Movado Borgel Case Tropical 'Calatrava'

Regular price: $3,450
Regular price
Sale price: $3,450
Unit price: per

Automatic-winding

33 MM

– Show less

SKU	AS11545
Article Number	40992828
case size	33 MM
movement	Automatic-winding
approximate age	1950s
dial color	Exotic
material	Stainless Steel
style	Dress
category	Vintage
bracelet	Leather
lug width	16 MM
Includes	Cognac calf leather strap and matching stainless steel pin buckle.
overall condition	Excellent condition overall. Case shows light signs of wear associated with age and use. Dial shows even patina throughout.

Inquire about this item

Automatic-winding

33 MM

– Show less

SKU	AS11545
Article Number	40992828
case size	33 MM
movement	Automatic-winding
approximate age	1950s
dial color	Exotic
material	Stainless Steel
style	Dress
category	Vintage
bracelet	Leather
lug width	16 MM
Includes	Cognac calf leather strap and matching stainless steel pin buckle.
overall condition	Excellent condition overall. Case shows light signs of wear associated with age and use. Dial shows even patina throughout.

Why We Love it

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Many watch brands suffer from their modern image being at odds with their historic identity. Movado is one of the most dramatic examples. Because once upon a time, this was a manufacture making some of the finest time-only and complicated watches of the 20th century, founded all the way back in 1881. Their triple-calendar pieces of the 1940s and ‘50s and Super Sub Sea chronographs from the 1960s are legitimately collectible today, and for good reason. High-quality movements, strong design, and that very specific mid-century Swiss confidence.

And the funny thing is, that same DNA shows up in their simplest watches too. This early Movado bumper automatic is a perfect example, offering exactly the kind of value that makes vintage Movado such a smart lane for the budding collector. The movement dates back to the early days of automatic watchmaking, meaning the rotor doesn’t spin freely like a modern automatic. Instead, it “bumps” back and forth as it winds. You can actually feel it on the wrist, which gives the watch a mechanical charm that modern automatics simply don’t have.

But the real reason you buy this watch is the dial.

The original striated finish has aged into a gorgeous tropical patina that reads like a sunset trapped under crystal. The tone shifts from salmon to peach to golden-orange depending on the light, with a soft, cloudy warmth across the surface that looks honest, natural, and completely unrepeatable. The striated texture only amplifies the effect, catching highlights and shadows in a way a flat dial never could. Gilt numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 anchor the design, while applied arrowhead markers and crisp dauphine hands bring the whole thing into classic mid-century focus. It’s signed Movado Automatic, and it wears its age like a perfectly broken-in leather jacket.

The case is equally compelling. Measuring 33mm (excluding the crown) with a 40.5mm lug-to-lug length and a 16mm lug width, it wears super comfortably and feels perfectly in the mold of other classic dress watches of the era. Even better, it’s housed in a stainless steel case made by François Borgel, one of the most respected Swiss case makers of the period, known for producing cases not just for Movado but also for Patek Philippe and Mido. Paired with a simple cognac leather strap with a pin buckle that enhances the dial tremendously.

Vintage Movado remains a deep-well category for collectors who like their watches slightly off the beaten path. And pieces like this, especially with a dial this good, won’t stay under the radar forever.

Brand Story

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.

A:S Guarantee

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.

Shipping & Returns

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.

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