Movado M90/95 Thread

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Since I don't own the Movado book, I don't know if this strange numbering is explained there (for example, “It was normal in the 1930s and 1940s for Movado to randomly mount identical screw backs on different case types.”)
Probably not?
Nothing said about it. The book is nice but does not give a lot of insight anyway
 
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I did some more research on the 19008/19018 hybrid. After reclassifying 2 19008's (I sometimes have to base the numbers on stills from Insta reels and vague pics of the numbers between the lugs) I now know 6 of these hybrids. In short: 19008 is 35mm and 19018 is 33mm. The hybrid is a 19018 but in 35mm in stead of the regular 33mm. 19008 was made in 8 batches (I recorded 17 examples). After these batches came the hybrid batch. Made in 1940 and probably in 84 pieces. After the hybrid batch came 8 batches of 'real' i.e. 33mm 19018's (I know 46 examples).

Some other hybrids:

https://www.watchnet.co.jp/en/item/view/2474



https://veryimportantlot.com/en/lot/view/movado-chronograph-signiert-cartier-ref-19008-8553

https://catalog.antiquorum.swiss/en/lots/lot-28-3?browse_all=1&page=2&q=8091 (no reference mentioned but the serial fits)

 
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Really WTF. Same watch (look between 10&11 for the scratch).

 
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Think you are on to something! Pretty sure these are Movado. Nice research
I need a bit of help with this one. This two M95 with a Royal Norwegian Air Force engraving doesn't have matching serial numbers. The first one has serial number 3367 between the lugs and 103374 on the inside of the caseback. It also features the 'M' logo on the dial, which might not align with reference 19038 on the caseback. Can it be a -58 or -68 reference?

The second one doesn't have matching serial numbers either, but what makes this one interesting is that the serial number between the lugs is 3349, while the caseback is 104125. The serial numbers 3349, 3367, and 3374 are very close to each other, with a span of only 25 watches. This could indicate that the Air Force purchased several batches together. If you compare serial numbers 3349 and 3367, they feature different dials and were likely produced around 1959–1960?

I have a theory that some of these RNoAF-engraved watches were serviced in-house by the military and that parts were swapped. We know this happened with the Air Force's Heuer 1550s back in the '70s.
 
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Dials will have been replaced. Indeed serviced in house with CB's swapped similar to other military delivered watches.

I know 12 Norwegian AF's: 4x 19048 & 8x 19038. The 19048's delivered in 1949. Of the 19038's 6 are A103.3, probably around 25 made for NAF. 1 is A 103.5. 2 are A104.1. In total something like 100-200 of them delivered to NAF I think. The 19038's were delivered in 1956-1958. The ones you posted are both 19038's IMHO.

 
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Thanks for the quick reply🙌. I have seen an M95 19069 with a low matching serial number and Royal Norwegian Air Force( RNoAF) engraving. I know there are several Movado M90s and 95s out there, but I have also seen one Ebel and one Kronometer Stockholm. Regarding the number of watches the RNoAF acquired, I believe it is very difficult to estimate the exact quantity. I have tried to estimate the number of acquired 1550 Heuer Luftforsvaret, but it seems more or less impossible.
 
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Well find me a 19008 with this dial for less… With caseback this would have been a 30-50k watch nowadays
 
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ok, looks like i am missing expertise in these 😀 Thanks for the answer!