Watches A to Z: Orient

The world of luxury timepieces is filled with high priced mechanical watches with automatic movements that are sold at price points that soar into the stratosphere. The thought that a high quality mechanical watch is unattainable for people of average means is very discouraging to many prospective watch collectors. But, if they are lucky, they discover Orient.

Vintage Orient Tri-Star Automatic Watch

Orient was founded in 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened the Yoshida Watch Shop in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. They started out selling imported pocket watches and grew into a manufacturer of watch cases and clocks. Between 1920 and 1934, they manufactured their first watches. In 1951, the company changed its name to Orient, manufactured their first Orient Star watch, and started the development of in-house movements. They weathered the quartz watch crisis by sticking to their resolve to create the longest lasting mechanical watches. 

The caseback of my Orient Bambino

In more recent times, Orient joined Seiko Group when Seiko Epson bought 51% of Orient in 2001. In 2009, the company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seiko. In 2017, Orient became a completely integrated Seiko brand. It's a good match. For collectors of modest middle class means Orient and Seiko automatic watches provide great value.

The Orient Bambino, 2nd Generation, Version 3

To read my review of my vintage Orient Tri-Star click here. To read my review of my Orient Bambino, 2nd Generation, Version 3 click here. To see all of my Watches A to Z posts click here.

Watch Spotlight: The Mondaine Essence 41mm Watch

A Minimalist Watch from Mondaine

With minimalism being a recurring theme in the watch world, this might be a good time to spotlight an attainable minimalist watch from Switzerland. It's the Mondaine Essence--a 41mm, quartz watch that makes extensive use of eco-friendly materials. The case is made from a castor oil compound and the strap is a combination of ricinous oil and recycled textiles. It has a Swiss quartz Ronda 513 RL movement.

Mondaine Essence 41mm Watch (Amazon Photo)

I've covered Mondaine in this watches A to Z post. Inspired by Switzerland's railroad station clocks, Mondaine is a real deal Swiss watchmaker. They are also a pioneer in environmentally responsible watchmaking. Amazingly, you can get this watch for less than $300 via my Amazon affiliate link here.

A Guide to Minimalist Watches

Minimalist philosophy offers a simple, intentional, approach to architecture, decor, clothing, and life. Instead of having dozens and dozens of watches, it invites us to have only one or a few that are simple, readable, and versatile parts of a wardrobe.  The philosophy stresses quality over quantity.  So, one might only have a watch or three, but they might be a better than ordinary without venturing too far into material excess. 

A Minimalist Fossil Watch

Minimalism also stresses simplicity over complication. Something like the Tudor Ranger or Rolex Explorer I might be the perfect expression of a high quality minimalist timepiece.  Fortunately, when it comes to minimalist timepieces, there are a few attainable brands that come to mind.  

Movado Minimalism

As a brand that has built itself around its fabled Museum watch since 1947, Movado does minimalism well. Many of their watches have no markers. Hands, sometimes a date window, and a disc at 12 o'clock are sufficient for the Movado Museum model.

Movado Museum Model Automatic (Amazon Photo)

You can see the Movado Museum Model here using my Amazon affiliate link. It's the most expensive watch on this list.  However, if you poke around a bit, you can find quartz models for half the price of the automatic.  You might also try outlets like the Movado Company Store. However, buyers should be very aware of differences between Movado models. For example, the Museum Classic is a little more upscale than the Movado Signature watch.

MVMT Minimalism

If you are looking for minimalism in an enthusiast-oriented watch at a minimal price, MVMT might well be your brand.  Initially started as a microbrand, MVMT made an impact on the watch world and was purchased by the Movado Group. This gave the upstart brand international presence and a strong manufacturing base. The brand has many minimalist offerings, but their inexpensive starting point is the MVMT Astro Blue Chronograph. It's from the MVMT Blacktop Collection and it earned a sharp watch shout out here on this blog earlier this year. 

It's simply an incredible deal at less than $100 and you can get it right here via my Amazon Affiliate Link!

Skagen Minimalist Watches

Everyone is gaga about microbrands today.  But, every brand started somewhere. Skagen was the brainchild of Danish immigrants to the United States and draws heavily upon the design influences of artists in Denmark's Skagen area. When they achieved commercial success, they were acquired by Fossil. Now, they benefit from that companies scale and breadth.  But, the watches still remain Scandinavian in design.

A Skagen Signatur Watch

Most Skagen watches are minimalist in nature.  However, the Skagen Signatur Stainless Steel Watch for Men stands out as a very practical and affordable way to scratch the minimalist bug for less than $100.  You can get yours here on Amazon using my affiliate link.

This post just scratches the surface of minimalist watches as a topic. You'll want to check out my Watches A to Z post on Mondaine. If you want to save serious money, check out my watch deal alert post on the Stuhrling Original Minimalist watch. Finally, to see a great 2026 list of minimalist watches visit my Amazon affiliate storefront.

 

Watches A to Z: US Polo Assn

The US Polo Association was founded in 1890 and is the governing body for the sport of polo in the United States. The association itself is a non-profit entity. However, it also owns the for profit subsidiary USPA Global Licensing Inc. (also sometimes called USPA Properties Inc). This for profit subsidiary manages the US Polo Association brand around the world (190 countries) and in 1100+ outlets. Some of the profits are funneled back to the US Polo Association to support outreach and other non-profit activities. While the brand is used on apparel, luggage, footwear and more, as watch enthusiasts we're most interested in the brand's watches. 

A line up of US Polo Assn Watches from my collection

US Polo Assn watches were introduced at Baselworld in 2009. While they are generally too inexpensive to garner monied watch collector attention, sometimes they look like a million bucks! I find US Polo Assn watches online and at brick-n-mortar retailers like Burlington, JC Penney, and Ross. I've never had any quality issues with my US Polo Assn watches. They are typically a good buy for the money.

A US Polo Assn watch with gleaming gold tones

In the United States, US Polo Assn watches are manufactured by Accutime. The company has a long history of producing affordable timepieces that work well and look good. Most US Polo Assn watches have design elements that include a polo pony and rider and a US Polo Assn in a standard font.  However, the brand has some watches that branch out and omit the pony and rider. Over the years, I've picked up several US Polo Association watches.  To see all of the US Polo Assn posts on this blog, check out this link.

A US Polo Assn watch in orange

In the US, we are used to seeing US Polo Assn watches in a budget friendly $15 to $30 price range. However, in Europe, the brand is sold through Eurotrade s.r.l. In my few glimpses of US Polo Assn watches sold in the UK, it appears that the watches start at affordable levels and go upwards. The price range might be $50 to $150 with potentially better quality levels and features.

A US Polo Assn watch with a Japanese quartz movement

The key take away from a look into the watches of brand like US Polo Assn is that there are lots of interesting watches to collect in this world. You can define price ranges that are comfortable for you and you can pick brands that fit your sense of style and your personal preferences. Styles come an go with fashion-brand watches, to browse US Polo Assn watches for men on Amazon, bang it here to visit the latest via our Amazon affiliate program link.

 

Watches A to Z: Laco

Everyone pays attention to the big Swiss watch brands like Rolex, Tudor, and Tissot, but other European countries also have some fantastic brands. For example, the German town of Pforzheim is headquarters to Laco Watches. The company started as Lacher & Co in 1925 and made a name for itself as a producer of aviation watches. During World War II, the company was one of five watch producers for the German Luftwaffe.

The Laco Type B Miyota Movement (Amazon Photo)

The Laco brand uses a variety of Miyota, Sellita, and ETA movements in their watches. If you order from the factory, there are also some upgrade options on the movements for a few seconds per day improvement in watch accuracy. It's an option that I have never heard offered before, but it makes sense. On some of their watches, you can opt for a decorated movement. There are also many options for customizing watches through engraving, changing the step side, the calendar disc, crystal coatings, and swapping watch straps. The FAQ portion of the factory website explains the myriad options available. You can visit the Laco Watches site here.

Laco Augsburg Automatic (Amazon photo)

One of the things that I think makes Laco watches interesting to readers of this blog is attainability. Even with the brand's strong heritage and Made in Germany traditions, Laco offers watches that cost less than $3000. The majority fall around $1200 and the brand has many classic affordable watches that cost less than $600.  You can even find several models on Amazon. For example, the Laco Augsburg Automatic (shown above) is a replica of a World War 2 pilot's watch and it is available via my affiliate link here on Amazon for less than $500! 

Laco Type B Automatic (Amazon Photo)

If you like the Laco Type B Automatic with the hours on an inner ring within the dial (as shown above), it is also available on Amazon with a sub-$500 price tag. You can get it here on Amazon via my affiliate link. It's nice to know that you can still get a high quality watch from a historic brand at an attainable price point. It's definitely the kind of watch that makes collecting interesting.

Watches A to Z: Torgoen

If you are a watch enthusiast interested in affordable watches. One brand may deserve a second look: Torgoen. The Torgoen watch brand was founded in 2009 by watchmakers and aviation enthusiasts who were inspired by aircraft instrument panels. Led by Israeli-born pilot and entrepreneur, Benzi Rozenski, the brand focuses on practical, readable, aviation-themed, timepieces. The brand was acquired by E. Gluck Corporation in 2019. However, the focus on quality, design, and affordability continues unabated.

Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch for Men (Amazon photo)

One of the Torgoen watches that caught my eye is the Torgoen T10 Carbon Pilot Watch (above) for men. It has a 44mm diameter case, very readable hands and markers, 100-meter water resistance, and a Swiss Quartz Ronda movement. The Torgoen T10 watch is available here on Amazon via my affiliate link. 

Torgoen watches use quality Swiss movements, comfortable silicone or Italian leather straps, and high grade materials like 316L Stainless Steel for watch cases and K1 or sapphire for watch crystals. For affordability, final assembly of the watches may be done in Asian manufacturing centers. While a handful of Torgoen watches are offered on Amazon at very attractive prices, the brand primarily sells direct to consumer from their own website. 

Torgoen XP-51 (Torgoen Photo)

Some of the brand's most interesting timepieces are created in collaboration with the award-winning historic aircraft preservation firm, Pacific Fighters. As of this writing, all of the Torgoen x Pacific Fighters watches sell at price points between $350 and $500. Unfortunately, most of these limited production timepieces have sold out except for the current offering. The amazing Torgoen XP-51 Mustang Quartz GMT watch. It is made from wing flap skin metal from an actual P-51 Mustang that is undergoing restoration. You'll definitely want to check their website out for this watch, current offerings, clearance deals and more.  You can find them all here at Torgoen.com.

Nixon Watches: Great Christmas Gifts

It can be very challenging to find an interesting and unique watch for a loved one while staying within a reasonable Christmas gift budget. One approach to the problem is to find a nice watch from a reliable brand that may not be familiar to most people. One brand that makes quality watches at sensible prices is Nixon. Nixon makes rugged watches for surfers and skateboarders so that they can handle "gnarly environments" and still look presentable for a night out on the town. I've covered the Nixon brand in this blog in this watches A to Z post.

Nixon watches offer rugged good looks with water resistance for wearers who are active in watersports let swimming, surfing, or jet skiing. The brand also has some unique takes on most watch genres. Since Nixon focuses on quartz movement watches, most of the brands watches are also affordable! 

One of the first Nixon watches to catch my eye is the Nixon Clutch 42.  This watch has a Miyota quartz movement, 100-meter water resistance, and an interesting cushion-case.  It also has a rugged woven nylon strap.

You can find this watch here using our Amazon affiliate link for less than $200. The watch has lots of  lume for low-light visibility and it comes in three different case/dial color combinations.

Another Nixon that caught my eye is the Nixon Time Teller. It's one of their standards and it reminds me of a Tissot PRX. This watch is 37mm in diameter with an 19mm bracelet. It also has 100-meter water resistance and a Miyota Quartz movement.  However, it comes in 30 different case and dial color combinations.  If you poke around a bit, you can also find similar Nixon watches with solar movements or leather straps. The possibilities seem endless!

This watch offers many ways to express individual style and it's priced at less than $200. You can see the Nixon Time Teller here via our Amazon affiliate link.

I've posted more Nixon watch gift ideas on X. I think they make excellent gift choices because they are unusual, affordable, and built to perform. You can see more here on X:

If you're shopping for gift for a watch enthusiast this Christmas, you might try Nixon. They are an American brand inspired by the west coast's surfing and skate culture. Their mission was to create a watch you could surf with and then go to decent beach front restaurant.
(1/4) pic.twitter.com/MxRJBEB87P

— TheWatchDude (@the_watch_dude) December 16, 2025

This brand bigs fun back to the watch game in a big way!

Watches A to Z: Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange

Giorgio Armani was one of the world's best known fashion designers. He died recently (in September 2025). He was best known for luxury menswear, but his interests expanded into women's fashion, hotels, and even watches. 

Giorgio Armani - Photo by GianAngelo Pistoia,
CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Armani was also into watches. He collaborated with watchmakers like F.P. Journe and Patek Philippe on some of his own personal watches. While those brands are likely beyond the regular scope of this blog, Armani was also behind two far more accessible watch brands that are available to middle class fashion and watch enthusiasts:  Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange (A|X).

Armani Exchange Chronograph (Amazon Photo)

Both brands are designed, produced, and distributed by the Fossil Group. However, they hit the youthful and stylish tone expected by Armani. Emporio Armani was founded in 1981 with an emphasis on accessible, modern, and ready-to-wear styles. It was also envisioned as a container brand to offer many styles and accessories. The A|X brand was founded in 1991 as a more accessible brand for young people and drew inspiration from youth culture, street life, and dance music. It's mission was to be stylish and affordable. 

My Armani Exchange Watch

My Armani Exchange (A|X) Chronograph has a clean and elegant design for an affordable watch. It nods to the impractical side of fashion with black hands against a black dial. You can read my full  review of it here. I'd buy one again with better hand colors. 

Armani Exchange Chronograph Photo for Christmas

In practical terms, A|X watches are slightly more affordable than Emporio Armani watches.  With a few exceptions, A|X watches seem to run from less than $100 to just over $200 on Amazon while Emporio Armani watches generally run from just over $100 to $400. You can see both of these brands on Amazon via our affiliate links. Click here for A|X and here for Emporio Armani.

Watches A to Z: Mondaine

Mondaine is an unusual watch brand. Founded in 1951, it was inspired by the clocks in Swiss Federal Railway Stations. Thus, they are simple, functional, very readable, and tied to something near and dear to the hearts of the Swiss and tourists who love the country.

A Swiss Railway Station (note clock on right) photo by Joachim Kohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The brand is Swiss Made and offers both quartz and automatic models. In a world where everyone suddenly wants to be minimalist, Mondaine watches have been a standard bearer for minimalist Bauhaus design for over 70 years. Mondaine is very progressive in their use of energy and material resources. One of their factories generates 80% of their electricity needs via solar power. The brand recycles metals and other byproducts for re-use. They also work with an Italian company, Vegea, that creates vegan leather straps from winery and grape plant byproducts. They also participate in reforestation projects. Auditors have found the brand to be CO2 neutral. 

Mondaine Evo Sapphire Classic

This Mondaine Evo Sapphire Classic typifies the Swiss railway watch look. It's a quartz watch with a 36mm diameter case that is just 7.65mm thick.

Mondaine Evo Sapphire 36mm Classic

You can check it out here on Amazon. While I'd probably swap the strap for a black one, this is one of the lowest cost Swiss watches around and it has a unique look. For a collector, this is an unusual watch choice for less than $175. You're unlikely to see many of these in the wild here in the United States.

Mondaine Classic 40mm Quartz Watch

If you'd like a larger sized watch, the Mondaine Classic is a 40mm brushed stainless steel watch with the same railway clock minimalist style. It has a Swiss Ronda RL quartz movement with an estimated 60-month battery life. The strap appears to be nylon, but it is actually made from recycled PET bottles.

Mondaine Classic 40mm Quartz Watch (Amazon Photo)

If you'd like to check out this watch, you can find it here via our Amazon link.

Watches A to Z: Fossil

Fossil is a well-recognized fashion watch brand.  It was founded in 1984 by Tom and his brother, Kosta, Kartsotis. It's recognized by most watch wearers in the United States. Fossil was a nickname for Kosta Kartsotis because he really liked retro aesthetics. The brand initially focused on importing inexpensive, but well designed, fashion watches for retailers. Fossil adopted collectible tins as packaging for their watches in 1990 and went public in 1993. The brand has grown in popularity since it was founded. But, with retreats in the watch market, it has dropped its forays into Smartwatches and has expanded more into leather goods and sunglasses.

Fossil owns the Fossil, Relic, Skagen, WSI, and Zodiac watch brands and the women's watch brand, Michele. The company also manufactures and distributes Armani Exchange, BMW, Chaps, Diesel, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Michael Kors, and women's watch brands Kate Spade New York and Tory Burch. 

At lower price points, Fossil is also thought to own or supervise the manufacturing of generic quartz watches stamped with FMD on the caseback. Some believe this stamp stands for Fossil Manufacturing Division. I believe this to be the case because--as of a couple of years ago--the warranty service address for FMD watches at Walmart matched the Fossil Headquarters address for North America. FMD makes many of the watches sold under the George brand at Walmart.

Could these George brand FMD watches be made by Fossil?

The Fossil brand makes excellent watches that sell at affordable prices. On Amazon, men's Fossil watches sell for prices between $80 and $350. The most expensive Fossil watches are skeletonized automatics. You can see them at my Amazon affiliate link here. It's very easy to overlook Fossil or denigrate them as a "fashion watch brand," but they make great looking watches that are satisfying to own and wear. 

If you live near an outlet mall with a Fossil outlet store, you should definitely visit. You an often find great deals there.

Watches A to Z: Harry Williams

When I was searching for watch values on Amazon over the weekend, I came across an unfamiliar brand:  Harry Williams. I wondered if it was an old British brand or a newfangled Asian brand. It turns out that it is actually an Italian brand. It was founded in 2015, by watch industry veteran Stefano Abbati. A veteran of watch brands including Sector, Binda Group, and Fossil, Abbati chose the name as a playful nod towards Britain's royal family with Harry being the rebel and William being the traditional. The design ethic is one of homage to the Swinging London era of the 1960s and 70s where tradition and rebellion were often at odds. Perhaps, you can see some of that conflict, in the design this Harry Williams Moon-phase Watch. 

The Harry Williams Moon-Phase Quartz Watch

[You can get this interesting watch (above) for 40% off on Amazon.com as of April 2026, just click it here for this Harry Williams watch.]

On the one hand, it has electric blue hands and a modern minimalist dial, but the moon phase complication and the Roman numeral at 12 o'clock remind the wearer of tradition. It makes for a captivating look: minimalism, modernism, and tradition. It makes for a sophisticated and transgressive combination for a watch that costs less than $100. 

The Harry Williams Skeleton Watch

Another cool watch from Harry Williams is this colorful skeleton watch with a Japanese automatic movement. It provides an unusually vibrant and youthful look for a fairly traditional automatic watch. It's also a very reasonably priced watch at less than $130.

[You can also get this skeleton watch (above) on Amazon for 27% off as of April 2026, just click it here for the Harry Williams Skeleton Automatic watch.]

Watches A to Z: Peugeot Watches

Over the years, I've stumbled across the Peugeot watch company on Amazon several times. I always gave them a passing glance and wondered if they were related to the French Peugeot car company. It turns out that they aren't and their real story is far more interesting. 

Peugeot Men's Rectangular Watch (Amazon Photo)
Get This Peugeot Watch on Amazon

I did a bit of digging into this company. Apparently, it was founded by a watchmaker named Paul Peugeot back in 1957. For 25 years, they made traditional luxury watches with mechanical movements, but having weathered the quartz watch revolution, they pivoted to affordable, quartz, fashion watches. 

Peugeot Men's Non-Rotating Sport Bezel Watch
Get this Peugeot watch here on Amazon

Why? Originally, they made many watches with 18K gold. But, when gold prices rose with inflation and geopolitical issues in the late 70s and early 80s, the watches became unaffordable to lower and middle class markets where they had a strong reputation for quality and good prices.

Today, the Peugeot brand offers a wide variety of watches at affordable price points. The brand also backs their watches with a limited lifetime warranty, free battery replacement for life, and free link removal for resizing.

Peugeot Men's 14K Gold-Plated Moon Phase Dress Watch (Amazon Photo)
Get this Peugeot Watch Here on Amazon

Peugeot offers an interesting mix of watches and draws inspiration from traditional European watch designs. You'll find lots of tanker-style watches, moon-phase watches, and some homages to famous watches. I like this gold-plated homage to the Rolex Datejust. 

Peugeot 14K Gold Plated Luxury Big Face Watch (Amazon Photo)
Get this Peugeot Watch here on Amazon

Some of the other Peugeot watches resemble the Rolex Submariner  and Cartier tankers. At price points under $100, buyers should definitely read the reviews before making a purchase. But, Peugeot offers a good warranty and has some very attractive timepieces.

Watches A to Z: Nixon

Every watch company has an origin story. The European ones trace their roots back to ancient workshops and craftsmen tucked away in the nooks and crannies of Swiss Cantons. But, American watch companies sometimes have far different inspirations. Nixon was founded in 1997 by Andy Laats and Chad DiNenna. 

Nixon TimeTeller A05 (Amazon Photo)

Andy had worked as a snowboard product manager for Burton--the company of snowboarding pioneer Jake Burton. Chad DiNenna had caught the entrepreneurial bug working in surf shops. Together they founded Nixon watches with the goal of designing a premium product that could "standup to gnarly environments" and be sold in surf, skateboard, and snowboard shops. Nixon was named after famed surfer Chad Nixon.

Nixon watches offer 100-meters of water resistance, Japanese or Swiss quartz movements, and styling that lets wearers go from the surf to a seaside restaurant. Nixon is sold by a variety of retailers and online at web merchants including Walmart, Amazon, and direct from the Nixon website.  You can visit the Nixon Amazon watch store here on Amazon. If you are looking for a truly custom experience, the Nixon website has the latest models and offers the ability to custom design your own watch.

Watches A to Z: Maurice Lacroix

Maurice Lacroix is a Swiss luxury watch brand. They make the watches that many people can only dream about. On Amazon, the highest priced Maurice Lacroix watch costs about $10,000. However, they have plenty of models that are priced around $2000. That's quite a bit of money, but its also the kind of money that could come your way with hard work over time, a nice bonus at work, or a sizeable tax refund. The brand is a bit of a departure from this blog. But, Maurice Lacroix watches are attainable. They are a dream watch that could easily become a goal watch!

NAC, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The brand was established in 1975 as part of an old Swiss Company that originated in trading silk. They bought a Swiss watchmaker that specialized in making private label watches and expanded frome there. Maurice Lacroix expanded rapidly, building the capability to make their own watch movements and buying a Swiss watch case manufacturer. 

They led off with a flagship Masterpiece collection which continues with watches like this Maurice LaCroix Gravity 43mm Automatic.  

Maurice Lacroix Gravity 43mm (Amazon Photo)

Their most popular watch line is the Maurice LaCroix Aikon line of watches. The Aikon combines urban flair and sophisticated style that is perfect for any occasion. With prices usually a bit above $2000, these are dream worthy luxury watches.

Lacroix Aikon (Amazon.com)

If we're going to enjoy the Riviera, we may want to go into the water. The Maurice Lacroix line can have us ready with their Ponto S Diver watch with 300 meters of water resistance and quick change straps for any situation. It also has a cool dial with an internal rotating bezel! There are a few neat variants of this watch out there. You can check out this version of the Maurice Lacroix Ponto S here on Amazon. If you poke around a bit, the bronze versions are also very appealing.   

Lacroix Ponto S (Amazon Photo)

Finally, for an everyday dress watch, try a Maurice Lacroix Men's Classic & Simple Automatic like this one from their Les Classiques collection here on Amazon. Or, visit their website for their 1975 Collection and quartz options.

Lacroix Les Classiques Classic and Simple Automatic (Amazon photo)

To peruse the Maurice Lacroix collections more thoroughly, visit their store here on Amazon.

Watches A to Z: Movado

Movado detractors deride the brand for being a commonplace watch choice among upscale American consumers.  But, the company is no upstart.  It has a long and storied history.  

Photo by Sumiemyra, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The firm was founded in Switzerland by watchmaker Achilles Ditesheim in 1881.  Three Ditesheim brothers (Leopold, Isadore, and Achilles) combined their independent watchmaking concerns in 1892 to found L.A. & I. Ditesheim, Fabricants. It was one of the first modern factories in the watchmaking town of La Chaux-de-Fonds.  In 1905, the company was renamed Movado--which means "always in motion" in the international language Esperanto.

A circa 1950 Movado watch. Photo by - Bachelot Pierre J-P, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

As a watch company, Movado introduced many innovations. For example, in 1912, they introduced the Polyplan watch.  It was a tanker-style watch that curved to the wrist and had a movement that was angled  on 3 separate plans to allow the watch design to follow the contour. The original Movado Polyplan watch command thousands of dollars on auction sites.  But, this Peugeot Men's Classic Vintage Curved Watch (below), captures the essence of the design in an affordable quartz format.

Peugeot Men's Classic Vintage Curved Watch (Amazon photo)

In 1926, they introduced an art deco pocket watch called the Ermeto chronometer with a clever movement that wound the watch whenever the case was opened.

1928 Ermeto photo by Jafd88, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1947, Nathan George Horwitt designed the Museum Dial watch that has become synonymous with Movado over the years.  This modern quartz version shows the variety within the concept with a black sunburst radiating from the classic golden dot.  You can find this Museum Classic with a Swiss Quartz movement here on Amazon.

According to the Movado Group website, Cuban refugee, Gedalio Grinberg founded North American Watch Corporation in 1965. That company acquired Movado in 1983. The company then evolved into Movado Group, Inc. In recent years, the company has built an impressive portfolio of watch brands including Ebel, Burton, and MVMT. It has also licensed brands such as Coach, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, LaCoste and Scuderia Ferrari.

Movado history keeps moving forward. A vintage watch from Movado recently made headlines. According to a recent article in the Robb Report, Winston Churchill's 1946 Movado Calendrograf watch will soon be auctioned off with an asking price of a cool $192,500.

With a rich history of over a hundred years, it is clear that Movado has a bright future ahead as a luxury watch brand.

Watches A to Z: Elgin

If you are into collecting watches, one brand you may have heard of is Elgin. The Elgin National Watch Company was originally founded in Elgin Illinois back in 1864 and operated up until 1968.  You'll see watches from them under the names Elgin, Lady Elgin, and Lord Elgin.

Vintage Elgin Manual Wind Watch - photo by Joe Haupt from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

The Elgin watch company moved its manufacturing from Illinois to South Carolina in 1963.  However, all US manufacturing was stopped in 1968 and the Elgin brand was sold.  The brand passed through many hands and was ultimately purchased by MZ Berger.  Elgin watches made after 1968 are not related to the original Elgin watch company and have little collector value.  For example, since the first quartz watch was unveiled by Seiko in 1969, this attractive women's Elgin watch that I came across in a thrift store, has no real collector value.

A modern Elgin quartz watch for women

Elgin is pretty well known for pocket watches and you can often find nice examples posted on online auction sites for reasonable prices.  Several websites cover the topic of Elgin watch collecting.

A Key-Wound Coin Silver Vintage Elgin Pocket Watch
(photo by Joe Haupt from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

One caveat to the "no collector value" label on modern post-Elgin Elgin watches is that you may still find watches with the Elgin label that are attractive and priced affordably.  For example, I really liked the look of this quasi-mechanical quartz Elgin watch that I bought a few years ago in a department store.

With all the Swiss brands that have been revived under new owners or that have been captured by non-Swiss owners, there's no reason that MZ Berger can't capitalize on their ownership of the Elgin brand and even revive it in modern times. If you like a modern Elgin watch, there is no reason not to buy it.  Companies like MZ Berger make plenty of fashion watches sold under a variety of brand names.  As of 2024, modern Elgin watches are available here on Amazon.  Some are marketed purely under the Elgin label and others under the Elgin by Accutime.

As far as the internet knows, MZ Berger still owns the Elgin brand. While some of the watches are a little "blingy," others are quite attractive. In an era where many dead Swiss brands are being revived, I think it's kind of cool that an American name in watches  continues on. You can find Elgin watches on Amazon here. However, as of August 2026, Walmart.com is probably the best place to search for Elgin watches.