Back in 1881, watchmaker Movado was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Achilles Ditesheim.
Over a century later, the company was purchased by Gedalio Grinberg, a Cuban born watchmaker who would become the founder and chairman of the Movado Group who would base the company in Paramus, New Jersey.
Prior to founding the Movado group, when Gedalio Grinberg moved to the East Coast, in the 1960’s, he established his own Piaget distributorship in New York City with two other refugees and started the Piaget Watch Company in 1961. But his inspiration came after reading Vance Packard’s 1959 book, “The Status Seekers” of Americans wanting to project their status and Grinberg felt that wearing a quality watch would become a status symbol.
Fastforward to 1983 when Grinberg acquired Movado and through his leadership, the “Museum Watch” featuring a modernistic black faced watch with no marks but a single gold dot at the 12 o’clock position became popular. Designed by Nathan George Horwitt in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and the watch would sell millions and many variations would be created.
And to this day, the dot at the 12 o’clock position continues with Movado timepieces today.
Many watch collectors try to find vintage Movado timepieces and while a lot has changed as Movado time pieces are priced affordably by the Movado Group, the group’s Concord and Ebel watches are considered as their luxury line. And they also sell fashion watches for COACH, Hugo Boss, Juicy Couture, LACOSTE, Tommy Hilfiger and Scuderia Ferrari Orologi.
But Movado still has great recognition as an American made watch. They feature precise Swiss Quartz and automatic movements, solid stainless steel craftmanship and scratch-resistant sapphire crystals.
And with the new Movado BOLD, these watches feature TR90/steel cases, rugged genuine bull hide straps with bar-tack stitch detail. And all Movado watches have shock resistant movements, individually tested to meet international standards.
The watch I am reviewing is the MOVADO BOLD (Model: 3600367).
Featuring a large Movado BOLD chronograph, 44 mm gunmetal gray ion-plated stainless steel case with a K1 crystal and gunmetal gray metallization, the watch looks absolutely stylish. The watch comes with operating instructions and a limited warranty protection for two years from the date of purchase.
From its gunmetal gray dial with matching subdials, the Movado sunray dot near the 12 o’clock position, hands, stamped hours/minute index, date, brown Colorado bull hide leather strap with tack-stitch detail and a gunmetal gray ion-plated stainless steel buckle.
Water resistance is 3ATM (30 meters/90 feet) but for me, I would never wear this in the shower nor would I dip it in water.
It’s important to note that the watch features a 1.55 volt silver oxide battery that is specifically designed for watches. According to Movado, the battery will last approximately 18-36 months under normal use.
Personally, I would have loved for this watch to be automatic as I have mostly mechanical movement watches in my collection but this is subjective to the watch owner.
While the watch is surely stylish and many people who see this watch will no doubt give you compliments during the day, the same can’t be said at night because this watch is not made for one to take out at night. You won’t be able to tell the time as there are no luminous hands or minute marks.
While the chronograph does work, because it’s hard to see with the silver hands on the gunmetal dial, it almost makes the chronograph obsolete. But once again, this is subjective as most people I know who purchase chronograph watches more for show versus purchasing for use as a stopwatch.
On my wrist, I love the 44mm size of the casing. As for the brown Colorado bull hide strap, as a person who owns many watches, this is probably one of the better straps that I have seen on a watch. And it works magnificently with the gunmetal gray dial.
Overall, this is no doubt a sexy gunmetal watch. I have a few gunmetal watches in my collection and none of them compare to this sleek looking watch. The gunmetal case with the Colorado bull hide strap really compliment each other very well. Like the fact that K1 Crystal is utilized, a 44mm case diameter is also used, IP gunmetal casing and is essentially a unisex watch that definitely is high on style.
And as much as I enjoyed this Swiss quartz Movado BOLD watch for its stylish look and having a different style and look compared to past Movado watches. Especially the Movado BOLD differentiating itself from the Movado museum watches yet maintaining the 12 o’clock dot, its functionality as a chronograph, while it works, some may find the silverhands on gunmetal dial hard to see.
There is no luminosity, so go into a darker room, you’re not going to be able to tell the time. This is pretty much a watch you wear during the day or wear at work.
And last, its retail price at a little under $800, a big question is if you want to pay that much for a Movado watch or get another brand, especially a luxury watch with a mechanical movement for a little more or a little less.
But if you are a fan of Movado timepieces and are interested in trying out the Movado BOLD, then the Movado BOLD (Model: 3600367) is definitely recommended!
