RARE* 1940s Movado Chronograph | Black Gilt Dial | Ref. 19005 Cal. M90 | Stepped Case 35mm

The Caliber M90 already belongs to the upper tier of vintage Movado chronographs, but this one goes well beyond the usual formula. Its stepped case is seldom seen, and the black gilt dial is rarer still. Together, they make for a configuration that has surfaced only a handful of times.

And then there is the dial itself. Beneath the black surface lies a warm golden tone that reveals itself as the light moves across it, shifting from deep, inky black to rich golden hues. It gives the watch an almost changing personality on the wrist, subtle in one moment, striking in the next. It is a remarkable effect, and one that photographs can only begin to capture.

Paired with the architectural stepped case and the beautifully balanced M90 layout, the result feels purposeful, elegant, and distinctly of its era.

For seasoned Movado collectors, this is the sort of piece that needs very little introduction. For everyone else, it is a reminder that some of the brand’s most compelling watches are still hiding in plain sight.