Why This Watch Matters Who wouldn't want to wake up to the cool tones of this stainless-steel Nivada Alertamatic? The Full Story The watch company Nivada was founded in 1926 in Grenchen, Switzerland, by Otto Wüllimann, Hermand Schlindler, and Jacob Schneider with the name of Wulliman, Schneider, Nivada SA. Nivada’s strategy from the beginning was to create professional watches that fulfilled a purpose. Whether that entailed enhanced water resistance for diving, an alarm for day-to-day life, or general robustness to survive any sort of sporting encounter, the watches were made with the user in mind. In a world before the iPhone alarm was ubiquitous, the wrist alarm was one of the most practical complications a watch could offer. Vulcain's Cricket found a massive market in the 1940s; it was not long before brands like Nivada had developed their own. Where the Cricket is very '40s feeling, Nivada's Alertamatic is very much of the '70s. The case feels at home next to the various vintage 1970s watches we have around the office, such as the Speedmaster Mark II and the Heuer Autavia. Setting and arming the alarm is all done through the chronograph pusher-looking button near two o'clock. In fact, this "pusher" does not push down at all. Pulling it out all the way allows for the alarm time to be adjusted, indicated by the orange arrow on the Alertamatic's inner disc, while leaving the pusher in the middle position arms the alarm. All winding and time-setting is done through the more conventional-looking crown at four o'clock, but in order to set the time, the pusher at two needs to be pulled out to the first position (half way out). A small button right at three o'clock allows for quick-setting the date. We paired this stainless-steel Alertamatic with our Reid strap in slate grey to play off of the case metal as well as the grey tones on the dial. The slate color has the great effect of bringing out the blue on the dial's inner disc as well. The Fine Print Maker: NivadaModel: AlertamaticReference: 9751Year: 1970sCase No: N/AMovement No: 3059732Material: Stainless steelDimensions: 39mm width x 43.5 height; 14mm thicknessCrystal: PlexiglassLume: Yes, tritiumCaliber: Nivada-signed Lemania, self-winding, caliber 2980Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE The Reid Goatskin Watch Strap In Slate GreyLug Width: 20mmBox/Papers: No What We Love And What You Should Know Things We Love: - Blue and grey dial design- Excellent overall condition- Alarm complication Things To Know: - Light scratches on case This Alertamatic is in overall very good condition. The case shows some light surface scratches and light nicks on the edges, but it's generally sharp and shows what appears to be the original finishes on the top of the case; it is likely unpolished. The caseback has a few scratches from previous removal attempts. The dial is very clean with a slight patina overall. The lume on the dial as well as on the hands have mostly darkened in varying degrees of patina with the exception of the plot at six o'clock which presents more off-white and creamy. The hands and hour markers themselves have developed slight patina. The crystal has a fracture near 12 o'clock. The dial and movement are signed by Nivada. The alarm pusher and crown are correctly unsigned and of the correct shape. This watch was photographed on a 175mm/6.9inch wrist.
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