Their laurels are pretty seedy. They basically stole the design they're most famous for from the original designer. Nathan George Horwitt designed the original "Museum Watch" and shopped the design around to various manufacturers. Nobody bit so he had a few watches made for him at his own cost. One of them was eventually acquired by MoMA, which is where the "Museum" name comes from.
How does Movado come into it? They made unlicensed copies of Horwitt's watch using cheap movements. Basically, counterfeits. He took them to court but after years of legal wrangling and arguments, he settled with Movado for a measly $29,000 in 1975.
They pretty much waited until Horwitt died to begin heavy marketing of the design.
Their laurels are pretty seedy. They basically stole the design they're most famous for from the original designer. Nathan George Horwitt designed the original "Museum Watch" and shopped the design around to various manufacturers. Nobody bit so he had a few watches made for him at his own cost. One of them was eventually acquired by MoMA, which is where the "Museum" name comes from.
How does Movado come into it? They made unlicensed copies of Horwitt's watch using cheap movements. Basically, counterfeits. He took them to court but after years of legal wrangling and arguments, he settled with Movado for a measly $29,000 in 1975.
They pretty much waited until Horwitt died to begin heavy marketing of the design.
Movado is a really shitty company.