“Newman” Nivada

This is not a copy of the notorious Rolex Daytona Paul Newman from the late 1960's, rather one of the experimental graphics that the dial maker, Jean Singer, was proposing to his best clients and brands (Omega, Heuer, Longines, Universal Geneve, Rolex and many others).

At the time Singer was amongst the largest dial manufacturer in Switzerland, based in the town of Chaux-de-Fonds, and is now greatly appreciated for having produced amongst the most treasured and collectible exotic dials the watch world has to offer. Dials such as the Speedmaster exotic Racing, the colorful Heuer Skippera of the intensely blue exotic Nina by Universal, all dials made by the one and only Singer.

This particular Nivada features a very special dial for multiple reasons. First off, it features the famous art deco, Newman typography in the subcounters. Secondly, notice the red 'regatta' style minute counter in the subdials. This one is reminiscent of a very special Singer prototype dial that surfaced in a special Rolex-Omega-Universal Geneve booklet a few years ago. Rolex never approved of the design but that dial remains amongst the most collectible Rolex dials one can own. A unicorn.

And what to say about the lume cubes? To maintain a clean tachymetric scale, the lume is shifted to become the index, a bauhaus utility over form concept that marries perfectly to maintain, let's not forget, the true racing nature of the piece as the CASD model had a minute graduated bezel.

Furthermore, do notice the delightful detail of how the red tip of the chronograph hand smoothly curves towards the dial, perfectly wrapping around the minute hand. Pure Harmony.

All Housed in a steel 38mm, screwback case and powered by the might column-wheel chronograph module 23 made by none-other than Valjoux.

An overall combination of the best makers Switzerland had to offer during possibly the most exciting time watchmaking has ever experienced.