before c. 1960, tritium c. 1960–1998, then Super-LumiNova).
  • Reference numbers on the case between the lugs or inside the back.

Dating clues

  • Screw-down Oyster cases: from 1926.
  • Professional dive watches: from 1953.
  • Tritium 'T' marks on dials: c. 1960–1998.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

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