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Nivada Automatic Branca (Ref. 98216) Tiger Eye Stone Dial, 1970s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Nivada Automatic Branca (Ref. 98216) Tiger Eye Stone Dial, 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Nivada Grenchen (maker)
Date
1970s
Country of origin
Unrecorded in source
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
NVDAB98216
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (NVDAB98216)
Catalogue title (original)
1970s Nivada Automatic Branca (Ref. 98216) Tiger Eye Stone Dial (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number NVDAB98216), this is a wristwatch by Nivada Grenchen, dated 1970s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. 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

Nivada Grenchen was founded in the 1920s in Grenchen, Switzerland, and was actually one of the first watch brands to manufacture automatic watches. Nivada came up with several other modern wristwatch innovations as well, creating waterproof and “rustless” watches that would stand up to the rigors of the outdoor adventures for which they were created. SPECS Stock # NVDAB98216 Brand Nivada Style Branca Model 98216 Serial N/A Size Men's Material Gold-Plated Stainless Steel Dial Tiger Eye Stone Millimeters 36.5x40 Bracelet Nivada Gold-Plated Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The "like new" gold-plated tonneau-style case exhibits almost no signs of previous use and retains crisp angles and finishing throughout. The color of the gold-plating is darker which makes for a very interesting visual effect for the gold. The case retains its original Nivada-signed crown. The case retains its original faceted crystal. The original The case retains its original factory red case back protective sticker. The original Nivada gold-plated bracelet features a stretch extender in the clasp and remains virtually unworn aside from nominal aging to the plating, the bracelet exhibits no stretch and will fit up to a 7-inch wrist. DIAL & HANDS The original, funky, and beautiful tiger eye stone dial does exhibit some cracking however it blends with with the grain of the stone to be mostly unnoticeable. The original hands and the outer portion of the dial are in flawless condition. 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

Automatic (self-winding) watches

Self-winding watches use the wearer's motion to wind the mainspring. Abraham-Louis Perrelet and Breguet made 'perpétuelle' pocket watches with oscillating weights in the late eighteenth century, but the principle only became practical in the wristwatch. John Harwood patented a bumper automatic in 1923; Rolex's Perpetual rotor (1931) winding in one direction, and later bidirectional rotors (Eterna, Felsa Bidynator), established the modern form. Micro-rotors (Universal Genève, Buren) and peripheral rotors made automatic watches thinner.

What to look for

  • A semicircular rotor turning 360° over the movement, or a 'bumper' weight that rebounds between springs.
  • 'Automatic', 'Perpetual' or 'Self-winding' on the dial.
  • A sealed screw-back case, since automatic watches are wound less often by the crown.

Dating clues

  • Bumper automatics: 1923–c. 1955.
  • Full rotors: from 1931 (Rolex); widespread after c. 1950.
  • Micro-rotors: from 1954–1958.

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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