Movado M95 U.S.A.A.F. Issued Chronograph

Today, Movado is best known for its sleek Museum Watch and accessible fashion designs. But from the 1930s through the 1960s, the brand was a serious player in Swiss watchmaking, producing rugged, precision-built timepieces that could easily hold their own against the likes of Omega or Longines.

Among the most coveted models from that golden era are the chronographs powered by Movado’s Calibre M90 and M95—modular movements developed by Frédéric Piguet that earned a reputation for their reliability and refined engineering. These watches came in countless configurations, from sporty steel cases to elegant multi-scale dials, and remain beloved by collectors today.

This particular example, dating to the 1940s, is a rare M95 issued to the U.S. Army Air Forces. The 33mm stainless steel case features an onion crown, square pushers, an acrylic crystal, an engraved caseback, and a stepped bezel that adds a touch of dimension. The white dial is beautifully preserved and has taken on a cream tone, with an outer 1/5th-seconds track, applied Breguet-style numerals, three recessed chronograph registers, and an 'alpha' handset paired with black sub-dial hands.

Powered by the manual-winding Calibre M95 movement, this is a Movado that reflects the golden age of 1940s Swiss craftsmanship and the ingenuity of 1940s watchmaking.

Compact, charismatic, and mechanically sound, it’s a Movado with a story to tell—and one that’s still running strong after eighty years.

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.

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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.