Ebel is one of Switzerland’s most talented watch brands. EBEL is a Swiss watch brand with a delicate and original design based on the concept of “architect of time”. In this issue, we will introduce the charm of ” EBEL ” with artistic elements and its standard models!
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What is Ebel?
Ebel is a major Swiss watch manufacturer that advocates “The Architects of Time. Ebel is a brand that has taken the rare stance of being founded by a married couple in the watchmaking world, which is strongly male-dominated. Ebel’s products, a fusion of the husband’s technical skills and the wife’s sense of design, have won numerous awards. At its peak, the brand was so popular that it even surpassed Rolex. Unfortunately, the company failed in businesses other than watches, and the business stagnated around 2000 A.D., but was restarted in 2004. In 2004, the company restarted its business, reviving the original designs that had been in existence since its founding, such as the ” Ebel Wave ” and the ” Ebel Classic “, and reaffirming its appeal to the world.
Ebel’s History
Ebel combines the talents of its founding couple to win numerous awards
Ebel was founded on July 15, 1911 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the holy land of watchmaking. The founders were Eugene Blum and his wife Alice Levy. The brand name “EBEL” was named after the initials of the founding couple, ” Eugene Blum Et Levy. Eugene is in charge of the technical aspects of improving precision and quality, while Alice focuses on the beauty of the watches. He insisted on the elegance of soft and gentle shapes, and tried to take a bold, unique, yet timeless approach to design. While almost all watch brands were founded by men, Ebel was a rare brand that respected the strengths of both men and women and grew by complementing each other’s talents as partners. In 1912, when pocket watches were still the norm, Ebel had already created the brand’s first wristwatch, and in 1914, Alice Levy’s design was recognized with a gold medal at the first Swiss National Exhibition. In 1925, Ebel won the Grand Prix at the Exposition des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
Eugene Blum, husband of the founder, and his wife Alice Levy
The second generation of managers solidifies the brand’s credibility
In 1929, the founding couple invited their son Charles (Charles Eugene Blum) to join the management team to solidify the family business. Charles made it his mission to make the wristwatch an image of unparalleled luxury, and he demanded of Ebel watches the quality and precision to match. At the Basel Fair held the following year, the company presented a wide range of high quality collections, which attracted a great deal of attention. When World War II broke out, Ebel was trusted for its precision and produced watches exclusively for the Royal Air Force from 1939 to 1945. After the war ended, Baselworld was recognized for its original design-oriented wristwatches, and in 1964 won the Grand Prix at the Swiss Exposition in Lausanne.
Charles Eugene Blum, second generation business owner
The beginning of the “Architect of Time”! Ebel follows Rolex in popularity
Pierre Alain Blum, grandson of the founder, joined the company in 1970. In 1977, Ebel introduced the ” Sport Classic,” a watch with an integrated case and bracelet. The elegant “wavy” line from the hexagonal case to the bracelet is an iconic Ebel design that has been carried over to the current collection. Along with this wavy design, the slogan “The Architects of Time,” which has now become an integral part of the brand image, was launched in 1980.
In 1982, the chronograph watch trend In 1984, the brand took on the challenge of incorporating a perpetual calendar complication into its eponymous hexagonal case, a feat that took more than three weeks to complete and boasted a world-leading frequency of 36,000 times per hour. Under the charismatic leadership of Pierre, the third generation, Ebel achieved significant growth, and for a time surpassed Rolex as the market share leader in France and Germany.
The ” Sport Classic ” was launched in 1977. Since then, the wavy bracelet, hexagonal case, and round screws driven into the case have become the iconic design of ebel.
Acquisition by LVMH Group brings Ebel to a dark period
Ebel became one of the ten largest watchmakers in the world, but it was Pierre who put a stop to the company’s meteoric rise. Pierre’s penchant for speculation led to a stock loss of approximately $100 million around 1990, and the brand quickly found itself in a difficult position. As a result, he sold all of Ebel’s shares to a Middle Eastern investment company. The Blum family business, which had begun with Eugene and Alice, came to an abrupt end. Ebel, which then held a large market share in France and Germany, became a prime target in the reorganization of the watch industry that erupted in the late 1990s. After a fierce battle between the Richemont Group and the LVMH Group, Ebel became a brand under the LVMH umbrella. The Dress Wave Collection (1996), which expressed a sporting dynamic, the Satya Collection (1999), which was inspired by the Sanskrit word for “truth,” and the EBEL “E” bracelet design were all introduced. E-TYPE Collection (1999), which incorporated the “E” of EBEL into bracelet designs. However, these models were far from the original Ebel wristwatches, which were created by a team of executives sent from LVMH, who had been forced out of the company by the previous takeover. Ebel lost its way in design and quality maintenance, and its market share declined to the point where its former glory is now a shadow of its former self.
Inspired by geometric design and the “E” in EBEL, the E-TYPE collection was launched in 1999.
Ebel succeeds in revitalizing itself with a design sense that has been handed down since its founding.
In 2003, the Mobard Group, a large American watch group, bought Ebel from LVMH. In 2004, Ebel declared a “return to its roots” by bringing back the old staff members who had been away from the brand for a long time. The revival of Ebel began. Ebel introduced the “1911 BTR (Beyond the Roots)” series, which featured the company’s own “1911” movement. Today, Ebel has regained the brilliance of its heyday with collections such as “Ebel Classic” and “Ebel Wave,” which inherit Ebel’s original design.
A special Ebel Classic model launched in 2011 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding.
Ebel Classic” inherits the identity of the company since its foundation
The “Ebel Classic” and “Ebel Wave” collections, which inherit the originality of Ebel’s designs, are a condensed version of the “Ebel! The Classic collection is a condensed version of Ebel’s original design. The bracelet has a wavy design, and the hexagonal case has round screws. Compared to the sturdier and more robust Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet and King Power by Hublot, the Ebel Classic is thinner and more delicate. Compared to these two models, the Ebel Classic is thinner and more delicate, and has a dress watch-like finish.
The ” Ebel 100,” developed based on the brand’s 100th anniversary model released in 2011, is a more dress-oriented piece. The leaf-shaped hour and minute hands are distinctive. While orthodox, it also offers a glimpse of Ebel’s unique design sense.
Ebel Wave,” a model that symbolizes a new era of Ebel watches
The iconic wavy bracelet is retained, but the case and dial design are boldly reconsidered. This wave collection is the most widely deployed in the latest men’s line, which shows the effort that has been put into this collection.
The case is the familiar hexagonal shape, but without the bezel. It is not a mere round case, but rather a colorful detail that certainly retains Ebel’s unique DNA.
Ebel Sport,” a sports watch full of Ebel style
Ebel tends to feature only delicate models, but the masculine sports model over 40mm is also a masterpiece. The hour and minute hands and dial design are also rugged, as if to match the concept. The six screws are also strongly set in place and shine brightly.
There is also a sports model with the symbolic ” wave ” in the center of the dial. The slightly pop-art font used for the indices ” 12 “, ” 3 “, ” 6 “, and ” 9 ” provides an excellent contrast to the powerful appearance of the watch.
The architect of time! The “Maison Ebel,” a building that symbolizes the brand
In 1986, the year Ebel celebrated its 75th anniversary, it made a big splash with the purchase of a building called ” Villa Turck. This structure is the most famous work by Le Corbusier, the famous Swiss architect and master of the Bauhaus. La Chaux-de-Fonds is known as a watchmaking center, but it is also famous as a treasure trove of such buildings and nouveau architecture. This building by Le Corbusier, which is said to have been inspired by a trip to Turkey, is one of the most famous in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The interior, which Le Corbusier himself described as “a true fusion of art and architecture,” has an open design with large windows that allow natural light to flood into the living room. The building is still open to visitors as “Maison Ebel,” Ebel’s PR center. Villa Turku is a symbol of the brand “The Architects of Time.
Introducing Ebel’s classic models
Ebel ” EBEL Wave
The “Wave” collection pioneers new designs while maintaining the traditional wave bracelet. The design is simple, with a white dial, three hands, and a date display, but the stainless steel and yellow gold materials give the watch an unmistakably luxurious impression. The minimal functions are complemented by the distinctive logo, unique index design, and other features that only Ebel could have come up with. The sleek case design is also unique to this brand.
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Ebel ” Ebel Classic
This collection is a legitimate successor to the “Sport Classic” concept, a masterpiece created in 1977. As the name of the model suggests, the Roman numeral indexes floating on the silver dial give the watch a classic atmosphere. The integrated case and bracelet, wavy design, and round screws make this the perfect model to fully appreciate the artistic side of the brand.
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Ebel ” Ebel 100
The collection was inspired by the brand’s 100th anniversary model. This model is more dress-like and user-friendly than any of the others. The leaf-shaped hour and minute hands show a high sense of style. The blued-steel second hand, coaxial with the hour and minute hands, has an exquisite presence on the modern black dial. The watch is equipped with a self-winding movement that is the culmination of Swiss technology. The watch goes well with a leather strap.
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Ebel ” Ebel Sport
A sports watch by the architect of the hour. The stainless steel case and bracelet provide high durability. While following a traditional design, the watch expresses a powerful and strong atmosphere typical of a sports model. This is a gem that perfectly fuses sports and elegance.
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Ebel ” EBEL Beluga
The gentle curves of the Beluga collection are appealing. The highly durable stainless steel case gives off a beautiful luster along with the sleek case. The contrasting dials and Roman numeral hour markers create a classic atmosphere. The simple design, devoid of superfluous decoration and bearing only the “EBEL” logo, is accentuated by the blued-steel hour and minute hands, which are also highly sophisticated.
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