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The Legendary Movado Polyplan - Who has one?

  1. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Apr 10, 2021

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    I say legendary because I’ve been told of them and seen photos over the years and several of the most serious collectors I know have a real itch for these things yet they only appear scarcely at auction.

    I’ve put it in unique watches and complications as although it’s time only the movement is angular and definitely unique in its design. What’s more interesting is in an era of tiny watches the Polyplan was made in some very large oversized models that are almost like a cuff.

    Does anyone here have one or three rare Movados or interesting photos or information about examples and does anyone have an idea of how many or few were ever made?

    35F54CDE-6893-409A-AC51-6BBA69AE81A8.jpeg F1A9C228-5A4A-44B8-B0BA-6AE475B20F1F.jpeg
     
  2. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Apr 11, 2021

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    A bunch of people hit like but nobody seems to actually have one which is why I’m so keen to find an example of this, its like Moby Dick this really cool, highly wearable watch with a unique movement and brilliant design that nobody seems to have an example of yet it could be the coolest watch Movado ever made.
     
    Foo2rama likes this.
  3. Foo2rama Keeps his worms in a ball instead of a can. Apr 12, 2021

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    That’s fascinating, with the size why did they reinvent the wheel just to not have the crown at the side. It’s bonkers that that movement was the solution.

    Seriously cool.
     
  4. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Apr 12, 2021

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    I think the clean sides are a part of the design they considered really important but it could also just be by virtue of how the movement was designed with the mainspring off on one of the facets and the bulk of the watch on the main plane.

    Just looking at some auction results this one went for $115,000 back in 2007… with an estimate of $15K.

    Back in 2007 you could buy a 321 Speedmaster Pro for literally less than a new one, vintage hadn’t blown up yet at all yet this was a $115L watch back then…

    https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4982952

    And I still can’t even find a wrist shot of one of these things.
     
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  5. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 12, 2021

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  6. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Apr 12, 2021

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  7. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 12, 2021

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    It does indeed. I'm getting sucked into the rabbit hole of oblong watches.

    Cintree.JPG
     
  8. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 12, 2021

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  9. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 12, 2021

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    According to Christies:
    The Movado "Polyplan" was launched in 1912 and made in 18K and 14K gold as well as in silver cases, with or without subsidiary seconds. At the time it was such an expensive watch that apparently only around 1,500 examples were produced.
     
    Maybe and allwoundup like this.
  10. Radiumpassion Apr 13, 2021

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  11. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 13, 2021

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    This white gold version is extremely cool

    Polyplan.JPG
     
    Waltesefalcon and cristos71 like this.
  12. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 13, 2021

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    And this one which re-appeared couple of years later with an ugly redial (Sotheby's was 2011)


    Silver2.JPG Silver.JPG
     
    Edited Apr 13, 2021
  13. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    Side view

    8e986204-70d5-41ac-ba58-aacd00f0e094.jpg
     
  14. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    Did some research on this one and found 24 examples with both case serial and movement serial. Based on this and using the German tank number approach the number made prediction is even lower than the 1.500 which can be found on the internet: 942 based on movement and 1.163 based on case serials. Perhaps 1.000 is a more realistic number.

    Some other info: The Movado "Polyplan" was launched in 1912 and made in 18K and 14K gold and silver cases, with or without a second hand. Perhaps not surprising the silver one is the rarest (1 example of in total 52 examples found)

    I found the following references:
    - No reference (see pic)
    - 4002 (tonneau)
    - 4003 (tonneau)
    - 4009 (rectangular)
    - 4010 (tonneau)
    - 4100 (both rectangular and tonneau)
    - 44009 (rectangular)

    69842948_9_x.jpg
     
    Edited Apr 15, 2021
    Warthog, Syrte, Foo2rama and 5 others like this.
  15. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    Of the about 50 examples I have seen there was none I would describe as having a guaranteed original dial. Some possibilities:

    Based on the price the Christies one (pic is not sharp enough)
    Christies.JPG

    And 2 from Insta (although #2 is already doubful)
    Orig2.JPG Orig1.JPG
     
    Edited Apr 14, 2021
    Waltesefalcon and allwoundup like this.
  16. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    And for the fun of it a couple of them with very close serials!

    346
    346.jpg
    348
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    350
    350.jpg
     
    Edited Apr 14, 2021
    Waltesefalcon and Duracuir1 like this.
  17. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    692
    693.jpg
    693
    692.jpg
     
    Waltesefalcon, Duracuir1 and Maybe like this.
  18. SkunkPrince Apr 14, 2021

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    That seems like it would be inconvenient to difficult to wind?
     
  19. Radiumpassion Apr 14, 2021

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    Cool to see so close serial and so different designs. Like they made each piece unique:)
     
  20. Mark020 not the sharpest pencil in the ΩF drawer Apr 14, 2021

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    Think the issue is more 100+ year of wear, maintenance, polish and redials