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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Movado M95 is a manually wound mid-century chronograph best known among collectors for its place in the M90/M95 movement family, its added 60-minute counter, and an unusual pusher arrangement: the lower pusher starts and stops timing, while the upper pusher resets it. It is not one uniform watch: surviving examples differ in case, material, and reference, and only some are reported to use François Borgel cases.
What makes the M95 notable?
The M95 sits on a less-traveled branch of Movado chronograph history. Specialist descriptions place it alongside the M90 as a modular chronograph movement and say the M95 followed the M90 with a 60-minute counter. Watches of Switzerland describes both as modular movements developed by Frédéric Piguet; D-Timepieces likewise characterizes the M90 as a chronograph module built on a time-only caliber and describes the M95’s additional minute counter. These are specialist accounts, rather than factory movement documentation.
That counter gives the M95 a practical advantage for timing longer intervals than a chronograph that records only seconds. Its appeal is not simply a complication count, however: the watch combines a distinctive operating layout with a family of different case designs. SJX’s survey of mid-century Movado chronographs emphasizes that there are multiple M90/M95 case types, so a single photograph or reference should not stand in for the whole family.
How does the Movado M95 chronograph work?
According to SJX, D-Timepieces, and Analog:Shift’s description of a specific 1960s example, the M95’s pushers work opposite to the arrangement many wearers expect:
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- Our Movado products represent the epitome of the Movado ethos—fusing iconic modern design with quality craftsmanship to create timeless watches.
- The Movado SE is defined by Swiss craftsmanship and sport-elegant design. This 42mm chronograph watch features a black sunray dial, Swiss Super-LumiNova accents, and our signature dot motif.
- Quartz Chronograph Movement: Powered by a battery, this watch functions as both a display watch and stopwatch, with a sweep second hand that starts, stops, and resets with repeated presses of the stem.
- Caring for your timepiece: Your Movado watch needs periodic care for peak performance. Service every 3–5 years and replace the battery as needed. Never open the watch yourself to maintain its integrity.
- Lower pusher: starts and stops the chronograph.
- Upper pusher: resets the chronograph after timing has stopped.
Those descriptions explain the intended control layout, not the condition of every surviving watch. A vintage example may need service, and a collector should have a qualified watchmaker assess its operation rather than assume the pushers still function correctly.
One movement family, different watches
The M95 is documented in more than one case and material. The following retailer listings illustrate variation; their measurements apply only to the examples listed, not to every M95:
Rank #2
- Our Movado products represent the epitome of the Movado ethos—fusing iconic modern design with quality craftsmanship to create timeless watches.
- Men's Series 800, stainless steel and yellow PVD-finished stainless steel case and link bracelet, black dial with index.
- Quartz Chronograph Movement: The quartz watch movement is powered by a battery. A chronograph watch type serves as both a stopwatch and a display watch. A basic chronograph features an independent sweep second hand that can be started, stopped, and returned to zero with successive pressure on the stem.
- Caring for Your Timepiece: Like any finely crafted mechanism, your Movado watch requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance. A maintenance interval of 3 to 5 years is recommended, in addition to any required battery replacement. Never open the watch yourself.
- Water Resistance: Up to 200 meters (20 ATM) This watch can withstand water pressure up to 200 meters and is suitable for all high-impact water sports, including scuba diving at depths that don't require helium gas.
| Documented example | Case and dimensions | Source context |
|---|---|---|
| M95 chronograph | 14K yellow gold; 35 mm case; 19 mm lug width; silver dial | Watches of Switzerland lists this example as a 1960s watch. |
| Sub Sea reference 19068 | Stainless steel; 35.5 mm case | D-Timepieces documents this separate example as circa the 1960s. |
Neither listing establishes a complete factory catalogue or the full production chronology. The available descriptions also do not establish a comprehensive production total, so claims that the M95 is rare in a specific numerical sense should be treated cautiously.
What to look for in a Borgel-cased example
Some M90/M95 watches are associated with François Borgel cases, but Borgel construction is not a defining feature of every M95. SJX reports that Borgel patented a cork stem seal in 1928 (CH 130942) and a decagonal screw-down caseback in 1931 (CH 156807), and that Movado was among the brands that adopted Borgel cases. Case appearance alone is not enough to identify a particular watch as Borgel; consider its reference and case-back markings and seek specialist assessment.
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- Discover the future of modern design. The BOLD Collection is defined by unexpected materials, vibrant colors, and a dynamic aesthetic.
- Sporty style with contemporary-cool edge. This BOLD Fusion chronograph features a bronze ion-plated stainless steel 44mm case and a matching link bracelet for a sleek, minimalist effect. Its rich black dial is framed by a matching ceramic bezel and boasts our iconic dot motif at 12:00, a date window, three sub dials and a minute track with bronze toned accents.
- Quartz Chronograph Movement: The quartz watch movement is powered by a battery. A chronograph watch type serves as both a stopwatch and a display watch. A basic chronograph features an independent sweep second hand that can be started, stopped, and returned to zero with successive pressure on the stem.
- Caring for Your Timepiece: Like any finely crafted mechanism, your Movado watch requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance. A maintenance interval of 3 to 5 years is recommended, in addition to any required battery replacement. Never open the watch yourself.
- Water Resistant: Up to 50m (165ft): Wearable for short periods of recreational swimming and showering, but not diving or snorkeling; 5 ATM.
How the M95 fits Movado’s chronograph history
Movado’s official history dates the company’s founding to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1881. It also identifies a later milestone: at the 1969 Basel Fair, Movado and Zenith debuted the El Primero, which Movado calls the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. That collaboration should not be confused with the M95. The M95 examples described by specialist sellers are manual-winding watches; the El Primero was the later automatic chronograph.
“Golden age” is a useful collector’s description, not a fixed technical date range. In the M95’s case, the cited retailer examples are from the 1960s, while the available sources do not establish a definitive start and end date for M95 production.
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- Discover the future of modern design. The BOLD Collection is defined by unexpected materials, vibrant colors, and a dynamic aesthetic.
- The BOLD Evolution 2.0 is defined by an elevated, bold case and a skeleton dial. This 42 mm chronograph watch features a transparent coffee brown dial with yellow gold tone subdials, slim hands, and our signature dot at 12 o'clock.
- Water Resistant: Up to 30m (100 ft): Will withstand splashes or brief immersion in water, but not suitable for swimming or showering; 3 ATM.
- Quartz Chronograph Movement: The quartz watch movement is powered by a battery. A chronograph watch type serves as both a stopwatch and a display watch. A basic chronograph features an independent sweep second hand that can be started, stopped, and returned to zero with successive pressure on the stem.
- Caring for Your Timepiece: Like any finely crafted mechanism, your Movado watch requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance. A maintenance interval of 3 to 5 years is recommended, in addition to any required battery replacement. Never open the watch yourself.
What to check when considering an M95
Because the name covers variants rather than one invariant specification, assess the particular watch rather than relying on a generic M95 description. Useful points to verify include:
- Reference and case: establish the reference, case type, and any case-back markings; do not assume it is Borgel-cased.
- Material and condition: check the case for wear, damage, and evidence of alterations.
- Dial: ask about originality and condition, and request clear photographs and documentation.
- Chronograph operation: have a watchmaker confirm the controls and movement condition; the expected arrangement is lower pusher for start/stop and upper pusher for reset.
- Service history and provenance: look for documented maintenance and a seller’s evidence supporting the watch’s identity and history.
These are practical comparison points, not a formal grading standard. An asking price or an isolated listing cannot establish current market value; meaningful price comparisons require dated, comparable completed sales.
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- Our Movado products represent the epitome of the Movado ethos—fusing iconic modern design with quality craftsmanship to create timeless watches.
- The Movado Museum Classic is an icon of modern design, featured in museums worldwide and renown for the elegant simplicity of the dial defined by a single dot at 12 o’clock, a design element that symbolizes the sun at high noon. In this style, we’ve paired a 42mm case in yellow goldtone PVD stainless steel with a black chronograph dial outfitted with three subdials, our signature dot and slender hands in golden hues and a timeless two-tone stainless steel bracelet.
- Quartz Chronograph Movement: The quartz watch movement is powered by a battery. A chronograph watch type serves as both a stopwatch and a display watch. A basic chronograph features an independent sweep second hand that can be started, stopped, and returned to zero with successive pressure on the stem.
- Caring for Your Timepiece: Like any finely crafted mechanism, your Movado watch requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance. A maintenance interval of 3 to 5 years is recommended, in addition to any required battery replacement. Never open the watch yourself.
Sources
- Movado’s official company history for the founding and 1969 El Primero claims.
- Watches of Switzerland’s M95 listing for its specific gold example and movement description.
- SJX Watches’ 2021 survey of mid-century Movado chronographs for movement-family context and Borgel case history.
- D-Timepieces’ Sub Sea reference 19068 listing for its specific stainless-steel example and movement description.
- Analog:Shift’s vintage chronograph guide for the pusher arrangement described on a particular M95.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
