While Movado is now best known as a producer of fashion watches like the Museum Watch, Movado's roots go much deeper than that. The company’s history reaches all the way back to 1881, when watchmaker Achilles Ditesheim opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. His brothers Léopold and Isidore joined him in 1886.

Production from that point on proved how true the name brand was—it means "always in motion" in Esperanto. Throughout the 20th century Movado produced incredible mechanical timepieces. They gained notoriety for the sophistication of the equipment and technology they employed, including electric tools.

Unlike many of their counterparts, Movado's movements were designed and manufactured in-house.

In the late 1960s, they were acquired by Zenith, and enjoyed perhaps their greatest period of success as the subsidiary of that brand. Their chronographs (which used the famous Zenith El Primero movement), particularly, were successful sellers. But the extent of their offerings didn’t end there.

They also produced beautiful dress watches like the one we offer here. Like the famous Museum Watch, these dress watches had a visual design language that was entirely their own. Oversized, at 23mm by 43mm, it’s an unusual rectangular shape that references watches like the Cartier Tank Louis—but with a flair that’s unique to Movado.

The black dial (which has been refinished sometime throughout its life) is adorned with Breguet-style numerals and fancy hands, giving the watch a refined air that would make it look great when paired with a bespoke suit.