MOVADO ERMETO Chronometer with Snake Skin covered case & Art Deco Style

Description: Movado Ermeto Chronometer with Snake Skin covered case and Art Deco styling. Art Deco styled chronometer with automatic winding when case is opened. Leather covered case and steel watch case. Dial market Swiss made. This watch was first marketed in the 1920's The Ermeto was designed to be the ultimate pocket watch and, as such, on the one hand, it was advertised as a practical and tough travel watch with protection from dust and rain, and on the other, as a fashion item, elegant and customisable. In other words, it was a statement of elegance, a smart piece of jewellery, well before the era of smartwatches. Promoted as a high-end watch for frequent travellers and sportsmen/women, the Ermeto was adopted by both genders and ultimately became what could be described as the industry's first unisex watch. The timepiece could be worn and transported in a pocket, or attached with a chain to a suit or even a bag. In its clever advertisements, Movado bragged about the versatility and durability of the case, stating for example that it could even be run over by a car and still function. It was an intelligent marketing strategy, and by developing partnerships with top distributors, and retailers such as Hermès for France and Tiffany & Co. for the USA, the Ermeto quickly became an international success for Movado. The Ermeto family lived on until the 1970s. with various versions and improvements -incredible longevity for a timepiece, particularly so for a pocket watch! The genealogy The family comprised four children, as follows: the regular kid, also known as the "Normal Ermeto"; the largest one, the "Ermeto Pullman"; the old one (8 days power reserve), the "Ermeto Master"; and the toddler, the "Ermeto Baby". Over the years, many of the family members came with various technical improvements and complications. Ermeto calibres were high-grade movements, most of them chronometer certified. Later and rarer iterations were offered with complications such as small seconds, triple date, moon phase and alarm. With its ambition to be the perfect travel watch, the Ermeto later came with an integral kick-stand attached to the caseback, allowing the versatile timepiece to become a beautiful table clock. Introduced in the midst of the Art Deco movement, early Movado Ermeto watches were highly influenced by this design trend. Both dials and case covers served as playgrounds for the creativity of designers from that era. A large variety of dials was produced, from radium hands and numerals to white gold applied Breguet markers, and designs could vary widely depending on their production year. Despite their relative sturdiness, it's becoming harder to find Ermeto timepieces in mint or good condition. Case covers tend to be the first part of the watch to be affected. Due to the material (leather), the majority of them have unfortunately been replaced or refinished. As far as the watch itself is concerned, the chrome-based case can also be an issue, as it deteriorates quickly over time. Although known to collectors and watch historians, the Movado Ermeto nonetheless continues to fly under the radar, and can still be acquired for a relatively low entry price. As a genuine piece of watch industry heritage, the Ermeto was seen as modestly revolutionary back in the '20s. It stood as a different approach of looking at time, a new way of wearing a watch and a fashion statement. It was a bold move at the time, but it succeeded, proving that audacious thinking and clever marketing might still, even today, form the basis of a rewarding strategy. Dimensions (approx) Ermeto Case width(open) 73mm. By 35mm high Casemarkings indicated below: (comments in brackets) (watch reference number) 1191037 GS 0935 (Stirling silver) Engraved by previous owner, probably on purchase as a gift. HCL, Oct 7th 1929 Other markings Swiss made, patent, fab Suisse Argent dorf (gold plated stirling silver) Hallmarks: oval cross, .925, N We think this is George Stockwell, George Stockwell & Co., London, with year mark 1928 Recently fully service. Some signs of distress to snake skin cover, as might be expected for an item of this vintage. Comes to us with black protective case provided by watch service centre. Working well. A delightful Art Deco period piece with lots of chronometer history. It doesn't work I'm not sure if its battery operated or what I brought as collectable

Price: 800 GBP

Location: Hereford

End Time: 2025-01-16T13:49:44.000Z

Shipping Cost: 15.71 GBP