Exceedingly Rare and Iconic ** Movado Flagship Art Deco Pocket Watch, Sterling Silver Overlaid with Snakeskin, Switzerland 1920s **
Already by 1905 the name Movado had become synonymous with technical excellence, high precision and horological innovation, winning numerous observatory distinctions as well as international exhibition grand prizes. Then additionally, the Firm’s new models began to emphasize a new focus on aesthetics and in particul novel modern art-inspired designs.
The high Art Deco piece presently offered for your consideration constitutes a prime example of this artistic pursuit. Displaying exceptional avant-garde use of sterling silver sheathed in precious skins, it constitutes the very first example of a design concept which Movado would carry forward into their subsequent flagship line – the Ermeto – from the late-1920s through 1985.
Other notable examples of the Firm’s pursuit of aesthetic innovation included the Polyplan arched wristwatch launched in 1921; the aforementioned Ermeto golf/purse watch; the minimalist ‘Museum Watch’ honored by the MAMCO; the Andy Warhol Pop-Art Bracelet Watch, and more.
This high-fashion pocket watch’s is complemented by an integral plaited buttonhole ‘chain’ as well as unusual seconds counter at the 12 o’clock position to facilitate time measurement. Inside there beats a marvelously executed mechanical movement with individual screw-fastened chatons to hold the Jewels, cog actuated precision speed regulator mechanism and an overall attention to detail symbolically expressed by the Geneva wave-finish applied to the movement bridges.
From the inside, this eminently sophisticated work of horologc,al art unfailingly will command attention and admiration from collectors and connoisseurs. The outside will invite collectors who embrace exceptional design, art and aesthetics.
- Dimensions: 48 mm diameter, excluding the pendant and ‘chain’
- Dial: Factory-Original signed: Movado, Swiss
- Case Signature: Movado “Hand & Watch” trademark, BREVET, PATENT, MOVADO FACTORIES, SWISS
- Hallmark: Fully hallmarked with 0.935 and Swiss Silver Mark
- Condition: Excellent
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Movado Watch Company history
The Movado Watch Company was founded 1881 in La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland by Achille Ditisheim. The company name corresponds to the Esperanto term for “always in motion”.
From the onset, together with his team of six watch makers, Ditisheim manufactured and assembled all watches by hand.
By 1899, their hard work and determination paid off. They were awarded six first-class Official Rating Certificates by the Swiss Observatory. The following year, they received the Silver Medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris.
In 1910, Movado won several grand prix exhibitions in Paris, Rome, Brussels and Rio de Janeiro for their 8 ligne wristwatch movements. The introduction of the curved movement Polyplan watch in 1912 took the watch community by storm.
In 1947, American designer Nathan George Horwitt created the first Museum Watch, exhibited in the MOMA. It featured an uncluttered dial, with a simple gold dot marker at the 12:00 position. He likened the design to that of a sun-dial, like recognizing the sun at its zenith at high noon. Movado later teamed up with designers and artists such as Andy Warhol to create one-of-a-kind limited-edition watches, which reside in museums, galleries, and collections today.
