Movado
Paramus, USA · Est. 1881
Founded by Achille Ditesheim
Movado is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1881 by Achilles Ditesheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The brand is internationally recognised for the iconic Museum dial, designed by artist Nathan George Horwitt in 1947, featuring a single gold dot at 12 o'clock representing the sun at high noon.
- Founded
- 1881
- Headquarters
- Paramus, USA
- Group
- Other
- Price Segment
- Entry
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Museum — Movado’s Museum collection is the iconic single-dot dial line associated with Nathan George Horwitt’s 1947 design, forming the brand’s most recognizable minimalist watch family.
- Bold — Movado’s BOLD collection is the brand’s contemporary design line, using larger cases, modern materials, and a minimalist aesthetic that still incorporates the signature Museum dot language.
- Heritage Series — Reissues and reinterpretations of significant models from Movado's archive, including vintage chronographs and dress watches.
- SE — Movado’s SE collection is the sport-elegant line, pairing more robust, water-resistant case styling with the brand’s signature Museum dot motif in a sportier layout.
Timeline
- 1881 — Achilles Ditesheim founds the company in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, aged just 19.
- 1905 — The company adopts the name Movado, meaning 'always in motion' in Esperanto.
- 1947 — Artist Nathan George Horwitt designs the Museum dial, which later becomes the first wristwatch dial in MoMA's permanent collection.
- 1969 — Zenith acquires Movado. The brand changes hands several times in subsequent decades.
- 1983 — Movado Group Inc. is formed, eventually becoming a publicly traded company headquartered in New Jersey.
- 2025 — Launches the Museum Classic Automatic 40mm with Swiss Made mechanical movements, signalling a return to its horological roots alongside the fashion-quartz range. Reports strong fiscal year results under Movado Group with growth in digital sales channels.
Frequently Asked Questions about Movado
- Why is it called the Museum dial?
- In 1960, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York selected Horwitt's single-dot dial for its permanent collection — the first watch dial to receive this honour. The name stuck.
- Is Movado still Swiss?
- Movado was founded in Switzerland and still produces some Swiss-made models, but the company is now headquartered in New Jersey, USA, as the Movado Group. Many current models use quartz movements.