Nivada Chronograph (Ref. 14301) Blue Dial 'Valjoux Cal. 7730', 1970s — view 1 of 6 — View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Nivada Chronograph (Ref. 14301) Blue Dial 'Valjoux Cal. 7730', 1970s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.

Maker / attribution: Nivada Grenchen (maker)
Date: 1970s
Historical period: Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Country of origin: Unrecorded in source
Object type: Wristwatch
Dealer: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Stock no.: NVDA14301
Credit line: Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (NVDA14301)
Catalogue title (original): 1970s Nivada Chronograph (Ref. 14301) Blue Dial 'Valjoux Cal. 7730' (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number NVDA14301), 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 # NVDA14301 Brand Nivada Style Chronograph Model 14301 Serial N/A Size Men's Material Stainless Steel Dial Blue / White Millimeters 37.5 Strap 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET The handsome cushion-shaped stainless steel case features gentle signs of use with minimal signs of previous polishing present. The case retains its original unsigned crown and pump pushers. The case back retains all of its original factory markings along with the engraved scuba-diver motif. The watch comes supplied on a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The blue sunburst dial features white sub-dials with a corresponding white outer timing track and remains in excellent condition overall, showing minimal age and no damage. The tritium lume plots all remain perfectly intact when inspected under UV light and have achieved a lovely eggshell patina. The original hands were previously restored with tritium and remain fully inspected under UV light. ACCESSORIES None. The watch is keeping time, but the service history is unknown. A movement service can be provided upon request.

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 timeline More wristwatches from this period Earlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

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.

Mechanisms mentioned

Chronograph — Complication
Self-winding (automatic) mechanism — Component

Record completeness

Maker or attributionRecorded
DateRecorded
Place or countryNot in source
MaterialsNot in source
DimensionsNot in source
Narrative descriptionRecorded
Inscriptions / marksNot in source
ProvenanceNot in source
Several photographsRecorded

Editorial status: Documented — facts as published by the source; not independently verified by Atlas editors.

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Sources & image rights

Record source: Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (opens another website in a new tab).

Image rights: © Craft & Tailored — dealer photographs; permission required (opens another website in a new tab).

Images are hosted by the Atlas for study and credited to their owner. Rights holders may request correction, credit changes or removal, or grant permission, via the editorial office.

Cite this record

"Nivada Chronograph (Ref. 14301) Blue Dial 'Valjoux Cal. 7730', 1970s." Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles, NVDA14301. Catalogue record in The Horology Atlas, WatchMuseum.org, https://atlas.watchmuseum.org/museum/nivada-chronograph-ref-14301-blue-dial-valjoux-cal-7730-1970s-58ac38.