Movado (La Chaux-de-Fonds Manufacture)
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland · Est. 1881
Founded by Achille Ditesheim
The original Movado manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds was a true Swiss watchmaking house, producing innovative pieces like the curved Polyplan and the Ermeto purse watch. The Swiss factory closed in 1983; the brand was relocated to the US as a fashion label, a fundamentally different entity from the original.
- Founded
- 1881
- Headquarters
- La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Defunct
Ceased: 1983
The original Movado Swiss manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds was closed in 1983 during the quartz crisis. The brand was acquired by North American Watch Corporation and moved to the US as a fashion brand, severing all ties to Swiss manufacturing.
Movado once made the Polyplan and the Ermeto — genuine Swiss horological masterpieces. Then it became a dot on a dial in an American mall.
Key Collections
- Polyplan — Revolutionary 1912 watch with a curved movement following the wrist's contour, requiring three planes to house the mechanism—a remarkable feat of early ergonomic engineering.
- Ermeto — Iconic sliding purse watch introduced in 1926, wound by opening and closing its protective case, becoming a defining Art Deco accessory.
- Calendomatic — Post-war automatic calendar watch series from the 1940s-50s, representing Movado's technical prowess in complicated movements.
- Kingmatic — Robust automatic line from the 1950s-60s featuring Movado's reliable in-house movements, popular for everyday wear.
Timeline
- 1881 — Achille Ditesheim, aged 19, founded the company in La Chaux-de-Fonds under the name LAI Ditesheim & Frères.
- 1905 — The company adopted the name 'Movado', meaning 'always in motion' in Esperanto, reflecting the optimistic internationalism of the era.
- 1912 — Introduction of the Polyplan, featuring an innovative curved movement designed to follow the natural shape of the wrist.
- 1926 — Launch of the Ermeto purse watch, which became an Art Deco icon and won numerous design awards.
- 1947 — Nathan George Horwitt designed the minimalist Museum dial with a single gold dot at 12 o'clock, later acquired by Movado.
- 1983 — The La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture closed permanently; the brand was sold to North American Watch Corporation and relocated to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions about Movado (La Chaux-de-Fonds Manufacture)
- When did Movado stop making watches in Switzerland?
- The original Movado manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds ceased Swiss production in 1983 during the quartz crisis. The brand was subsequently acquired by North American Watch Corporation and transformed into a US-based fashion watch company.
- Are vintage Movado watches still valuable?
- Pre-1983 Swiss-manufactured Movado timepieces, particularly models like the Polyplan, Ermeto, and early Museum watches, remain highly collectible. Their value reflects genuine horological innovation and quality Swiss craftsmanship.
- Can I still buy an original Swiss Movado watch today?
- Original Swiss-made Movado watches are only available through the vintage and auction markets. The contemporary Movado brand operates as a fashion watch company with no connection to the original La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture.
- What made the original Movado manufacture significant?
- The Swiss Movado was a genuine innovator, producing over 200 patents and creating groundbreaking designs like the three-dimensional Polyplan movement and the self-winding Ermeto case mechanism.
- Is today's Movado the same company?
- In name only. The current Movado Group, headquartered in New Jersey, is a fashion watch conglomerate with no manufacturing or operational continuity with the original Swiss watchmaking house.