252 Movado An elegant and rare, Polyplan, oversize manual wristwatch in white gold with silvered dial and Breguet numerals.
Estimate: € 10.000 – 20.000
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- Model Polyplan
- Year Circa 1930s
- Reference 4009
- Case Material 18K white gold
- Case Number 401'476
- Bracelet Material Leather strap
- Movement Manual, cal. 400, 15 jewels
- Movement Number 401'416
- Dimension 22mm width × 54mm length
- Signed Case, dial and movement
Introduced in 1912, the Polyplan represented a radical departure from conventional watch construction. At a time when wristwatches were still evolving from pocket watch architecture, Movado engineered a movement specifically conceived for a curved case: the remarkable calibre 400. Rather than forcing a flat mechanism into a shaped housing, the movement itself was built on an angled plate, allowing it to follow the elegant arc of the case.
The defining feature of the Polyplan lies in this architectural solution. By positioning the compensation balance partially beneath the dial, Movado was able to install a larger balance wheel, improving precision.
The present example beautifully captures the model’s early 20th-century spirit. The elongated, slender 18kt white gold case curves gently to the wrist, while the winding crown at 12 o’clock preserves its transitional pocket-watch heritage. The silvered dial is adorned with applied Breguet numerals in flowing Art Nouveau style, their sculptural forms harmonizing perfectly with the modernistic geometry of the case.
Produced in extremely limited numbers, with approximately 1,500 examples believed to have been made across all variations, the Polyplan has long held cult status among collectors of early wristwatches. Examples in precious metals, particularly 18K white gold, are especially desirable due to their rarity and the fragility of early curved-case construction.
The Movado Polyplan is a mechanical sculpture: a pioneering design that anticipated the shaped movements of later Art Deco masterpieces. It stands as a testament to Movado’s early commitment to technical innovation and refined aesthetics, and remains one of the most fascinating wristwatches of the pre-World War I era.
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MONACO
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24 April - From 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
25 April - From 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM