Movado is a brand we’ve not covered too much on the site, as they don’t seem to really capture the attention of watch lovers. I myself hadn’t paid much attention to the brand (other than a rather unique solid gold one a family member had for awhile) until a co-worker stopped by, rather excited to show me his newest watch. As you can tell by even a quick look at the pictures, this particular model comes from their Museum line, which is delineated (at least in my mind) by the silver dot that shows up at 12 o’clock.
When I hear Museum, I’m instantly put to a mind of a more refined piece, and that’s what this watch definitely is going for with it’s black and polished finishes. While it has those aspirations, it still keeps it’s foot firmly in the sport category, due to it’s functionality and the fact that it comes paired to a perforated black rubber strap. That last part, of course, would be easy to change around, with swapping in a black leather strap.
For being a 44mm steel watch, it’s lighter than you might expect. This is, no doubt, helped in large part by the Swiss quartz movement that’s driving things, as well as the aforementioned rubber strap. The larger case size also helps to make for an easy-to-read dial, even with the somewhat “stealth” look they’ve gone for. Chronograph minutes and 1/10th seconds appear at the 9 and 6 o’clock positions, respectively. Interestingly enough, the sub-seconds dial is actually over at the 3 o’clock position, which is less common.
Movado also used orange paint (on the numerals and the tip of the hand) for the sub-seconds, which allows it to be easily differentiated from the chronograph function dials (and giving a small hint of color). Circling around over those you’ve got the dauphine hands (which have the only bit of lume the watch sports), and it’s all topped by a flat sapphire crystal. With everything buttoned up, you can expect a water resistance rating of 30m – which, while not stupendous, will give you enough protection from the occasional dip in the sink or rainstorm.
Coming in at a price of $999, this is definitely in the luxury side of the quartz watch spectrum. For those who love the style that the Movado Museum lineup offers, this will be right up their alley, offering a compelling combination of understated styling and functionality. For myself, I see the appeal of the watch, and appreciate the overall package the watch represents – it’s just not for me, personally. If you want to dig into the watch a bit more, or perhaps even pick one up yourself, there’s no need to head to the local museum – just hop on over to Movado.
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Movado Museum Chronograph
- Price: $999
- Who we think it might be for: The guy looking for big sport watch that will manage to be a bit more subtle in daily wear
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: Not particularly – they style is nice, just not my own cup of tea
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: At this price point, it might be nice to see a mechanical movement swapped in for the quartz, or perhaps a titanium case instead of steel
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: I really liked the sub-seconds being in a non-standard location on the dial
