The 7 Best Movado Watches of 2023

Christopher Friedmann
·4 min read

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Accessible luxury might be the easiest way to describe the best Movado watches. The originally Swiss, now American, watchmakers trace their history back to 1881 in La Chaux-de-Fonds near the French border, and their vintage pieces still carry serious weight on the secondary market.

Why You Should Buy a Movado Watch

These days, Movado is best known for their fashion watches, which—while not on the same level as Rolex—don’t come cheap but are more reliable than those junky pieces endlessly advertised on Instagram. And while Movado watches are more on the entry-level side, they have more than a few fans out there. Which includes us, especially of the Movado Alta Se Automatic Chronograph, our best overall pick of the Movado watches.

Why You Should Trust Me

My interest in watches began with coveting my grandfather’s 1957 Hamilton. I have covered menswear for over a decade, including a stint at the Daily Mail. I've written about award shows and fashion shows featuring everything from formalwear to streetwear and swimwear. I spend my days traveling from Los Angeles to Copenhagen to Athens and beyond in search of the latest trends for men in wine, spirits, and fashion—especially watches.

Best Overall Movado Watch: Movado Alta Se Automatic Chronograph

This is the top of the line Movado, which is expressed in its name, “Alta,” which means “peak” in Esperanto. Both sporty and dressy, the Alta Se Automatic Chronograph is more water resistant—up to 100 meters—than most Movados and also features anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass, which should keep it scratch free. It also has a 62-hour power reserve, so it will keep running even when you slow down.

  • CASE: Stainless steel and ceramic

  • MOVEMENT: Swiss automatic chronograph

  • DIAL: Black

  • SIZE: 43mm

  • STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet

$3,795 at movado
$3,795 at movado

Best Movado Chronograph: Movado Museum Sport Black Dial Chronograph

While Movado might not be best-known for their chronographs these days, they certainly look good when they do them. The Museum Sport Chronograph comes with a black sandpaper finish along with three black subdials that give it a quality, layered look. It has a sporty meets classy appearance, which makes it work for just about every occasion and the face is protected by a sapphire crystal, meaning it won’t scratch easily. It is also water resistant up to 30 meters.

  • CASE: PVD-finished stainless steel

  • MOVEMENT: Swiss quartz chronograph

  • DIAL: Black

  • SIZE: 43mm

  • STRAP: Stainless-steel bracelet

$1,495 at movado
$1,495 at movado

Best Sports Movado Watch: Movado BOLD Titanium

Sporty, ultra-light, and durable, this BOLD Titanium Movado offers a contemporary design completed by a large, 45mm face. It sports a rotating tachymeter bezel also crafted from titanium, while also featuring the brand’s iconic dot motif at 12 o’clock. This is a modern watch that fits the sporty man perfectly.

  • CASE: Titanium

  • MOVEMENT: Swiss quartz

  • DIAL: Matte blue

  • SIZE: 45mm

  • STRAP: Titanium bracelet

$1,495 at movado
$1,495 at movado

More Movado Watches We Love