Difference between revisions of "Nivada Antarctic Models"

From Chronopedia
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The very first models appear without the Antarctic name - this appears post 1957, after the IGY US Navy Deep Freeze expedition. The watch model itself appears around 1954.  
 
The very first models appear without the Antarctic name - this appears post 1957, after the IGY US Navy Deep Freeze expedition. The watch model itself appears around 1954.  
  
 +
==Antarctic Only Dials==
 +
====Version One Early Date Model - Unsigned circa 1954-57 Ref 63====
 +
[[File:CNG antarctic date.jpg|thumb]]
 +
With the same flat lug case and big crown as the first series, these contain an ETA with date dial and no Antarctic subtext. It is assumed that these were made before the US Navy 1957 DeepFreeze tour as Nivada certainly used the marketing coup associated with the expedition to its maximum on a huge variety of dials after this date. The same watch also appears with the Antarctic name in an advert. This  ETA movement is mostly associated with models circa 1950-1954. The casebacks appear with various permutations of 63 so it is assumed this is the reference and the case type and movement (eg date or no date), 63L steel etc.
 +
* Radium dial and hands
 +
*Domed crystal with cyclops (square or round)
 +
* 17.5mm lug width
 +
* ETA 1258 with signed rotor
 +
* White dial, silver furniture, blued second hand (steel on gold-cased models)
 +
* 34mm width ex crown
 +
* screw caseback with 63L engraved (steel) 63Y (20micron rolled gold)
 +
*Larger winding crown
 
===Version One - Circa 1956 to 1964===
 
===Version One - Circa 1956 to 1964===
 
* Diameter (excluding crown): 35mm
 
* Diameter (excluding crown): 35mm
Line 21: Line 33:
 
  Early models are most popular with collectors having the distinctive hour markers, blued second hand, flat lugs and white sometimes textured dials, known as tundra.
 
  Early models are most popular with collectors having the distinctive hour markers, blued second hand, flat lugs and white sometimes textured dials, known as tundra.
  
====Version One Early Date Model - Unsigned circa 1954-57 Ref 63====
 
[[File:CNG antarctic date.jpg|thumb]]
 
 
With the same flat lug case and big crown as the first series, these contain an ETA with date dial and no Antarctic subtext. It is assumed that these were made before the US Navy 1957 DeepFreeze tour as Nivada certainly used the marketing coup associated with the expedition to its maximum on a huge variety of dials after this date. The same watch also appears with the Antarctic name in an advert. This  ETA movement is mostly associated with models circa 1950-1954. The casebacks appear with various permutations of 63 so it is assumed this is the reference and the case type and movement (eg date or no date), 63L steel etc.
 
* Radium dial and hands
 
*Domed crystal with cyclops (square or round)
 
* 17.5mm lug width
 
* ETA 1258 with signed rotor
 
* White dial, silver furniture, blued second hand (steel on gold-cased models)
 
* 34mm width ex crown
 
* screw caseback with 63L engraved (steel) 63Y (20micron rolled gold)
 
*Larger winding crown
 
  
 
[[File:Nivada-grenchen-antarctic-linen dial.jpg|thumb|Linen Dial Antarctic Circa 1960s]]
 
[[File:Nivada-grenchen-antarctic-linen dial.jpg|thumb|Linen Dial Antarctic Circa 1960s]]

Revision as of 16:38, 16 February 2021

For the history of these models read here
Croton blu hand.jpg


Nivada Antarctic Early Models

The very first models appear without the Antarctic name - this appears post 1957, after the IGY US Navy Deep Freeze expedition. The watch model itself appears around 1954.

Antarctic Only Dials

Version One Early Date Model - Unsigned circa 1954-57 Ref 63

CNG antarctic date.jpg

With the same flat lug case and big crown as the first series, these contain an ETA with date dial and no Antarctic subtext. It is assumed that these were made before the US Navy 1957 DeepFreeze tour as Nivada certainly used the marketing coup associated with the expedition to its maximum on a huge variety of dials after this date. The same watch also appears with the Antarctic name in an advert. This ETA movement is mostly associated with models circa 1950-1954. The casebacks appear with various permutations of 63 so it is assumed this is the reference and the case type and movement (eg date or no date), 63L steel etc.

  • Radium dial and hands
  • Domed crystal with cyclops (square or round)
  • 17.5mm lug width
  • ETA 1258 with signed rotor
  • White dial, silver furniture, blued second hand (steel on gold-cased models)
  • 34mm width ex crown
  • screw caseback with 63L engraved (steel) 63Y (20micron rolled gold)
  • Larger winding crown

Version One - Circa 1956 to 1964

  • Diameter (excluding crown): 35mm
  • Lug to lug: 42mm
  • Lug width: 18mm
  • Large crown for ease of winding whilst wearing gloves in cold conditions
  • Movement: Various automatic ETA 1256, 23xx, 24xx.
  • Power reserve: ~40 hours
  • Case: All stainless steel, later gold plated available.
  • White dial with radium lume and steel hands with lume
  • Blued second hand
  • Most non-date, some date versions - see below.
  • Dial lettering can contain Croton, Nivada Grenchen combinations.
Early models are most popular with collectors having the distinctive hour markers, blued second hand, flat lugs and white sometimes textured dials, known as tundra.


Linen Dial Antarctic Circa 1960s

Version Two - The Roman Numeral models

Antarctic II

Antarctic III

Nivada Antarctic III with Linen Dial

Most have been observed with linen dials which are very prone to wear, damage and marking sadly. The automatic movements are normally ETA derivatives

  • Circa 1959-1960
  • Linen dial with silver furniture and lumed silver hands
  • Diameter (excluding crown): 35mm
  • Lug to lug: 42mm
  • Lug width: 18mm
  • Height: 10mm
  • Movement: ETA 24xx and 2651 with various jewel counts.
  • Power reserve: ~40 hours
  • Case: All stainless steel with 6 point screwback
  • Straight lugs with bevel edge and drilled holes
  • Plain unsigned crown
  • Domed Crystal

Antarctic IV

Nivada Antarctic Chronometre

Rare chronometer version of the standard watch - sometimes seen in solid gold Click to read here about this special model

Links

Credits and Further Reading - https://www.vintagenivada.com/

Antarcticad2-440x1061.jpg