Rare Croton Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver Date Valjoux 234 - SOLD
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The Nivada Grenchen and Croton Chronomasters are becoming a staple in vintage chronographs and for good reason. They’ve got the ingredients for what makes a collectible watch, a sporty case design, water resistance, a rotating bezel, and multiple documented variations featuring different dials and movements.
One of the most sought after variants belongs to the Nivada Chronoking, which added a date at 12 o’clock to the Chronomaster while keeping all that signature style. These tend to be a bit more scarce (and expensive) and are all equipped with column wheel Valjoux movements. Croton, Nivada’s rebranding for the US market (after a tiff with Movado) got in on the action too, but these watches kept the Chronomaster name rather than adopt the Chronoking moniker. The Croton Chronomaster Date versions are extremely hard to find (seriously, try to find another one) and this example even has the “exotic dial” with reflective rings on the subdials.
These were built back when watches were used as tools and as such they often show quite a bit of wear. While this Chronomaster certainly has been used as intended over the years, it’s still in very good condition. The case shows its original signature chamfers, and the rotating bezel insert is mostly unscarred. The dial and hands are in wonderful condition which can be seen through the like new recently replaced acrylic crystal.
Take a look at the pictures and our condition run-down below:
Case: 38mm stainless steel case in good vintage condition. The case shows minor surface scratching and wear throughout with some small nicks and dings present as shown in the photos. The case looks to be unpolished and retains its original chamfers. The crown and pushers appear to be original.
Bezel: 60 minute bidirectional timer bezel in good vintage condition with minor scratching and color fading as shown. The bezel color is still a sharp black that matches the dial well.
Dial/Hands: Original dial and handset in wonderful condition as shown. The dial is free from marks or stains. The tritium in the hour plots and hands have faded to a great even creamy patina throughout the dial. The subdials are grey in the inner half with reflective rings for the outer half. The hands are also original and match the dial’s lume plots perfectly. There is a small crack in the lume of the hour hand.
Caseback: Original screw down caseback in excellent condition with only minor surface wear as shown.
Crystal: Domed acrylic crystal that was recently replaced in excellent condition.
Movement: Valjoux 234 manual wind chronograph date movement in excellent condition. Movement is extremely clean and all functions work as they should including the chronograph start, stop, and reset. The watch keeps very good time although the service history is unknown.
Bracelet/Strap: New vintage style brown leather strap with SS buckle.
Accessories: None, sold as watch only.
One of the most sought after variants belongs to the Nivada Chronoking, which added a date at 12 o’clock to the Chronomaster while keeping all that signature style. These tend to be a bit more scarce (and expensive) and are all equipped with column wheel Valjoux movements. Croton, Nivada’s rebranding for the US market (after a tiff with Movado) got in on the action too, but these watches kept the Chronomaster name rather than adopt the Chronoking moniker. The Croton Chronomaster Date versions are extremely hard to find (seriously, try to find another one) and this example even has the “exotic dial” with reflective rings on the subdials.
These were built back when watches were used as tools and as such they often show quite a bit of wear. While this Chronomaster certainly has been used as intended over the years, it’s still in very good condition. The case shows its original signature chamfers, and the rotating bezel insert is mostly unscarred. The dial and hands are in wonderful condition which can be seen through the like new recently replaced acrylic crystal.
Take a look at the pictures and our condition run-down below:
Case: 38mm stainless steel case in good vintage condition. The case shows minor surface scratching and wear throughout with some small nicks and dings present as shown in the photos. The case looks to be unpolished and retains its original chamfers. The crown and pushers appear to be original.
Bezel: 60 minute bidirectional timer bezel in good vintage condition with minor scratching and color fading as shown. The bezel color is still a sharp black that matches the dial well.
Dial/Hands: Original dial and handset in wonderful condition as shown. The dial is free from marks or stains. The tritium in the hour plots and hands have faded to a great even creamy patina throughout the dial. The subdials are grey in the inner half with reflective rings for the outer half. The hands are also original and match the dial’s lume plots perfectly. There is a small crack in the lume of the hour hand.
Caseback: Original screw down caseback in excellent condition with only minor surface wear as shown.
Crystal: Domed acrylic crystal that was recently replaced in excellent condition.
Movement: Valjoux 234 manual wind chronograph date movement in excellent condition. Movement is extremely clean and all functions work as they should including the chronograph start, stop, and reset. The watch keeps very good time although the service history is unknown.
Bracelet/Strap: New vintage style brown leather strap with SS buckle.
Accessories: None, sold as watch only.
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