Movado Tempomatic

A time-only Movado from the 1950s - really any mechanical Movado from the 1950s for that matter, offer a ton of value in the watch world.  Once a maker of brilliantly-designed, expertly produced timepieces, Movado's fall from grace into the fashion-driven budget watch brand is nothing short of painful to study. Naturally, you wouldn't catch us dead wearing anything from their modern collections, but like so many other contemporary brands, what came before just can't be beat.  This lovely 34mm steel Tempomatic model is the very essence of understated and elegant post-war design. With an unpolished slim case featuring sharply faceted lugs, this Movado wears brilliantly and oozes an effortless simple beauty. Putting it apart from the pack is its richly patinated cream dial (with hints of salmon!) and applied Breguet indices and blued steel pencil hands. Furthermore, the central seconds hand has subtle arrow tip, which is a small but noticeable touch. At the outer edge of the dial, a crisply printed 60-minute chapter ring adds a bit of sporty flair. Poor man's Reference 96SC Calatrava? Maybe, but it's also so much more.