WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 30, 2015
EBEL | Commemorating its 100th anniversary, limited editions of a three-hand model and a chronograph are released.
EBEL | A Century of Watchmaking
Celebrating 100 Years
Limited Edition Three-Hand and Chronograph Models Debut
EBEL, a brand that has consistently led Swiss watch design and was once a preeminent name in Swiss watchmaking during the 1990s, is now regaining the allure of its golden age under a new management structure established in 2003. This year, marking its 100th anniversary, the company has unveiled captivating limited-edition models that are set to surprise the industry.
Reporting and writing by Yasuto Shibuya
A Resurgent Icon Regains Its Original Charm
Founded in 1911, EBEL has been a powerful watch brand, reigning as a leader in the Swiss watch industry during its golden age in the 1950s and again through the boom of the 1980s and late 1990s, periods of unprecedented prosperity. Its tagline is "THE ARCHITECT OF TIME." The brand is renowned for its three-dimensional cases crafted with artisanal skill, sapphire crystal, meticulously engineered bracelets offering a flowing, beautiful form and exceptional fit, and in-house manufactured movements that boast performance and aesthetics beyond standard calibers. EBEL achieved these innovations well ahead of its competitors by the mid-1990s.
However, in the early 1990s, EBEL, then a family-owned business, suffered significant losses due to failed speculation by the founding family. Consequently, it became caught in the wave of consolidation within the watch industry by luxury brand groups. Sadly, this process led to a confused product design, diminishing the brand's original appeal and resulting in a period of decline from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
But in 2003, under the umbrella of Movado Concord Group, one of Switzerland's leading watch brand conglomerates, a reconstruction began. The company reunited key staff from its golden era and undertook a significant restructuring of its product lines. As a result, the brand's original charm has gradually returned to its products.
Elegant Limited Editions Befitting a Centenary
2011 marks EBEL's centenary, a milestone celebrated with the release of two captivating limited-edition models. The first is the "Classic 100," a simple three-hand model with a calendar, perfectly embodying this year's "Retro Classic" trend. The second is the "1911 BTR 100th Anniversary," featuring the company's proud, fully in-house developedchronographmovement and achieving COSC-certified chronometer precision.
Both models feature EBEL's original script logo from its founding era at the 12 o'clock position. True to EBEL's craftsmanship, the cases are meticulously finished with beautiful curved surfaces. Furthermore, the pricing is astonishing for special limited editions. The "Classic 100," in particular, is a beautifully simple watch, embodying the elegance and refinement that has defined EBEL's leadership in the Swiss watch world, offering something distinct from the simple models currently on the market. It is highly recommended for those seeking a sophisticated everyday watch to pair with a suit.
Classic 100
A Standard Watch of Ultimate Elegance and Refinement from "The Architect of Time"
To commemorate its centenary, "The Architect of Time," EBEL, has distilled its design DNA into this simple three-hand calendar model. The silver dial is complemented by elegant, classic silver leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, and a blue steel seconds hand, creating a minimalist yet refined expression of time. The 40mm case size is perfectly suited for the wrists of Japanese men. For enhanced legibility, the sapphire crystal features a double anti-reflective coating. The price, in the mid-250,000 yen range, is simply astounding.
Automatic movement, 40mm stainless steel case, alligator strap, 5 ATM water resistance, limited to 1,911 pieces worldwide, ¥257,250 (estimated retail price). Scheduled for release this autumn.