The "Ermeto" design was created by G. Huguenin, P. Davoine and A. Dubois of Huguenin Frères et Cie, Fabrique Niel, who in 1926 patented an idea of an ordinary rectangular watch case protected by "an outer ornamental casing, the two halves of which are adapted to slide apart to expose the dial". The idea was patented in a number of countries, beginning with England on Oct 11, 1926 (patent No. 278669), and the next day in Germany (patent 443555). Movado Factories bought the patent rights and a yealater patented the winding system by sliding the case open and closed (English patent 296721 of Sep. 6, 1927). The design became very successful and Movado continued to manufacture it over the next 58 years.