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WATCH REVIEW Movado Datron Chrono Automatic

Editor's opinion
66 / 100
After 40 years of loyal and devoted services at 36,000 vibrations per hour, Movado, now American, has reissued its legendary Datron. A classic 70's design, a new movement...Let's take a look!
Straight to the Point

Movado Datron Chrono Automatic

Ref.: 606364
$2,500.00 US retail price January 19th, 2011
Pros
  • the faithful reissue of a legendary model / its vintage design
  • a top quality of manufacturing and finishing
  • an excellent value for money
Cons
  • the sometimes painful deployment clasp
  • the date display, hidden behind the seconds’ hand and its grey background
  • no edition using the original HS360 calibre
Brand Movado
Model name
Datron Chrono Automatic
Reference
606364
Case material
Steel
Case diameter (without crown)
40 mm
Case diameter (crown included)
44,16 mm
Movement type
Automatic
Caliber
ETA 2894-2
Base Caliber
ETA 2894-2
Functions
Chronograph
Date
Hour
Minute
Second
Crystal
Single-face crystal with anti-reflective coating
Power reserve
42h
Transparent back
Yes
Lug width
20,97 mm
Length from lug to lug
45,40 mm
Case thickness
12,35 mm
Clasp type
Deployment clasp
Clasp material
Steel
Total weight
163 grams
Retail price USA at January 19th, 2011
$2,500.00
Comfort (/15) 13
Movement (/20) 10
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 2.5
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 4
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 1
Power reserve (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 1.5
Finishing (/20) 13
Dial finishing (/6) 4
Case finishing (/6) 5
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 1
Crystal quality (/4) 2
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 1
Functionality (/20) 12
Diurnal legibility (/5) 5
Night legibility (/4) 2.5
Water resistance (/3) 0.5
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 0
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 4
Additional items (/10) 4
Limited edition (/3) 0
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 0
Quality of the watch box (/1) 1
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 2
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 14
When to wear it ? For a "Back to the Future" party!
Users opinion
77%
like this watch
Do you like this watch?

Foreword

Now American, Movado was synonymous with sophisticated elegance at an affordable price from the 50’s to the 70’s.
At the end of the 60’s, Movado and Zenith gave birth to a chronograph movement oscillating at 36,000 vibrations per hour.
It was used in the Movado Datachron under reference HS360.
Zenith used it in the El Primero watch under reference A386.

In 2010, the movement of the Datron (nickname for Datachron) was replaced by an ETA 2894-2.
Aware of the ongoing revival for timepieces from the seventies, Movado reissued it.

Delightfully vintage

Right from the first glance, the Datron proudly claims its date of birth: 1969.

Its 40 mm case size, which was a bit of a gamble back in ’69, is now considered as a minimum standard for mens’ watches.

 

Regarding its overall look, the Datron skillfully mixes contrary design elements while still managing to seduce immediately.
The dial is round but tightly fit within a tonneau shape.
The lugs are small but with a rather standard width between them.
And the watch is made 100% of steel but with a subtle alternation between brushed and polished surfaces.

In fact, even if it’s quite simple, you can never tire of the global design of the Datron.
Some would even surprise themselves staring at it over long minutes just to admire the details of its falsely simple alchemy.

 

A heavy but comfortable chronograph watch

On the wrist, the piece is rather heavy (163 grams) with its steel strap – a little bit less with its black ostrich one.
You can feel it, but it won’t restrict your movements and this Datron remains quite comfortable.

Its deployment clasp seems to be strong enough to count on and you can easily assume its longevity.
Nevertheless, adding or removing a link in order to adjust the strap will require some skill and specific tools – and maybe a professional intervention!

Anyway, we would have preferred a thinner deployment clasp, as you can feel it under the forearm when it lays down naturally but heavily on hard surfaces (like a desk or a table).

 

Excellent diurnal legibility

Reading the time during the day is always easy. Even when the sun shines, legibility is perfect, as the notches and the two hands are bevelled.

 

With an excellent manufacturing quality and finishing, this Movado Datron will seduce many vintage amateurs!

On the other hand, nighttime legibility could be improved: both the notches and hands have only a small zone filled with SuperLumiNova.

This has two consequences: a rather narrow luminous surface and a limited period of time during which the light shines out of the hands. Then, you’ll be able to check the time when going to bed, but not if you are insomniac during the long winter nights…

One damper: the date display (using a grey background instead of a white one like the three counters) is positioned at 12, meaning that the seconds’ hand of the chronograph is always just over it and “hides” it.

 

Movement

A small detail will please all the watch enthusiasts: the sapphire glass on the back allows you to see the automatic movement and the blue-tinted screws (except the groove). It is usually a standard of high-end watchmaking timepieces.
The rest of this calibre is not revolutionary at all. But this movement will do what is expected from it: sturdiness and liability.

Aficionados might regret that Movado did not reissue, even in a limited edition, a model powered by the original HS360 movement.
Meanwhile, this ETA calibre gives us the opportunity to buy a Datron at “only” €2,500…

 

What to remember

Movado had the clever idea to reissue the Datron almost as it was introduced in 1969. Those of us who pay a particular attention to tradition will clearly appreciate the effort.
With an excellent manufacturing quality and finishing, it will seduce vintage amateurs as well as those who want to get out of the common ways of traditional famous brands.
A true success!

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