I am starting this thread following a discussion that began here. I imagine that this thread could serve as a place to discuss Movado dials from the 1930s and 1940s. To continue the aforementioned discussion, immediately below is an image of a watch/dial, posted by @themattedial, that @Modest_Proposal expressed skepticism about. Further below are other examples and a catalog image that were posted to illustrate various features. https://omegaforums.net/threads/fab-suisse-roll-call.20625/page-7#post-2084779 I posted this example to show what I see as one of the typical variants of a 1940s outer track. https://watchestobuy.com/images/Movado1940b.JPG I posted this example to show a less typical but seemingly original outer track, where the long markings do not touch the inner circle as they do on the previous example. https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/855128792/1940s-vintage-movado-calendomatic-wrist @Modest_Proposal posted this example to show a similar handest to the first example, but with a counterpoise on the second hand. @themattedial post this catalog image to show other examples (in addition to the first example in this thread) of dials with hour markers that consist of "pyramids" or squares and a printed line that connects them to the outer track. https://omegaforums.net/threads/fab-suisse-roll-call.20625/page-8#post-2084939 @themattedial posted this example to show a similar handset to the first example in this thread. https://omegaforums.net/threads/fab-suisse-roll-call.20625/page-8#post-2084941 I posted this example to show a similar dial to the examples in the catalog. https://www.watchnet.co.jp/en/item/view/1909
I am posting this dial to show an example with embossed, square hour markers. https://www.chrono24.it/movado/movado-48104-vintage-37-mm--id25365411.htm
I'm skeptical of the originality of the Chronometre dial. It would be nice to see the rest of the watch, but it is, in a number of respects, unlike any Movado Chronometre that I have seen. There are other issues, that were touched on by others in the original thread. As for this: I'd like to see an example with applied, or embossed markers, as I cannot recall having seen one.
One example was posted to the thread above by @DirtyDozen12 and here’s an example of an M95 with raised pyramid markers.
I found some photos and a video of the watch I took 3 years ago… sorry the logo is obstructed by some scratches on the plexi. I’ll try to grab it from the bank this week for higher res and more detailed photos! Appreciate the scholarly chat about this watch. Would love to see if any members have catalogs from Movado prior to 1946 (the only one I could find online)
I think @Tony C. meant an example with embossed or applied hour markers, and the printed lines that connect them to the outer track. Hour markers that are raised/applied and pyramidal/square-shaped are certainly not unusual, but the printed lines arguably are.
I agree, the long minute hand is a concern. I had not noticed the alignment/misalignment of "Fab. Suisse". I would still like to see other examples with "Fab. Suisse" at 6 o'clock, as it seem to be atypical for a Movado.
Ah yes! I’ll ask around and see if I can turn up some other examples or perhaps some catalogs. Either way, an interesting investigation!
If anyone is on IG, drop me your handle and I’ll send you the video… can’t seem to upload here for the sake of the thread I think we can all ASSUME refinish unless proven otherwise with examples.
This is correct. Furthermore, I not only agree that the length of the hands are red flags, but would also say that the margin outside of the red outer track is too wide. The combination of those two issues suggests a redial.
What’s interesting to me is, assuming a redial, presumably the dial has these pyramid markers beforehand, so im still very interested in finding some examples of late 30s/pre-1946 caliber 75 models with raised pyramid-style markers
Yes, I think that the raised hour markers would have originally been part of the dial. I suppose that the dial could have been swapped and refinished, but I am starting to notice that many Movado dials from the 1940s (based on style) have raised hour markers. Here are two examples with foil hour markers. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1542392931...VSJQ7JQPZvljnIWAH3_vggIw3jmn6KYYaAiUvEALw_wcBPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network https://cda.chronomania.net/forum_entry.php?id=199933&PHPSESSID=4416a8e1e0a956d0b80f7358a66eba76 And here are a couple of examples with somewhat similar case designs. http://www.db1983.com/our-archive/movado-oversized-three-tone-40mm-1938?imageID=0 https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUQ9J4OV5T/
Two more examples with flat bezels and center seconds. https://www.instagram.com/p/CksjnMTLjAi/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjn3MV1LPX8/
I believe the second one (black) was a loose dial that was fit into another case if my memory serves me correctly. Beautiful though.
Found a 30mm example from ‘45 in a borgel case with raised markers — no lines to the outer track on this one. https://www.blackbough.co.uk/product/movado-ref-18610-circa-1945-vintage-wristwatch-wzmme/
Yes, and the hands appear to be the correct length, in contrast to the Chronometre dial in question. I would also add that while the Chronometre and Movado printing look very good, that style (i.e. the curved "Chronometre) was rarely used by Movado, and especially so on round wristwatches. This one is a relatively early model: and this was even earlier: These were not *true*, certified chronometres, as they were designated in-house, and not sent to Observatories for official certification. Movado's certified, manual-wind wristwatch chronometres from the '50s were powered by cal. 126 movements, and, to my knowledge, invariably featured this type of (horizontal) chronometre designation: There were also some pocket watches with the curved variation, but they were rarely employed on wristwatches. So, we have a dial design that appears to be anomalous in some respects, and unique in others. It is arguably too clean to have been produced >70 years ago, and the hands do not appear to be the correct length. In my view, all roads seem to lead to the redial conclusion.
Yeah I also found a dirth of examples with the curved text variation, and all seemed to be from the late 30s or prior and with different signature styles. I think we're well convinced it's a redial, so I'm now more curious about exploring what it might have been prior to the redial.. especially with raised markers. I'm eager to get to the bank to see what clues I can find inside the case and if that might lead me to any catalogs or other examples from the same period. I also wasn't able to find any Movado examples with Fab. Suisse at 6, but did find several such examples by Patek (ref. 2508) Nor was I able to locate any example missing the counterpoise on the seconds hand.. so I'm eager to look at it under a loop to see if it may have been modified in any way.
Thanks for the info! Here is a pocket watch with what appear to be foil hour markers. https://watchout.co/shop-online/other-watches-clocks/movado-two-tone-dial-pocket-watch/