Ebel Watches - A Great Read
This has to be one of the best articles I have read in a while:
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.
It was an article that was so nice…
Whoops, hate to say I missed the first post.
Great watches
Original design language
A good plea Josh for Ebel.
Ebel might something for me while i like the 80ties, like Miami Vice, and i like flat watches.
Why i have not jump into Ebel is the imago of the watch community to Ebel.
But i see you and others accept Ebel. Not that i am sensitive to what others like,
Ebel was just not on my radar.
The magical what watches bring is the surprise which brands hit the heart.
Brands can come into your life or not.
Me personally must be curious and if i am very curious, that watch must come to my collection.
I had it with Bulova. A member here is a Bulova collector, and i seen his posts.
Biased, the seed to Bulova was made.
When discover an auction, i can not get the space view and the word accutron off my mind. so i throw one of my watch rule into the trash bin and bought my first accutron.
It happen, i became a Bulova wearer.
Biased of that wonderful company emblem, i must have this Wilton.
Tune fork.
That is a gorgeous watch.