Our history

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1879 and 1920

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The origins of Nivada date back to the late 19th century. In 1879, what was then a small family business was founded in the heart of Grenchen, a small town in southwestern Switzerland that, along with Geneva and Bern, helped establish the country's reputation as a producer of the highest quality watches in the world. However, it wasn't until the 1920s that Jacob Schneider officially registered the brand as Wullimann Schneider Nivada SA.
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1930s

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During the 1930s, Nivada established itself as one of the leading companies in the manufacture of automatic watches, small ladies' watches, double-dial models, and stainless steel pieces, reflecting the firm's interest in the innovations of the time.

Nivada was also one of the first brands to introduce the automatic watch to the market, standing out as a pioneer in chronograph watches, diving watches and a successful line of chronometers.
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1940s

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From the 1940s onward, the watchmaking industry capitalized on technological advancements and major events of the era to leave its mark on history. Watches that accompanied famous figures, that were present when the sound barrier was first broken, or at the dawn of space exploration. Timepieces that sailed the seas, plunged into the oceans, and explored uncharted lands… It was the age of great expeditions and sporting events.

Nivada pioneered the creation of diving chronographs, capable of diving to depths of up to 200 meters for the first time.
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1950s

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Nivada's leading role came in the mid-1950s, during the International Geophysical Year. Nivada supported the US Navy's Operation Deep Freeze I with a rugged, antimagnetic, and waterproof watch called the "Antarctic." This model was used by members of the expedition on their first mission to the South Pole, the last region of Earth that remained unexplored at the time.

Nivada continued producing various models of the “Antarctic” for many more years…
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1960s

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In 1960, the Swiss Federation of Watchmakers (Fédération Horlogère) created a working group called “Chronographs and Stopwatches,” headed by Willy Breitling. In 1962, they launched a major promotional campaign for chronographs in most European countries, supported by manufacturers who introduced new models. The result exceeded all expectations: Swiss chronograph exports to Europe rose from 52,000 units in 1964 to over 1,973,000 in 1969.

The Nivada Chronomaster embodies the essence of Swiss chronographs from the 1960s: a unique name, an unmistakable design, and a wide variety of dials and calibers.

Launched in 1963, the Chronomaster was introduced as a diving chronograph water-resistant to 200 meters. Its dial bore three distinctive inscriptions: “Chronomaster, Aviator, Sea Diver,” reflecting its versatility on land, sea, and air. It featured a black dial with a steel case, a graduated rotating bezel, round pushers, and an arrow-shaped hour hand—features that became its hallmark.

The Chronomaster was a great success, and its production continued until the late 1970s.
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1970s

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In 1960, the Swiss Federation of Watchmakers (Fédération Horlogère) created a working group called “Chronographs and Stopwatches,” headed by Willy Breitling. In 1962, they launched a major promotional campaign for chronographs in most European countries, supported by manufacturers who introduced new models. The result exceeded all expectations: Swiss chronograph exports to Europe rose from 52,000 units in 1964 to over 1,973,000 in 1969.

The Nivada Chronomaster embodies the essence of Swiss chronographs from the 1960s: a unique name, an unmistakable design, and a wide variety of dials and calibers.

Launched in 1963, the Chronomaster was introduced as a diving chronograph water-resistant to 200 meters. Its dial bore three distinctive inscriptions: “Chronomaster, Aviator, Sea Diver,” reflecting its versatility on land, sea, and air. It featured a black dial with a steel case, a graduated rotating bezel, round pushers, and an arrow-shaped hour hand—features that became its hallmark.

The Chronomaster was a great success, and its production continued until the late 1970s.
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1980s

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A technological innovation in the watchmaking industry marked an evolutionary step that completely transformed watch components: the transition to quartz and digital watches. This phenomenon led to the decline of many traditional brands and, at the same time, the rise of many others.

Nivada, renowned for its innovative spirit and the design of highly durable watches, began developing a strategy capable of appealing to all types of consumers: from lovers of mechanical watches with classic designs to the young and avant-garde. In this way, Nivada did not join the ranks of brands that succumbed to the technological revolution, but rather adapted to new trends without losing its essence, managing to satisfy diverse consumer profiles.
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1900s and 2000s

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The result of solid design and identity work gave rise to a new brand image. Nivada reinvents itself and presents new collections such as “Millionaire,” “Skymaster,” “Moonmaster,” and the “N Collection,” a line of ladies' watches that preserves the essence of Swiss watchmaking, with an elegant and sophisticated style, and exclusive designs from the brand.

At the same time, and always maintaining a strong connection to its Swiss heritage, two watch families were launched that showcased all the attributes of watchmaking engineering: “Rockefeller” and “Swissmaster.” These timepiece collections encapsulated the highest demands of connoisseurs, without forgetting the fundamental essence of wearing a Swiss automatic watch.

Nivada has also distinguished itself through its great advertising campaigns, creative and innovative, always of unparalleled taste, in which prominent personalities from the sports and artistic fields have participated as ambassadors, such as Óscar “El Conejo” Pérez and the renowned Mexican actress and model Lorena Rojas.
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2010s

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Nivada continues to demonstrate, with each of its watch families, the Swiss quality it has forged over the years.

True to its mission of establishing itself as a distinguished brand, creating watches that accompany discerning travelers, Nivada refreshed its image in 2014, adapting to new trends with a clean and fresh design. This allowed it to meet the demands of new markets without losing the essence that has characterized it for decades. This graphic update highlighted the colors red and white, emphasizing original and classic shapes that evoke its place of origin: Grenchen, Switzerland.

In 2015, Nivada revived the Grenchen family with a new model: the “Nivada Grenchen”, a chronograph with a retro and adventurous spirit that pays homage to the brand's origins in the 50s and 60s, but reinterpreted with a modern design, intended for new generations.