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There are vintage watches, and then there are true “time capsules.” This is the latter. It’s not just a watch; it’s a snapshot from one of the most turbulent, innovative, and frankly, weird periods in horological history: the brief, fascinating merger of Movado, Zenith, and Mondia (MZH).
In 1969, these three companies joined forces to survive the coming storm. Zenith had just birthed its mechanical masterpiece, the El Primero, while Movado had the powerful US distribution network that Zenith desperately needed. But the real threat to everyone was quartz. This watch is a direct, high-tech response to that threat. It’s not mechanical, and it’s not quartz—it’s the fascinating bridge between them.
Inside this watch is the Zenith Caliber 50.5, a premium, Swiss-made tuning fork movement (a Zenith-branded version of the legendary ESA 9164). This is a “hummer.” Instead of a balance wheel, it uses an electronically powered tuning fork that vibrates at 300Hz, giving the seconds hand a perfectly smooth, silent sweep that was pure science fiction in the 1970s.
This specific example is a stunning physical artifact of that MZH partnership. The pristine white dial is signed Movado at the top, but features the Zenith “Electronic” logo at the bottom. The crown is signed with the Zenith star, as is the clasp on the integrated gold-plated mesh bracelet. It’s a true co-branded collaboration.
What makes this unrepeatable, however, is its condition. This watch is New Old Stock. It has never been sold or worn. The case is sharp, the dial is flawless, and it even retains its original Zenith paper hang tag. It is, quite literally, a brand-new watch from 1973. For the collector who loves the strange and compelling stories of the 1970s, this is a wildly cool and pristine piece of history.
