Horological Meandering

JoshTheCanadian
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Ebel Watches - A Great Read

This has to be one of the best articles I have read in a while:

www.phillips.com

Some of the old timers around these parts may be better acquainted with Ebel, but I had no idea how important the brand was in the 1980s. I have no reason to assume that the article glamorizes that history - although I was not around so it is impossible for me to confirm the veracity - but it seems like the brand was the real deal. In particular, the use of El Primero movements prior to Rolex was very cool, the wave bracelet is very cool, the dimensions are lovely (38mm x 11mm), etc. I have always heard about the Zenith stashing El Primero story, and I think it is especially cool that some of the early Ebel 1911s used the stashed El Primeros.

Unquestionably, the watches are... an acquired taste. One might even say they are ugly (and I am not sure that they are wrong). But I think they are ugly in a good, 1980s way.

 

So, what happened? Well, the owner got in financial trouble and sold his family business.

 

I enjoyed this quote from the owner: "There is no reason for Ebel to pay for all my damned stupidities." It is interesting to think what might have been had the brand remained with its visionary owner. Maybe its designs, rooted in the 80s, would have faded into obscurity. Maybe the brand would have evolved.

Ultimately, the brand sold to Investcorp then to LVMH then to Movado. Now, it sucks. Story as old as time.