This Iconic Chronograph Is a Vintage Watch Collector’s Dream Come True

Nivada Grenchen’s new limited-edition Chronomaster is the closest thing to finding a 1970s vintage watch in brand-new condition.

By Brad Lanphear

Published May 29, 2025

·

Updated May 29, 2025

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Dead stock materials and products come about frequently with clothing and shoes, but are exceptionally rare with watches.

So when a watchmaker discovers a stockpile of 50 noteworthy Swiss-made movements that haven’t been produced since 1974, it is enough to send vintage watch collectors into a tizzy.

a black Nivada Grenchen watch with a brown strap — A dead stock Valjoux movement powers this limited-edition Chronomaster Broad Arrow.

That is precisely what happened when Nivada Grenchen, a brand fittingly resurrected from the archives in 2020, recovered and refurbished a set of Valjoux caliber 23 VZ manual-wound chronograph movements.

Of course, the movements were placed in Nivada Grenchen’s most iconic chronograph design, the Chronomaster Broad Arrow.

a Nivada Grenchen watch — The dead stock movements fit perfectly in the Chronomaster’s 38mm steel case.

In a brilliant twist, the stash was split between a black dial reference faithful to the 1970s original and a brand-new design with a starry speckled blue dial and matching world timer bezel.

A perfect pairing

The Valjoux caliber 23 VZ is a column-wheel mechanical chronograph movement invented in 1916. It was one of the first chronographs to feature a dual push-button design invented by Willy Breitling.

a Nivada Grenchen watch on a man's wrist — The Chronomaster Broad Arrow Valjoux 23 comes on a quick-release perforated leather strap.

It was famed during the golden age of racing chronographs for its precision and reliability, but eventually became obsolete and went out of production in 1974.

Accordingly, Nivada Grenchen refurbished the dead stock movements to meet conventional standards but retained the original look and put on a full display through an exhibition case back.

the back of a Nivada Grenchen watch — The dead stock movements are visible through the exhibition case back.

There are few watch designs out there that would be a better home for these new-old movements than the Chronomaster Broad Arrow. It is a deep-cut but still iconic design, first released in 1963.

Aside from the distinctive hour hand the watch is named after, it is defined by a unique combination of a regatta countdown track on the 30-minute chronograph totalizer and a dual track on the non-click bezel that indicates both hours and minutes.

a black Nivada Grenchen watch — The unique chronograph dial features a regatta countdown, tachymeter and dual-track bezel.

There is also a tachymeter track running along the dial’s outer rim, adding to this chronograph’s unique look and versatile function. It is not specifically designed for auto racing, boating, aviation or diving, but it can be useful in all of those pursuits.

Which explains the non-committal “Chronograph Aviator Sea Diver” stamped on the dial.

A starry watch

A unique design that Nivada Grenchen created specifically to house this special movement adds an extra layer of intrigue to this already highly covetable limited-edition watch.

a blue Nivada Grenchen watch — The speckled dial texture and world time bezel are both new to the Chronomaster Broad Arrow.

It has a navy blue dial splattered with white specks, as if a paintbrush were flicked at a wall, creating the look of an unobscured starry night sky. The same texture covers a world time bezel, another novel addition to this iconic chronograph.

The Holy Grail for all watch collectors, aside from some patina enthusiasts, is an untouched vintage reference that has sat in storage for decades. The Chronomaster Broad Arrow Valjoux 23 is the next best thing, offering a body and engine straight from 1963 but in brand-new condition.

Availability and pricing

The Nivada Grenchen Chromomaster Broad Arrow Valjoux 23 is available now from Nivada Grenchen for $5,000, but supplies are going fast.

The watches are shipping out in two waves, with the first 13 of each reference going out in July, and the remaining 12 in September.

As this article is being written, the first wave of both watches has already sold out.

Nivada Grenchen Chronomaster Broad Arrow Valjoux 23

Specs

Case Size	38mm
Movement	Valjoux caliber 23 VZ manual
Water Resistance	100m

$5,000 at Nivada Grenchen

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.