102nd Auction
2020/6/29
Lot 454
Movado, Swiss, "Chronometre Polyplan", Case No. 400754, 19 x 43 mm, circa 1917
A rare vintage wristwatch in a tonneau-shaped Art Deco case
Case: 18k gold, hinged push back. Dial: silvered.
The ultra-slim elongated Movado Polyplan usually came in an attenuated rectangle, oval or tonneau-shaped gold case and was certainly not an everyday watch – its high production costs were most likely due to the expenditure in manufacturing the curvature of the movement. This was also an obstacle for producing higher numbers, which would have ensured a sales success. (The Movado movement numbers indicate the number of pieces produced with a caliber. The highest number listed for caliber 400 – no. 401471 – suggests a production of about 1500 pieces, although it is possible that more exist.) The Polyplan was designed shortly before the World War, so the focus of the time was not on elegant and expensive luxury watches. Today it is a much desired and relatively rare and expensive vintage wristwatch, which can be easily recognized from its ultra-slim and sharply curved case and from the position of the winding crown at 12 o’clock.
Source: Fritz von Osterhausen, "Die Movado History" (the history of Movado), Munich 1996, p. 38.
A rare vintage wristwatch in a tonneau-shaped Art Deco case
Case: 18k gold, hinged push back. Dial: silvered.
The ultra-slim elongated Movado Polyplan usually came in an attenuated rectangle, oval or tonneau-shaped gold case and was certainly not an everyday watch – its high production costs were most likely due to the expenditure in manufacturing the curvature of the movement. This was also an obstacle for producing higher numbers, which would have ensured a sales success. (The Movado movement numbers indicate the number of pieces produced with a caliber. The highest number listed for caliber 400 – no. 401471 – suggests a production of about 1500 pieces, although it is possible that more exist.) The Polyplan was designed shortly before the World War, so the focus of the time was not on elegant and expensive luxury watches. Today it is a much desired and relatively rare and expensive vintage wristwatch, which can be easily recognized from its ultra-slim and sharply curved case and from the position of the winding crown at 12 o’clock.
Source: Fritz von Osterhausen, "Die Movado History" (the history of Movado), Munich 1996, p. 38.
Sold
estimated
3.500—5.000 €
Price realized
10.300 €