What do you guys think of Movado?

New to the site, but I’m really hooked on reading everyone’s opinion. I’m also new to the watch world with a couple of Seikos (SNK807 is my favorite) in the collection. Anyway, is a Movado considered a “fashion watch”? I owned a Movado Sapphire before I really got serious about watches and I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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I never own a Movado its a elegant watch I think. It might be worth to have one if you like the dressy type. Same here I got a Diesel watch consider a fashion watch.

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ChadDipps

I never own a Movado its a elegant watch I think. It might be worth to have one if you like the dressy type. Same here I got a Diesel watch consider a fashion watch.


mskmagican

·22 secs ago

Thanks! I noticed it’s considered more of a fashion watch. To me it feels like a brand that was once considered quality but has fallen off quite a bit in recent years. 

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It's fine to like Movado. I own 2 Invicta and don't care about other people's opinion. 

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To me, they're like that one hit wonder that you kinda feel guilty liking even though it's a perfectly fine song. But in watch form. Maybe there are some hidden gems in their discography too.

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nytime

To me, they're like that one hit wonder that you kinda feel guilty liking even though it's a perfectly fine song. But in watch form. Maybe there are some hidden gems in their discography too.

Ha! Great comparison! 

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UnholiestJedi

It's fine to like Movado. I own 2 Invicta and don't care about other people's opinion. 

Nice!! Good way to be. 

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Modern Movado (or Invicta for that matter) bears very little resemblance to the original company that used that name.  It is kind of like seeing a band from many years ago that you liked and realizing that only the bass player or drummer was originally in the band.

If you like a Movado model there is no shame in that.  I am wearing a forty year old Raketa, who am I to criticize?

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not much, just this museum. 

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I don't think of them. One single design hit does not make a brand. Overpriced for what they are, as well. Fashion watches. 

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My dad worked in the kitchen of a hotel for many, many years.  And when he retired, they gave him a Movado watch - this would have been in the late 80's.  I'd never seen a watch that elegant before.  I have a great deal of emotional affinity for the Movado brand and their iconic Museum, because it was my dad's watch.

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My issue with the iconic Movado design is that you can‘t actually get a good read on the time.  What’s the point of wearing a watch if you can’t actually tell the time with it (and I’m not talking about the deviations of a few seconds/day that an automatic typically has)?  Sure you can guesstimate, but you shouldn’t have to…

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In the old days, Movado was a great watch company. In the last 20 years or so, not so much.

In 2018 they purchased MVMT. That should tell you all you need to know about the company today.

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I wore a Movado Museum watch before I started getting seriously interested in watches. I still have it, and think that it's probably the most elegant watch I own. And at about 5.5mm tall, it is definitely the thinnest watch in my collection. It certainly doesn't get any respect from the watch community but I don't care - I still really like it.

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I know they have a large catalog, and I don't really follow them as much.  But I have an Movado Masino that I received as a gift and it really fits me.  It's elegant, yet sporty.  I could pair it with a suit just as easily as with jeans and a tshirt.  I just like how it looks/feels.  And it's great materials - sapphire crystal with a great quality bracelet.   Others have said the brand has dropped off, I dunno.  But I really like mine.

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Jeremy

In the old days, Movado was a great watch company. In the last 20 years or so, not so much.

In 2018 they purchased MVMT. That should tell you all you need to know about the company today.

I didn’t know that about MVMT. Very telling…

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Jeremy

In the old days, Movado was a great watch company. In the last 20 years or so, not so much.

In 2018 they purchased MVMT. That should tell you all you need to know about the company today.

Agreed they have done some excellent work in the past, however, modern stuff is all just fashion watches. IIRC even the original museum watch had a Zenith movement. 

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My old 1941 Movado Weems as used to the RAF

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synaptyx

An older gentleman I met in a local deli was wearing a vintage Rolex Submariner. I asked him about it and he just likes wearing it, it belonged to his father (now given that he’s in his late 70s, it must be pretty old). Sadly, the watch doesn’t run and he’s not interested in restoring it, he just wants to wear it as a sentimental piece. wild! He can’t tell time on it, but that doesn’t seem to matter at all. 😅

Actually, I can kind of understand that — it’s a connection to his father more than a timepiece for him.  But the Movado Museum watches are generally purchased for the purpose of being a watch…to tell the time.  I just don’t think that they perform their designated function well.

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Relvee

Agreed they have done some excellent work in the past, however, modern stuff is all just fashion watches. IIRC even the original museum watch had a Zenith movement. 

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My old 1941 Movado Weems as used to the RAF

wow, awesome! :)

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I love them. My first “real” watch purchase was a Movado and I still adore it. It will always hold a special place in my heart and it kicked off my watch collecting journey. 

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JBird7986

Actually, I can kind of understand that — it’s a connection to his father more than a timepiece for him.  But the Movado Museum watches are generally purchased for the purpose of being a watch…to tell the time.  I just don’t think that they perform their designated function well.

Exactly. I like a watch to be pretty unambiguous about it’s intent and function. I never really understood the point of a watch like the Movado Museum. 

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The simple circle at 12 aesthetic could be really compelling, so I'm sure there are examples that are nice looking. It just isn't for me.

They are for sure a fashion watch brand as it currently stands, but if the fashion is the part you care about then don't worry about what others think.

celinesimon

Vintage Movado watches are amazing (and criminally undervalued, IMO)

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The pre-quartz crisis history of Movado is fascinating if you have time to look it up.  

I was about to say this. Vintage Movado is exquisite.

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celinesimon

Vintage Movado watches are amazing (and criminally undervalued, IMO)

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The pre-quartz crisis history of Movado is fascinating if you have time to look it up.  

the one with a moonphase is so beautiful 😍😍

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ChronoGuy

Movado - Esperanto for "Movement" was a classic Swiss brand that shared it's history during that classic time with Zenith. Zenith could not use the Zenith name in the US, so used the Movado name. After the quartz crisis, Movado became a fashion brand issuing quartz watches and famous for its classic Museum Watch.

Prior to the quartz crisis, Movado/Zenith issued top tier amazing watches especially chronographs. Here are some examples (note the Big Blue with the El Primero movement):

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My first dress watch was a Movado Museum Watch that my in-laws gifted me when I became a partner at Deloitte - it was perfect for its day, but now would be way too small especially for my 7.5 inch wrist - but back in the day I wore the heck out of this watch.

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The first “grownup watch“ wthat I bought when starting out in the professional world was a Movado Museum watch so I definitely have an emotional attachment to the brand and design. 

However, I would never buy one again.

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synaptyx

Exactly. I like a watch to be pretty unambiguous about it’s intent and function. I never really understood the point of a watch like the Movado Museum. 

I think it’s man jewelry in its purest form.

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As of 2022 they are making Calvin Klein watches. 

https://www.nationaljeweler.com/articles/10664-movado-launches-first-calvin-klein-collection-under-new-licensing-deal

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Modern Movado is something I wouldn't ever buy. Most of them are made in China with the occasional Swiss movement. They keep riding on the fame of the Museum dial, apart from that their design is stale. Then there's the ton of fashion brands made by the Movado Group. Let's be honest, most of that stuff is maybe of gas station shop quality.

As for vintage, I'd say they're heavily overpriced. Lots of plated cases, sometimes a steel Taubert. Most of them are fueled by a tie to Zenith as the Movado-Zenith-Mondia holding, and indeed some Movados were made by Zenith, including ones with the El Primero...for what, 2,3 years? Yeah, they had some extraordinary stuff, though yer token three-hand Movado hand-cranker is usually just a bog-standard thing. If you want a Taubert case, you can easily find Alpinas, Midos and watches by long-gone, obscure and forgotten brands for way less.

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I like some of the older Movado watch designs. Unfortunately was never a fan of the museum dial so nothing in their current line up that interested me apart from the celestograf which they market as a woman’s watch. I’ve had in a cart on several occasions when I found it around the $200 mark but never pulled the trigger. While I know the moonphase is probably the least useful complication, I sorta dig it. If this was on a plain white dial (vs pearl), I’d likely own it 😂 

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UnholiestJedi

It's fine to like Movado. I own 2 Invicta and don't care about other people's opinion. 

Same here I have 2 Invictas 1quartz the other automatic what impress me about them they had my wrist size. Now if I had them monster wrist size I be own the Shaq Collection by now.

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The new Movado watches are nice smooth and sleek with elegance. For those that admire the brand.