Ebel History

By visiting our Ebel Catalogue you can see the models that we have currently in stock.

1911 • On July 15th,Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy applied to register the Ebel brand for watches (Eugène Blum Et Lévy) with the chamber of commerce in the watch making capital, La Chaux de Fonds.

1912 • EBEL brought out its first wristwatches.

1914 • EBEL won a gold medal at the Swiss National Exhibition for patented ring watches with pallet escapement and hidden time setting. From then on, other brands ordered complete watches from EBEL for resale under their own name. This became the company’s main activity during the following decades.

1925 • Grand Prix Commemorative Diploma at the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Industry in Paris, for making High Jewelry Art Déco wristwatches in platinum, onyx, diamonds and emeralds.

1929 • Charles-Eugène, the son of Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy joined the family firm in October. Together with the watchmaker Marcel Reuche, he introduced infallible production control systems, which guaranteed irreproachable quality.
The brand attracted demanding new clients, such as the VACHERON & CONSTANTIN brand ASTRAL.
Under the name PAUL BREGUETTE, EBEL created wristwatches specially for the American market.

1935 • Diploma at the Brussels Uiversal Exhibition. Ebel was the first watch company to set up the "Western Electric" precision evaluation system.

1935 •Paris Diploma of Art and Technique.

1939-1945 • Ebel went into watch production for the British Royal Air Force.

1952 • Videomatic watch, including one of the first retort automatic movements.

1952 • Châtelaine, a magnificent watch, inspired by the original design of the "Châtelaine" belt.

1961 • Charles-Eugène Blum celebrated the firm’s 50th anniversary with the PRESIDENT model and EBEL caliber 059 with a winding crown that turned backwards.

1964 •First prize at Swiss National Exhibition for the Lune Étoilée in the jewel watch category.

1970 • Ebel won renown with Pierre-Alain Blum.

1971 • EBEL’s turnover increased by 30%.

1973 • Pierre-Alain bought a 70% stake in Ebel from his father Charles.

1975 • Pierre-Alain Blum in sole control of brand.

1977 • Creation of the SPORT CLASSIQUE line, which, with its famous wave design bracelet, was a huge success. EBEL commissioned to produce watches for CARTIER.

1982 • Launch of the Chronograph SPORT-AUTOMATIK equipped with Zenith EL PRIMERO caliber.

1983 • Launch of the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph.

1986 • ARCHITECT OF THE TIMES introduced to mark the brand’s 75th birthday. Ebel acquired the Villa Turque at La Chaux-de-Fonds, a Le Corbusier building dating from 1916-1917.

1989 •Launch of the Voyager.

1991 • Launch of the Beluga Lichine.

1993 • Launch of the Sportwave
Launch of the Lichine Tonneau

1994 • EBEL joined the INVESTORS CORPORATION (INVESTCORP).

1995 • Launch of the Modulor 1911 Chronograph.

1996 • Pierre-Alain Blum resigned.

1997 • Launch of the BELUGA.

1999 • Launch of the E TYPE.

EBEL brand taken over by the LVMH group in October.

2001 • Launch of the CLASSIC WAVE.
Remake of the 1911.
Introduction of the BELUGA MANCHETTE.
Launch of the SATYA.

2002 • Perpetual Calendar.
Launch of the BELUGA TONNEAU.

Introduction of Jewel watch on the theme of MER OF THE SUD (Southern Seas).

   
2003 • TARAWA line launched.

On 2 April, EBEL launched a new, unconditional 5-year international guarantee, including changing batteries and replacing bracelets.

Launch of the Haute Jewellery collection "Jewels of the Nuit".
Launch of the 1911 La Carrée

Launch of the Tarawa

2004 • Claudia Schiffer became the latest face of Ebel in a new advertising campaign in September 2004.