Don't miss the next drop
While many know Movado for the iconic Museum Dial, collectors in the know seek out their mid-century work. This was a golden era when Movado was a true, high-end manufacture, producing their own movements and collaborating with the best suppliers in the industry. This watch is a perfect testament to that legacy: a robust, in-house “bumper” automatic housed in a case from one of the most legendary casemakers of the 20th century.
This watch hails from the early 1950s, the dawn of the self-winding era. The engine inside is a high-grade, 17-jewel Movado “bumper” automatic. This was the first generation of automatics, where a weighted mass swings in a limited arc, “bumping” off springs. It’s a charming and tactile piece of history, and you can feel its operation on your wrist. Even more importantly, the high-quality stainless steel case was made by François Borgel (FB). This is the same legendary casemaker that supplied Patek Philippe with their iconic waterproof Calatrava cases. It’s a sign of ultimate, no-compromise quality.
This particular example, the Reference 16151, is just loaded with character. The FB case is sharp and classic. The dial features the highly sought-after “Explorer-style” layout, with Arabic numerals at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. It’s a wonderfully balanced and legible military-esque design. Adding to its rarity is the “FAB. SUISSE” signature at 6 o’clock, indicating this watch was originally retailed for the French market.
