Movado Tempomatic 'NOS'

A time-only Movado from the 1950s - really any mechanical Movado from the 1950s for that matter, offers a ton of value in the watch world. 

Once a maker of brilliantly-designed, expertly produced timepieces, Movado's fall from grace into the fashion-driven budget watch brand is nothing short of painful to study. This brand has one of the single most beautiful and rich histories out there.

This lovely steel Tempomatic model is the very essence of understated and elegant post-war design. The Tempomatic collection was launched in 1945 as the brand's first automatic watch from the brand.

In entirely new old stock condition down to its hangtags, this Movado wears brilliantly and oozes an effortless simple beauty. Putting it apart from the pack is its grainy silvered dial with applied even Arabic indices and arrows for the odd indexes. A gold dauphine-style hand and red seconds hand top is all off. At the outer edge of the dial, a crisply printed 60-minute chapter ring adds a bit of sporty flair.

A Reference 96 Calatrava if you squint? Maybe, but it's also so much more. Plus, in new old stock condition, you can enjoy this Movado as originally designed!

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.