This vintage Movado Calendograf represents the golden age of Swiss watchmaking — a time when mechanical ingenuity met timeless design. Housed in a 36mm stainless-steel case, it features a cream dial with triple-calendar complications, displaying day and month through twin apertures and the date via a red-tipped central hand. Beneath the dial beats Movado’s Caliber 470, a beautifully engineered automatic movement admired for its reliability and precision across decades.
Introduced in the 1940s, the Calendograf line was Movado’s elegant response to the growing fascination with mechanical complexity. Unlike later mass-produced calendar watches, each piece was individually hand-finished, with Movado’s signature attention to dial symmetry and typography — traits that continue to captivate collectors today. The balanced layout, bold numerals, and discreet pointer date create a design that feels as sophisticated now as it did nearly eighty years ago.
The engraving on the caseback — “Presented by National Ins. Co.” — hints at its original purpose as a corporate presentation piece, adding a personal historical layer to an already significant model. Such engraved backs often marked milestones, awards, or retirements, making every example subtly unique.
This Calendograf stands as a testament to Movado’s pre-Zenith era craftsmanship, when the brand was celebrated for its technical innovation and refined aesthetics — a perfect fusion of utility and elegance from one of Switzerland’s most respected manufactures.
Reference / Movement: Cal. 470
Dial Size: 36mm
Movement Type: Automatic
Functions: Triple calendar – day, date, and month
Dial: Retouched cream dial with Arabic numerals and red date track
Hands: Blued-steel leaf hands with red-tipped date pointer
Case Material: Stainless steel
Strap: Brown embossed leather strap
Caseback: “Presented by National Ins. Co.” engraving
Era: 1940s–1950s