Movado Yellow Gold 'Calatrava'

Many watch brands suffer from their modern image being at odds with their historic identity.

Movado isn't what it used to be. And that's sad - because once upon a time, the brand made some of the cleanest and most elegant timepieces on the market - even getting the notoriety of placement in some of the world's most prestigious retail shops; including the legendary Tiffany & Co., and even Cartier.

This vintage classic Calatrava is a perfect representation of the once legendary presence Movado had in the watch industry. This Calatrava features many of the details we saw on watches at multiples of the price. For example, the dauphine handset and applique indexes look just like their Patek counterparts.

Featuring an automatic-winding movement within, this watch is wrist-ready for everyday use.

Featuring a yellow gold case with a simple satin silver dial with applied indices, and dauphine hands, this is a handsome watch no matter the brand.

The truth of the matter is vintage Movado is somewhat esoteric. There is a small but growing number of collectors who have been focusing on the deep well of unique and undervalued watches from the brand, but until recently, Movado has been somewhat under the radar of the larger collector world.

Pieces like this however- especially with its mid-century classical styling- won't stay off the radar for much longer.

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 made killer dress watches like the one we have here.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.