Movado Automatic, Cream Dial with Sub-Seconds, c.1940s (Cal. 115, François Borgel Case)

In 1881, a 19-year-old entrepreneur named Achille Ditesheim hired six watchmakers and opened a small workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. By 1905, he'd renamed his company Movado — Esperanto for "always in motion" — reflecting both his progressive spirit and international ambitions. This late-1940s automatic represents Movado at the height of its mechanical prowess: an in-house bumper movement, housed in a case made by the most respected casemaker in Switzerland, finished with a dial that captures everything collectors love about post-war design.

The case bears the "FB Patent" stamp of François Borgel, the Geneva master casemaker whose waterproof designs were used by Patek Philippe for some of their most important references — including the legendary Calatrava 565 and chronograph 1463. Borgel patented his revolutionary screw-in case design in 1891, creating one of the earliest truly water- and dust-resistant watch cases at a time when rubber gaskets didn't exist. After his death in 1912, his daughter sold the company to the Taubert family in 1924, who continued producing cases under the revered FB trademark into the 1960s. The stainless steel case on this Movado features the characteristic Borgel construction and "STEEL INOX" marking, confirming its Swiss manufacture.

The cream dial has developed the warm, honeyed patina that only seven decades of ageing can produce. Applied Arabic numerals at 12, 3, and 9 catch light with their faceted edges, while arrow indices mark the remaining hours with subtle radium-filled tips. The sub-seconds register at 6 o'clock features delicate concentric guilloché finishing, adding depth and visual interest. Dauphine hands complete the picture — this is quintessential late-1940s design, balanced perfectly between Art Deco heritage and mid-century refinement.

Inside beats the calibre 115, Movado's 17-jewel bumper automatic movement. Unlike later full-rotor automatics, bumper movements use a pivoted weight that rocks back and forth along a limited arc, "bumping" against buffer springs — you can feel the distinctive tick-bump sensation against your wrist, a tactile reminder that this is proper vintage machinery. Movado was one of the few manufacturers to produce movements entirely in-house, and the 115 shows their commitment to quality: functional jewels, solid construction, and the "MOVADO FACTORIES" signature on the rotor bridge.

What makes vintage Movado compelling is the brand's current obscurity in serious horology circles. Today's Movado bears no resemblance to the innovative manufacture that won gold medals at world expositions, created the revolutionary Polyplan curved movement in 1912, and developed the iconic Ermeto sliding-case travel watch. This disconnect means that original examples from the golden era remain undervalued relative to their quality — you're getting case construction used by Patek Philippe, in-house movement manufacturing, and finishing that match or exceed those of better-known competitors, at a fraction of the price.

The company that made 700 different wristwatch models by 1920, that supplied complicated calendar watches and chronographs to discerning buyers worldwide, that built a reputation for technical excellence and design innovation — this Movado carries that heritage on your wrist.