Swiss purse watch with triple calendar and moon phases Circa 1950

Leather covered gilt purse watch
–
A fine and rare gilt triple calendar keyless purse watch with moon phases made by Movado in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, circa 1950. A rectangular, purse form, sliding, leather covered case. The two tone silver dial has applied yellow gold Arabic hour numerals, an outer dot minute track, inner blue Arabic numerals for the date indication, an aperture for the days of the week below 12 o’clock, another aperture above 6 for the months, phases of the moon at 3 and yellow gold alpha hands. The rhodium plated movement has Geneva striping decoration, 18 jewels, a straight line lever escapement, monometallic balance and self compensating Breguet balance spring. With the patented Ermeto extensible winding device, by sliding the case open and closed. Signed on the dial and movement.
–
Dimensions: 52 x 36 mm
–
Signed: Movado
–
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.
–
In 1905, the company built a new production facility and registered the name Movado, which means “always in motion” in Esperanto.
–
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.
–
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.
–
In 1983, Movado became part of Movado Group, Inc. At the end of 2003, the group also acquired the well known manufacturer Ebel.