1940s Movado 'Chronomètre' Wide Flat Bezel Cal. 75 31.5mm 12706

Here we have a rarely seen Movado 'Chronomètre' Wide Flat Bezel Cal. 75 12706 with a 31.5mm stainless steel round case that gently curves over your wrist thanks to its finely tapered drilled lugs. Its curved flanks lead to a lug-to-lug length of 37mm and a case thickness of 10mm, ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist. On the right side, there is a coin-edged crown. The distinctive wide flat bezel holds a domed crystal above a black ‘Patek 96’’ style dial. An outer minute  track surrounds large and small Arabic numeral indices coated in Radium marking the hours within an inner ring, at 6 o’clock, a running seconds attractively printed with a thermally blued hand. Attractive steel spade and leaf hands sit above the running seconds. At noon, we have the Chronomètre Movado motif completing this charismatic vintage timepiece. On the reverse, a snap-off solid case back. Inside a Manually Wound Movado Cal. 75, 15 jewels, beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour, and was in production from 1926 until 1960. It comes paired with it's 17mm Private Eyes straight ‘Beads of Rice’ stainless steel bracelet.

This watch is sold as “Watch Only” and, therefore, comes with no original Movado box or original Movado paperwork. It comes paired with it's 17mm Private Eyes straight ’Beads of Rice’ stainless steel bracelet which will fit up to a 7.35-inch wrist. The watch is from Circa. The 1940s and is in original, worn condition and does have signs of ageing with patina to the rare dial with a replacement minute hand, correct for the reference, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

With the Patek Philippe Calatrava reference 96 dominating the vintage world at this time, this wonderful Movado 'Chronomètre' Wide Flat Bezel with the awesome calibre 75 becomes an even more appealing proposition. Cased in a lovely 31.5mm case, compared to the 31mm of the Patek 96. This example comes on a Private Eyes straight ‘Beads of Rice’ bracelet, but would easily look at home on a black 17mm strap too. I would not hesitate to add this beautiful vintage watch to your collection today!

Reference : 12706
Movement : Manually Wound Movado Cal. 75
Age : Circa. 1940s
Year : Circa. 1940s
Case Size : 31.5mm
Case Thickness : 10mm
Lug to Lug : 37mm
Lugs : 17mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12 Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Achilles Ditesheim, a visionary entrepreneur, embarked on his journey at the young age of 19 when he founded LAI Ditescheim & Freres SA in 1881. With a small team of six skilled watchmakers, he established a workshop in the quaint Swiss village of La Chaux-de-Fonds, a hub of horological craftsmanship known for its rich watchmaking heritage. In 1905, recognising the need for a globally resonated brand, he rebranded the company as Movado, which translates to “always in motion” in Esperanto, the constructed international language designed for universal communication. This name would come to symbolise the brand’s commitment to forward-thinking design and innovation. A seminal moment in Movado’s history came in 1912 with the introduction of the Polyplan, a groundbreaking watch design that captured the attention of the Swiss watch industry and earned the company its 20th patent. The Polyplan featured a revolutionary movement that consisted of three planes strategically angled to fit a case that conformed to the natural contours of the wrist, enhancing both aesthetics and comfort. As the clouds of World War I gathered on the horizon, Movado swiftly designed the Soldier’s Watch, a remarkable blend of form and function. This timepiece featured a distinctive pierced metal cover that protected the watch crystal while allowing for easy readability of the time—a crucial feature for soldiers in the field. Movado continued to push the boundaries of watchmaking innovation with the introduction of the Acvatic, the company’s first venture into water-resistant watches. The Acvatic was equipped with a patented Decagonal case design, a screw-down back featuring a lead gasket for enhanced waterproofing, and a cork seal that protected the crown for winding, making it a robust option for active wearers. In 1945, Movado made another significant advancement in horology with the introduction of the Tempomatic. This marked the brand's first timepiece to incorporate an automatic movement, showcasing its commitment to integrating advanced technology into its designs. The post-World War II era heralded a vibrant and innovative period for Movado. The company embraced the buoyant spirit of the times with a rapid succession of transformative products. Among these were the Calendomatic—the world’s first self-winding calendar watch, the innovative Celestograph—a watch that elegantly displayed the moon phases, and the Calendarmeto—a reinterpretation of the Ermeto that incorporated day, month, and moon phase complications, appealing to a wide range of customers. In 1947, renowned designer Nathan George Horwitt unveiled the single-dot watch dial, which became a defining element of modern watch design. In 1960, Horwitt’s minimalist creation received high acclaim when it became the first watch dial ever to be accepted by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, solidifying Movado’s status in the realm of fine art and design. Since its launch in 1956, the Movado Kingmatic has been an icon of mid-century design, symbolising the brand’s dedication to quality and precision in watchmaking. At the 1969 Basel Fair, Movado made strides in the industry once again by partnering with Zenith to debut the world’s first automatic chronograph movement, the El Primero. This revolutionary innovation set new standards in watchmaking, reshaping the landscape of horology. In 1983, as Movado entered its second century, Gedalio Grinberg acquired the company and integrated it into the North American Watch Corporation. This marked a new chapter in Movado's history as it aimed to broaden its reach and appeal in the North American market. More recently, in 2017, Movado Group expanded its portfolio by acquiring Olivia Burton, a London-based brand renowned for its stylish fashion watches and jewellery, which ranks among the fastest-growing brands in the UK. Then, in October 2018, Movado Group further diversified its offerings with the acquisition of MVMT, a company focused on selling quartz watches, sunglasses, and jewellery. Today, the Movado Group continues to encompass several acclaimed brands, including Concord and Ebel, further solidifying its legacy as a leader in the watchmaking industry.