1950s Movado Chronograph In Yellow Gold

Why This Watch Matters

This chrono has it all - a beautiful dial, great chronograph movement and revered waterproof case in yellow gold.

The Full Story

Creating an elegant chronograph is no easy feat. No matter how hard you try, the chronograph will always feel sportier than its time-only cousin. However, Movado nails it with this yellow-gold case and silver brushed dial. The thin handset and flat pushers further anchor this chrono into the dressy territory, an area Patek had also mastered. Both manufactures trusted the same case maker, Borgel, to design such beautiful waterproof chronographs; you can find Borgel's hallmark on the inside of the case back in this example. This chrono houses the in-house Movado caliber 95M, which functions differently from most comparable movements, as the bottom button start/stops, while the top button re-sets.

The Fine Print

Maker: Movado
Model: Chronograph
Reference: 95M
Year: Late 1950s
Case No: 94-49058
Material: 14k yellow gold
Dimensions: 35mm diameter; 11mm thickness
Sapphire Crystal: No
Lume: No
Caliber: Manual wound chronograph movement caliber 95M
Bracelet/Strap: HODINKEE Dark Brown Calfskin Strap  
Lug Width: 18mm
Box/Papers: No

What we Love and What You Should Know

This 14k gold case is in great condition, with well-preserved faceted lugs, and superficial scratches only on the case bands and case back. The silver brushed dial is stunning, with the exception of some small aging marks in the sub-registers and some missing lume dots near the indexes. Additionally, it shows two minor bumps when examined under a loupe, at the minutes 7 and 18. Finally, the reversed chronograph function performs flawlessly, one should just get used to the bottom chronograph button starting/stopping the chronograph function, while the top button resets.