Here we have a pleasing example of an early 1960s Mudu Doublematic watch. It has a 33mm Rose gold filled case with the stainless-steel screw back. It has the broad, dished bezel with a lug design reminiscent of the Omega Seamaster beefy lug watches. To the right is the ‘M’ signed chunky crown. The silver satin dial is neat with rose gold tone ‘cigar’ hour markers and Arabic 6, 9, 12 balanced with the date window at 3 O’clock. There are luminous plots to the base of each hour marker. It is signed with the MuDu logo ‘25 jewels’ and the Doublematic model name above 6. The date window is the wedge shape with the rose gold tone frame, bevelled window and white disc with black arabic numerals. The dauphine style hour hands are a rose gold tone, as is the tapered central second hand. The hour and minute hand have the original luminous in-fill. The crystal is original with the date magnifier sitting above the date window. The case back is stainless steel with the MuDu Doublematic signing to the centre with the red paint still visible. It is also signed with the features of the watch. Inside is the AS 1681 automatic movement, which has 25 jewels and shockproofing. It also has the semi-quickset date function. The service history is unknown, but the watch is keeping good time to within 30 seconds variation per day.

It is rare to find decent examples, with the lack of organised sales and repair networks and the illegal nature of the watches.

The MuDu name was registered in Switzerland on the 5th July 1957, belonging to Brevinex SA/Kurt Dubach of Geneva. It is thought that the name was a shortening of the name of Muller and Durbach in Geneva.

There was a rumour that MuDu watches were made as a sister brand of Blancpain watches, with another rumour that Blancpain workers made the watches ‘out-of-hours’. The third rumour and probably the best, is that ex-employees walked out with suitcases full of movements and cases to start new manufacture. These rather lively rumours were likely born out of the illegal manner in which MuDu watches entered Britain.

From the mid 1950s and throughout the 1960s, MuDu watches were smuggled into the UK through ports. These included Southampton and the old City of Bristol docks. They were then sold in pubs, markets and other unofficial channels. This was done to avoid the high duties on assembled Swiss watches post war, and subsequently the watches were often provided without straps.

There is a confirmed story in the book “Drug War: The Secret History”, where Peter Walsh tells of a senior customs officer, Samuel Charles, who in 1961 raided a smuggling operation, which included watches. They were seized from a well-known London gangster, Paddy Onions. A Christopher Ward forum member also recalls purchasing a MuDu 25 jewel Doublematic for £5, from a Customs & Excise sale of seized goods in 1961. There are many other accounts in forums of friends and family members buying there watch from a shifty character in a pub or market.

We think MuDu offered good quality watches, of a pleasing design. Combined with its smuggling history, what a fun vintage watch we have.
 
The watch is modelled on a 17.8cm wrist diameter
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.

Dial:
The dial is in very good original condition. The base tone is bright with no ageing. The hour markers are good with the original lume plots.

Hands:
The luminous Dauphine style hands are original. They are in strong condition with some tarnishing associated with age. The luminous in-fill is original. The second hand is also original.

Glass:
The acrylic crystal is original and is in good condition, with some light marking associated with age.

Crown:
The gold-plated crown is original, with the ‘M’ logo. It is in good condition with light scratching.

Case:
The case is gold filled to 10 microns and is in very good condition for the age. It has a good plating with no signs of wear. It has light surface scratching associated with age.

Caseback:
The screw back is Stainless Steel and is in good, unpolished condition. It has light surface scratching. The original brushed finish to the face remains. The engraving is good and clear with traces of the red paint.

Strap:
The watch comes on new genuine leather strap.

Movement:
The movement is an AS calibre 1681. It is an automatic movement with sweep central second and semi quickset date function. It has a jewel count of 25 and a frequency of 18,000 BPH. It also has the benefit of detached manual wind.

The service history is unknown, but the movement is in cosmetically good condition and is keeping time to + 30 seconds a day, with an amplitude of 220 degrees and a beat error of 0.2m/s. Without a service history, a service is recommended eventually, but for now it can be enjoyed.

Case dimensions
Case width: 33mm
Case width with crown: 35.4mm
Case length: 33mm
Case length lug to lug: 40.25mm
Case depth: 10.25mm
Lug width: 17mm