The Vintage Autochron: A Prototype That Never Reached Production The Nivada Grenchen Autochron is one of the most mysterious and intriguing watches in the brand’s history. Unlike its more famous siblings, the Chronomaster and Depthmaster, the Autochron never entered full-scale production. Instead, it remained a prototype, with only about 20 known examples produced in the late 1970s, making it an exceptionally rare collector’s piece today. Designed as a multi-sport Autochron, the Autochron was intended to be a versatile timing instrument that could cater to both racing and diving enthusiasts. It featured an unconventional dial layout, a rotating bezel, and a date function, making it one of the more experimental designs in the world of sports watches. However, despite its promising features, the model was never released to the public, remaining an obscure piece of Nivada Grenchen’s heritage—until now.