Movado Super Sub Sea Chronograph

 

Today, Movado is probably best known for producing accessibly-priced fashion watches such as the always-popular Museum Watch collection. But from the 1930s through the 1960s Movado was producing tough, purpose-driven watches that stood their ground with the best-known professional grade wrist instrumentation of the times.

Movado released water-resistant wristwatches as early as 1935, and by the 1960s was producing dive watches to compete with the era's better known offerings from brands such as Rolex or Omega. The most desirable of these fall into the Super Sub Sea family, and the most elusive and sought-after of these is that unusual hybrid, the chronodiver--or the Super Sub Sea Chronograph.

Dating to circa the 1960s, this Super Sub Sea Chronograph is a rarity. It features a 40mm stainless steel case with a matte black Tritium reverse-panda dial, a rotating timing bezel with a lovely, light ghosted insert, and a manual winding Calibre 146HP, developed by the Swiss èbauche manufacturer Martel.

This Super Sub Sea is certainly a stunner with bevels as sharp as a dive knife and a prominent rotating bezel with light ghosting throughout. While you won't likely be taking it diving with you, this is a beautiful historic piece with a legitimate aquatic heritage that sets it apart from the typical desk diver!

While Movado is now best known as a producer of fashion watches like the Museum Watch, Movado's roots go much deeper than that. The company’s history reaches all the way back to 1881, when watchmaker Achilles Ditesheim opened a workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. His brothers Léopold and Isidore joined him in 1886.

Production from that point on proved how true the name brand was—it means "always in motion" in Esperanto. Throughout the 20th century Movado produced incredible mechanical timepieces. They gained notoriety for the sophistication of the equipment and technology they employed, including electric tools.

Unlike many of their counterparts, Movado's movements were designed and manufactured in-house.

In the late 1960s, they were acquired by Zenith, and enjoyed perhaps their greatest period of success as the subsidiary of that brand. Their chronographs (which used the famous Zenith El Primero movement), particularly, were successful sellers. But the extent of their offerings didn’t end there. They also made killer dress watches like the one we have here.

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Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.