For sale we have a good and handsomely aged example of an early 1950s Nivia Triple date moonphase wrist watch, in a chunky and sturdy 36mm Stainless case. It has an excellent original dial, with original day month and moonphase windows, as well as the original painted date pointer tip. The dial is nicely aged and in good condition. Inside is a Valjoux 90 movement which has been serviced. All functions work excellently. This is a very good example of a collectable triple date moonphase from the period.
Nivia watch company was founded in 1919 by watch makers Marc Viatte and Raoul Guenin, in Bienne, Switzerland. They produced good quality Swiss made time pieces, making use of various movements, from manufactures such as AS, Pesuex and Valjoux.
This example is from the late 1940s – early 1950s. It has an excellent original silver powder finished dial. It has a handsomely aged dial, with the powder silver tone slightly darker in areas, but with an even finish. The outer date chapter ring is bright with satin shine, whilst the blue date numerals are clean and clear. The minutes/seconds track is clear with 1/5 second graduations, within a second and 5 second Arabic signed markers. The applied gold tone numerals are nicely balanced with dot hour marks between arrow markers at 3,6 and 9, whilst 12 O’clock has clear numerals in Arabic font. The date windows are faceted, falling to the to white day month windows, with blue signing. The moonphase is in great condition with the classic smiling moon of the era. The Nivia signing is clear on the dial.
The Lance Alpha hour and minute hand are original, as is the tapered central second hand. The silver tone date pointer hand with red tip is original and good, with painted tip.
The polished Stainless Steel 35.5mm x 35.5mm round case is well proportioned for the era and is sturdy, with an imposing thick design. It is a three-piece case with snap on front and back, with thick centre piece. The lugs are tapered to follow the shape of the case, as well as downwards to fit the wrist neatly. The notched bezel adds to the texture of the case. The highly polished snap on back is good and fits well. To the right of the case is the thick original crown which allows easy winding.
The watch is presented on tan colour leather strap, non-original, with un-signed Stainless buckle.
The movement is a Valjoux 90. It is manual wind with shock protection and sweep second hand. It has day, date and month display, with moonphase. The day and month is set with the pusher at 10 O’clock (push deeper for day), the date hand is set at 8:30 and the moonphase set with the pusher at 4 O’clock.
The movement is in good condition and is working well, having been serviced by ourselves. It is keeping time to + or – 3 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 315 degrees and a beat error of 0.0 m/s.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
Dial:
The silver tone dial is in good original condition. The Outer date chapter ring is bright, with original blue date numerals. The centre of the dial has a powder finish with slightly darkened tone with age. The signing is all good and clear, whilst the hour markers are good and original. They have some corrosion associated with ageing. Date windows in blue also good and original, as is moonphase painted finish.
Hands:
The Lance Alpha hour and minute hand are original, in gold tone with some slight corrosion to the finish. The tapered central second hand is also original. The silver tone date pointer hand with red tip is original and good, with painted tip.
Glass:
The acrylic crystal is a replacement and is in excellent condition with no marking.
Crown:
The Stainless crown is original and large for easy winding.
Case:
The case is three-piece, form of Stainless Steel. It has a snap on bezel with thick solid centre section and snap on back. The case has some notched marks where a blade has been used to pop off the bezel and case back on the left-hand side. The pushers have some marks associated with being pressed. Overall it is in good original condition with light surface scratching.
Caseback:
The snap on case back is Stainless Steel and is in good for the age. It has light surface scratching.
Strap:
The watch comes on tan colour leather strap, non-original, with un-signed Stainless buckle.
Movement:
The movement is a Valjoux 90. It is manual wind with shock protection and sweep second hand. It has day, date and month display, with moonphase. The day and month is set with the pusher at 10 O’clock (push deeper for day), the date hand is set at 8:30 and the moonphase set with the pusher at 4 O’clock.
The movement is in good condition and is working well, having been serviced by ourselves. It is keeping time to + or – 3 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 315 degrees and a beat error of 0.0 m/s.
Case dimensions:
Case width: 35.5mm
Case width with crown: 37.5mm
Case length: 35.5mm
Case length lug to lug: 42mm
Case Depth: 12mm
Lug width: 18mm