Skip to content
Movado Datron HS360 Sub-Sea Chronograph (Ref. 434-615-502) "Zenith El Primero", 1970 — view 1 of 6
View 1 of 6 · Image: Craft & Tailored · original image source (opens another website in a new tab)

Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Movado Datron HS360 Sub-Sea Chronograph (Ref. 434-615-502) "Zenith El Primero", 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Movado (maker)
Date
1970
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
MOVDHS360Z
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (MOVDHS360Z)
Catalogue title (original)
1970 Movado Datron HS360 Sub-Sea Chronograph (Ref. 434-615-502) "Zenith El Primero" (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number MOVDHS360Z), this is a wristwatch by Movado, made in Switzerland, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

Although Movado began releasing water-resistant wristwatches in the mid-1930s, by the early 1960s Movado was producing a professional range of watches to contend with the era's greater-known offerings from names like Rolex, Omega, Heuer, and Tudor. During this era, Movado and Zenith worked closely together to introduce innovative designs that advanced the watch world. Though the partnership proved to be fruitful, many of the forward-thinking designs resulted in low production numbers which are now highly collectible today. This specific Movado Datron HS360 is no exception to this as it houses the Zenith 3019PHC automatic chronograph movement. 3019PHC El Primero movement SPECS Stock # MOVDHS360Z Brand Movado Style Datron HS360 Model 434-615-502 Serial N/A Size Men's Material Gold Plated Stainless Steel Dial Satin Gold W/ Black Sub-Dials Millimeters 38 Bracelet Movado Gold-Pated Bracelet CASE & BRACELET The gold-plated stainless steel case is in excellent condition overall, showing signs of gentle polishing in the past with minimal signs of use. The case retains its original pump pushers and Movado-signed crown, the crown does show some light wear and is missing some gold plating which is common. The stainless steel case back retains its original factory markings in crisp condition. The original Movado gold-plated bracelet is in excellent original condition, retaining 20 links that show light stretch and will fit up to a 7 1/4-inch wrist. DIAL & HANDS The satin gold dial with black accents and sub-dials is exceptionally well preserved, featuring no notable age and no damage. The dial features the date window at 12 o'clock. The tritium-filled markers display no degradation when inspected under U.V. light, the lume has achieved a handsome ivory patina. The original tritium hands match the dial perfectly and show no degradation under U.V. light inspection. ACCESSORIES

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

Related records