Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Movado M95 Chronograph ref. 19018, 'Tiffany & Co.' Signed Dial
- Maker / attribution
- Movado (maker)
- Date
- c. early 1940s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Dimensions
- Case 35 mm
- Stock no.
- OC1440
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Oliver & Clarke (OC1440)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Movado M95 Chronograph Ref. 19018 - 'Tiffany & Co.' Signed Dial (English)
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Record summary
Catalogued by Oliver & Clarke (dealer), United Kingdom (stock number OC1440), this is a wristwatch by Movado, made in Switzerland, dated c. early 1940s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 35 mm. 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 — Oliver & Clarke
While it may be hard to imagine based upon their product line today, Movado Factories (yes, that was the full name) once made watches that were beautifully designed, exceptionally-well made, and respected on a level that matched the very best manufacturers. The piece that we have here, an M95 Chronograph, is simply named after the Movado Manufacture M95 movement powering it. Over the years, these were produced with a variety of dial and case configurations, with this example having been produced on the earlier side dating to circa the early 1940s. It features what we refer to as a 'cylinder' case, coming in at 35mm in diameter with attractive 'faceted' lugs. It remains in very-likely unpolished condition and shows normal, honest wear from age and use. It retains its correct 'mushroom' pushers and 'domed' crown. Inside, the silver three-register dial shows wear and signs of aging throughout, largely on the outer edge around the tachymeter scale and the subsidiary registers, while the center area of the dial shows less aging and remains clean. This piece also retains its correct and desirable 'squiggle' hands in the sub-registers and the hour and minute hands have been professionally color-matched to the dial. M95’s have become extremely coveted by collectors and don't come to market as often as you may think... This example in its well-rounded, honest overall condition and that little signature on the top half of the dial is one of the more unique examples that we have come across.
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
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
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