Movado Watch Co.: Swiss Innovation and Iconic Design Since 1881

Movado Watch Company is a renowned Swiss watchmaker founded in 1881 by Achille Ditesheim in the watchmaking town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Celebrated for its pioneering spirit and timeless elegance, Movado is especially famous for the iconic Museum Watch and its minimalist aesthetic, symbolizing a perfect blend of art and horology.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1881 by 19-year-old Achille Ditesheim in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a key center of Swiss watchmaking.

Name Meaning: “Movado” means always in motion in Esperanto, reflecting the brand’s commitment to constant innovation and progress.

Early Growth: By 1905, it became a significant factory producing pocket watches and later wristwatches, with a workforce exceeding 150 employees.

Design Innovation: Movado is best known for the Museum Watch Dial, designed by artist Nathan George Horwitt in 1947, featuring a minimalist dial with a single dot at 12 o’clock representing the sun at high noon. This design was the first wristwatch dial inducted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, in 1960.

Manufacturing Excellence: Movado watches combine Swiss precision craftsmanship with modern design philosophy, maintaining production in Switzerland and upholding high quality standards.

Global Influence: The Movado Group, based in the United States since 1983, expanded the brand globally and owns other watch labels such as Concord, EBEL, Olivia Burton, and MVMT, enhancing innovation and market reach.

Legacy of Patents and Awards: Movado holds over 100 patents and has received more than 200 international awards for watch design and technology.

Artistic Collaborations: The brand frequently collaborates with artists and designers, blending horology with fine art, emphasizing aesthetics alongside functionality.

Modern Presence: Movado continues to deliver sleek, elegant watches favored by collectors and fashion-conscious consumers worldwide, balancing heritage and contemporary trends.

Why Movado Matters

Iconic Design: The Museum Watch’s minimalist dot dial has become a symbol of modern watch design, blending form and function seamlessly.

Historic Innovation: Over 140 years of Swiss watchmaking excellence and technological advancement.

Artistic Legacy: Recognized for elevating watch dials to artistic expression, setting standards in watch aesthetics.

Global Brand: Part of a powerful watch group, combining heritage with modern marketing and design strategies.

Movado stands as a beacon of Swiss luxury watchmaking, renowned for innovation, artistic daring, and timeless elegance that resonates across generations.