For sale we have a super example of a mid 1950s Movado Stainless Steel and Gold capped dress watch Reference 18626. It has a beautifully textured sector dial and is in a 32mm Movado Borgel case, with original Montal Gold filled beads of rice bracelet. It has its original and rare Movado box, along with its original paperwork. The watch is in excellent original condition with very little signs of wear for its age. 
 
The paperwork shows that the watch was purchased during travels, when passing through London Airport on 11/11/1956. The watch was original £10, until the customer received a hefty discount of £4, making the price £5, 15 shillings and 11 pence. This is the equivalent of £150 today. I think we can all agree that we wish quality watches were this price today.
 
The watch sits within its beautiful deep maroon case with gold signing. Inside it has white satin lining with gold Movado signing and a deep maroon cloth.
 
The watch has a perfect original dial with a brushed central section, a satin chapter ring and a brushed outer section. The gold tone dot minute/second markers and neat, with arrow hour markers and Arabic 9,12,3,6. The Movado name sits proud on the dial. Gold tone Dauphine hands indicate the time with a sweep central second. 
 
The case is petite at 32mm x 32mm but has a good lug-to-lug measurement of 39.5mm. Paired with its bracelet, this makes it wear well as its more ornate. It has the Borgel patent with inner movement cover and is Stainless Steel with a gold capped top section. It has the reference 9226 between the lugs. The polished gold capping contrasts beautifully with the sharp brushed polished Stainless sides. The lugs have an excellent angular design and add a sharp touch to the circular case. There is a recess for the crown to sit within. The crown has a thick coin edge, with a domed shape. The screw back case has the excellent original brushed finish. Inside, it has the reference and serial numbers B279226, 18626.
 
The watch is on its original Montal rolled gold beads of rice bracelet, which has ratchet adjustment and will fit up to an 8” wrist diameter. 
 
Inside is a Movado calibre 261A, which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 17 and Incabloc shock protection. It has an indirect sweep second hand with driving wheel under the train bridge. The movement has been regulated and is in very good condition. It has a daily loss of -7 seconds.
 
This is one for the collectors and is in incredibly well-preserved condition. Don’t let it pass you by. 
 
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: 
The dial is in perfect original condition. It has a silver satin base tone which has no signs of ageing. There is a brushed central section, with satin tone sector ring and brushed outer section. The minute/second markers are gold applied dots, with the hour markers being gold applied arrow markers. The dial has clean black signing with “Movado” and “Switzerland”.
 
Hands: 
The hands are original. They are in perfect condition. They are of Luminous Dauphine style in a gold tone. They have the original lume and some signs of corrosion.  
 
Glass: 
The acrylic crystal is original and has some light surface scratches. 
 
Crown: 
The crown is original and has a thick coin edge with dome. It is a gold tone and is in excellent original condition.
 
Case:
The case has the Borgel patent and is Stainless Steel with a gold capped top section. It is in excellent original condition, with polished finish to the gold capping having light surface scratching. The Stainless-steel sides of the case have a lovely, brushed finish. 
 
Caseback:
The case back is Stainless Steel and is in very good original condition. It has the original brushed finish which is in excellent condition. It is a screw back.
 
The inside of the case back has perlage finishing. It is signed; FB Patent, Stainless, Movado Factories, Switzerland, Fabrication Suisse. It has the serial and reference numbers B279226, 18626.
 
Strap:
The watch is on its original Montal rolled gold beads of rice bracelet. It has ratchet adjustment and will fit up to an 8” wrist diameter. It is in very good original condition.
 
Movement: 
The movement is a Movado calibre 261A, which is manual wind, with a jewel count of 17 and Incabloc shock protection. It operates at a frequency of 18,000, with a power reserve of 43 hours. It has an indirect sweep second hand with driving wheel under the train bridge.
 
The movement has been regulated and is in very good condition. It has a daily loss of -7 seconds, with an amplitude of 309 degrees and a beat error of 1.9 m/s.
 
Case dimensions: 
Case width: 32mm
Case width with crown: 33.5mm 
Case length: 32mm 
Case length lug to lug: 39.5mm
Case Depth: 9mm
Lug width: 16mm