Elegant Swiss 18K gold and enamel keyless watch Circa 1915

Gold cushion shaped pocket watch
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A fine and elegant Swiss 18 carat gold and enamel open faced cushion shaped keyless dress watch made by Movado in La Chaux-de-Fonds, circa 1915. The rhodium plated movement with spotted decoration, 15 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance with four adjustments, self compensating Breguet balance spring and an index regulator. Tonneau shaped, matte silver dial with Arabic hour numerals, outer minute divisions and original blued steel spade hands. Both case covers are overlaid with translucent royal blue guilloché enamel bordered by a white enamel line and the inclined edges are decorated with a gold repeated pattern on a red translucent enamel ground, punched with the Movado trademark. Case numbered. Accompanied by the original presentation box.
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Diameter: 43 mm
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Signed: Movado
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In 1881, Achille Ditesheim started a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds with six watchmakers to make pocket watches. In 1886, his brothers Léopold and Isidore joined the company, which was then renamed LAI Ditesheim. Around 1900, LAI Ditesheim began making wristwatches.–
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In 1905, the company built a new production facility and registered the name Movado, which means “always in motion” in Esperanto.
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In 1912, Movado introduced the Polyplan, followed by the Ermeto case watch in 1926. In 1924, Movado opened its first agency in New York. The company produced many types of calendar watches, mainly in gold cases.
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In 1969, Mondia, Zenith and Movado formed a partnership. Watches with the new El Primero automatic chronograph caliber were signed by either Movado or Zenith. The El Primero was only 6.5 mm thick, with a ball bearing rotor and a high frequency balance wheel running at 36,000 A/h. It came in different cases and dial styles, signed by both Zenith and Movado. Because of the partnership with Zenith, the company moved its headquarters to Le Locle in 1971.
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In 1983, Movado became part of Movado Group, Inc. At the end of 2003, the group also acquired the well known manufacturer Ebel.