Movado Bold

Movado has been using the watch design from Nathan George Horwitt, an industrial designer, for their watches since 1975. Its main characteristic is the legendary dot at 12 o'clock, the only detail on an otherwise minimalist dial. The original model has been part of the permanent collection at New York's Museum of Modern Art since 1959, hence the use of the term 'Museum watch' to describe the Movado models. This watch takes the fundamental Bauhaus idea of connecting art and craftsmanship and makes it a reality. Bauhaus pioneers also emphasized the interplay between, and equal importance of, aesthetics and practicality.

The "Museum dial design" has long been a trademark of the Movado brand and plays a major role in each of the Swiss manufacturer's collections. The Bold collection offers a new interpretation of the otherwise simplistic two-hand model, bringing with it elements such as Roman numerals, diamonds, and functions like day and date displays. With cases ranging from 25 to 48 mm, there are plenty of men's, women's, and unisex models available. This collection exclusively features quartz movements. They are more precise than automatic calibers and also don't need to be worn constantly to stay powered. The battery does need to be changed from time to time, but this is usually only once every few years.

Prices for a Movado Bold start around 260 USD. For this price, you can get a 25-mm women's Bold in mint condition, for example. An especially thin and decorative stainless steel bracelet and the silver-colored sunburst dial complement the delicate stainless steel case. Both the Movado dot at 12 o'clock and the hands come in rose gold, creating a beautiful contrast with the rest of this luxury watch. Men's models sit in a similar price range: A particularly stylish, black 42-mm model in stainless steel with a TR90 coating and a leather strap costs 270 USD in mint condition. Combined with a TR90-coated stainless steel bracelet, this timepiece goes for about 320 USD. Grilamid TR90 is an ideal material for watch cases: The plastic is light, flexible, and known for its impressive impact strength.

Digital watches in the Bold collection can be operated using their touch screens. You can set a second time zone and display the date, among other things. Simple models with a stainless steel case, black dial, and silicon strap demand around 300 USD in mint condition.

The Movado Bold Motion is a smartwatch that could easily be mistaken for a traditional Movado model since it has an analog time display. However, this high-tech timepiece is hiding an activity tracker that counts your steps. The watch also lets you know when you're receiving a phone call or message using vibrations and LED lights around the edge of the dial. All you need is a Bluetooth connection with your iOS or Android-powered smartphone. This smartwatch radiates futuristic simplicity. It has a black dial and bezel combined with a stainless steel case and a black rubber strap. You can charge it using a Bluetooth charging device. While the list price sits around 710 USD, some pre-owned pieces go for as little as 320 USD.

Movado expanded upon their smartwatch concept in the Connect series, which comes in multiple designs. They developed this timepiece together with Google and use their Android Wear operating system. You can change the digital dial to any of the 100 available designs to best suit your mood or outfit. Prices for a mint-condition Movado Connect start around 530 USD.

The Movado Bold series also offers fans of chronographs a vast selection of colors, case sizes, and band materials. A rather large, 48-mm model with a stainless steel case and copper-based plating costs almost 1,100 USD, according to the list price. The same dark, silvery gray 'gunmetal' plating is also found on the bracelet, giving the entire watch a masculine finish. The date display sits at 6 o'clock and the subdials are at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.

The 38-mm yellow gold-colored Movado Bold Chronograph is a great option for both men and women. By replacing the numerals with simple hour markers, its dial feels tidy and clear. Plan to spend about 770 USD on one of these watches.

If you prefer something a bit more flashy, you may enjoy the Bold Diamond or the Bold Luxe. The former refreshes the Museum design using diamonds, while the latter replaces the Roman numerals with crystals. Those with 44-mm cases are geared more toward men, though the smaller models are rather feminine. The 39-mm bicolor Bold Luxe is a great unisex watch: Its case, bracelet, and dial are all silver colored, while the numerals, dot, and hands are all rose gold. Set aside around 330 USD for a never-worn example.