The Movado Saint Christopher Reference 24911 Coin Watch
By Charlie Dunne
Over the past year, the results at auction for coin watches have begun to increase dramatically. The thought of being able to afford one was beginning to look farfetched. However, after crossing paths with a Saint Christopher coin watch made by Movado, I realized I would not have to break the bank in order to add one to my collection. Movado represents the best value in the genre of coin-form timepieces. While they do not have the same level of craftsmanship as an Audemars Piguet or Patek, they are detailed and beautiful objects nonetheless.
‘St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child’ by Hieronymus Bosch. Image credit: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Saint Christopher is known as the patron saint of travelers. It is said that he was a Canaanite, an individual who lived in Cannan the now region of countries which include Israel, Palestine, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. Although non-Western accounts cite his home region as Marmarica.
Famous depictions of Saint Christopher include Hieronymus Bosch’s late 15th-century painting ‘St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child’ which is currently on view at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
As in the sterling-silver Movado case, Saint Christopher is most often depicted carrying the Christ Child over his back within the water.
Andy Warhol's vintage Movado collection from ‘The Movado History’ by Fritz Von Osterhausen. Image credit: Rescapement
As mentioned back in 2014 by Eric Wind, President Truman was the recipient of a sterling silver Movado coin watch (and yes, I double checked that my example did not feature the engraving "To Our Chief Truman Dem. Club Xmas 1952"). The model has always been of interest to me, and was one which I explored in the 2021 Rescapement article ‘An introduction to coin watches: Where craftsmanship meets currency’. The Movado coin watch is not only a fascinating model associated with President Truman, but it also was an example that spoke to the late artist Andy Warhol. As I stated previously on WristCheck, “Warhol was certainly a discerning collector, as he appreciated even subdued timepieces like the 18K gold Movado coin watch, seen at Sotheby’s sale in New York on December 4, 1998.”
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Image credit: https://www.hifi-archiv.info
According to advertisements throughout the late 1950s, the Movado “Medallion” watch retailed between $125-$160 in sterling silver. 14K yellow gold models, such as the one owned by Warhol, were priced $320-$350. Despite being an extremely interesting timepiece from a prominent manufacturer, these have not risen a great deal in price over the years. Like many novelty timepieces and travel clocks in this era, within several ads the watch is referred to as an ideal choice for a gift.
Image credit: National Post Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Nov. 1st, 1958).
Image credit: Ad Patina
Upon correspondence with Nicholas Federowicz, founder of the vintage advertisement marketplace Ad Patina, the Movado can be seen in a Black, Starr & Gorham advertisement from circa 1951.
Image credit: The Kansas City Star Kansas City, Missouri (Dec. 8th, 1952).
Image credit: The News (Paterson, New Jersey) (Nov. 14th, 1963).
Image credit: Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Oct. 23, 1956.
Image credit: https://www.hifi-archiv.info
Image credit: https://www.hifi-archiv.info
Image credit: https://www.hifi-archiv.info
Surprisingly, the watch is designated as reference 24911 within vintage Movado catalogs from the 1960s. Upon inspecting the caseback, the reference number can be seen stamped on the interior. Additionally, the casemaker’s initials “F&P” are adjacent to the sterling silver stamp. Although merely speculation, it is possible this is a case made by Favre & Perret SA. Correspondence with David Boettcher, researcher and founder of vintagewatchstraps.com, shared the similar inference that the initials could potentially be that of the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacturer. Boettcher would lend insight into the mark on the right side of the sterling silver mark as a defaced punch mark.
Image credit: Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) (Dec. 7th, 1952).
Image credit: The Morning Call Allentown, Pennsylvania 12 Jun 1966.
Image credit: The Honolulu Advertiser June 16, 1966.
Presentation Box
Upon first seeing the timepiece, it was presented within a red-velvet Movado box. I was unaware of the timepiece which would be revealed upon opening it. Quite rarely does a box remain with a coin watch, and to witness both was truly a remarkable find by Eric Wind. “Coin watches are such a cool meld of watch history and other history - whether coins or medals.” Wind would expand on the timepiece stating “The Movado watches in the Saint Christopher medals are among some of my favorite. The one I sourced for Charlie is certainly the nicest I have ever seen and miraculously came in its original red box. It probably spent almost its entire life sleeping in that box until finding a home in Charlie’s loving hands.”
Movement
The watch is powered by the calibre 150MN, a movement that was in production for several decades by Movado in both pocket watches and wristwatches. On the movement, the import code MXI (Movado Factories) indicates the timepiece was sold in the United States.
Image credit: watchguy.co.uk
The Dial
The dial is a relic, which I believe to be made by Fabrique de Cadran Stern Frères. The minute markers are drilled into place while the applied numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 are the same of those found in models as the Rolex “Padellone” reference 8171. Below are a few dial variations with the same numerals in a Vulcain Exactomatic, Rolex Precision reference 4583, Movado M95, and the Rolex Oyster reference 6426. As seen in the advertisements, the model also can feature a dial configuration with applied-even numerals.
Movado M95 Chronograph.
Vintage Rolex Precision reference 4583.
Vintage LeCoultre
Vulcain Exactomatic.
Vintage Rolex Oyster reference 6426.
Rolex Oyster reference 6082
Rolex "Padellone" reference 8171
