Croton is a long-standing watch brand established in New York in 1878 by Jacob Horton, initially operating as a watch and jewelry trade business. In 1928, the company formally became Croton Watch Co. Inc. under the leadership of the founder’s son, Harold I. Horton, who had completed formal watchmaking education in Switzerland. The company expanded its operations by assembling watches from Swiss and American components and eventually moved its headquarters to Croton-on-Hudson, New York, in 1963.
Watch enthusiasts historically valued Croton for its mid-20th-century timepieces, largely due to a long-term partnership formed in the late 1930s with Swiss manufacturer Nivada Grenchen. This partnership allowed Croton to distribute Swiss-built mechanical timepieces in the United States, combining high-grade calibers from makers like Valjoux and ETA with practical designs. Collectors were drawn to the brand’s ability to offer professional instrument features—such as high water resistance, dual-scale bezels, and multi-register chronographs—at accessible price points.
Key models from Croton’s historic catalog include the Chronomaster Aviator Sea Diver, a multi-functional chronograph introduced in 1963 that combined dive watch water resistance with flight-calculation bezel scales. Another prominent release was the Skymaster, an aviation-inspired chronograph known for its distinct dial layout and tachymeter inner bezel. The brand also established the Aquamatic line, which featured durable automatic movements designed for everyday wear and diving utility. In more recent history, ownership shifted to Nationwide Time in 1991 and subsequently to Digital Artistry in 2024.