1950s Movado Bumper Automatic 'FB Case' 32mm 18481

Here we have a classic 1940s Movado Bumper Automatic 'FB Case' Reference 18481, featuring a robust 32mm stainless steel case crafted by the legendary case maker François Borgel (Taubert Frères). Its highly desirable architecture showcases iconic lapidated lugs paired with a sloped bezel, a thickness of 10mm, and a compact 39.5mm lug-to-lug distance, offering a purposeful yet incredibly sophisticated presence on the wrist. This historic profile is perfectly balanced by a 16mm lug width, ensuring the timepiece sits with refined elegance on the wrist. On the right side, a characterful FB-style domed crown seamlessly integrates with the case's industrial, water-resistant design lines. A smooth crystal sits proudly above a striking mid-century dial, beautifully balanced with arrow and applied Arabic numeral indexes alongside a crisp outer minutes track. Elegant alpha hands sweep gracefully from the centre, completing a timeless aesthetic that represents the pinnacle of 1940s Swiss sports-elegance. On the reverse, the signature heavy screw-down case back, internally stamped with the famous FB key emblem and bearing the unique serial number, safeguards an exceptional piece of horological history. Inside, the Bumper Automatic Movado Calibre 115 bumps along with 17 jewels, an early self-winding movement celebrated for its mechanical charm and the distinct, nostalgic "bump" of its weighted rotor as it powers the watch on your wrist. It comes paired with a 16mm well-suited leather strap.

This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Movado box or paperwork. It comes paired with a 16mm well-suited leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1940s and is sold in worn vintage condition, with an even patina and a lovely-quality dial, as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The dial is undoubtedly the star for me here. Over the decades, it has patinated into this wonderful almost peach-like tone, something that’s incredibly difficult to capture properly in photographs but looks beautiful in person. It’s exactly the sort of natural ageing and individuality that so many of us crave from a vintage watch. Combine that with the François Borgel case and wonderfully characterful Movado bumper automatic movement, and you’ve got a watch absolutely packed with vintage charm. No two watches age quite the same way, and this one has aged particularly well. I would not hesitate to add this vintage gem to your collection today!

Reference : 18481
Movement : Bumper Automatic Movado Cal. 115
Age : Circa. 1950s
Year : Circa. 1950s
Case Size : 32mm
Case Thickness : 10mm
Lug to Lug : 39.5mm
Lugs : 16mm
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.