Achilles Ditesheim at the age of 19 founded LAI Ditescheim & Freres SA in 1881. With the help of 6 watchmakers, he built a workshop in the small village of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. In 1905 he renamed the company Movado meaning “always in motion” in the international language of Esperanto. In 1947 Nathan George Horwitt created the single dot watch dial. In 1960 Horwitts original design became the first watch dial ever to be accepted by the Museum of Modern Art, New York. In 2017 Movado Group purchased the Olivia Burton brand based in London, one of the fastest-growing fashion watch and jewellery brands in the UK. In October 2018 Movado Group acquired MVMT who specialise in selling quartz watches, sunglasses and jewellery. The Movado Group also owns Concord, Ebel.
We have here a 1953 Movado Calendoplan first introduced in 1950. Thick, 9ct gold 33.5mm round case made in Birmingham by A.L Dennison in 1953 as per the hallmarks, which means that this watch was made for the English market. The case gently curves toward the elegant lugs. A lug to lug length of 40mm ensures a comfortable fit on the wrist. At 10.5mm thick the watch has a classic profile. On the right side a crown and just underneath at 4 o’clock, you have a pusher for the date. A polished chamfered bezel holds a domed crystal. The white dial has applied gilded Arabic numerals and faceted spearhead indexes. At 3 o’clock is a date window that can be adjusted using the pusher at 4 o’clock. The hour and minute hands are tapered, Alpha shaped. At 6 o’clock a sub-seconds dial with engine-turned detailing. On the reverse a snap-on case back. Inside a Manually Wound Movado Cal. 128, 15 Jewels, 18000 beats per hour.
Extra Points
The watch is from 1953 and is in worn, vintage condition. As you can see from the photos, the watch is in overall great condition for the age, however, original attributes and beautifully preserved.
It comes fully serviced by our on-site workshop and with a 12 month, non-waterproof service cover.
What we think
This is a truly stunning condition and an objectively rare watch as it is likely the very first Movado to feature a date complication.
Spec Stuff
Reference : 13322
Movement : Manually Wound Movado Cal. 128 Age :1951/1960 Specific Age : 1953 Case Size : 33.5mm Case Thickness :10.5mm Lug to Lug :40mm Lugs : 18mm Condition : Pre-Owned Box & Papers : No Case Material : 9ct Gold Service History : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Rare Movado Calendoplan Model 13322 in 9ct Gold Dated 1953
