Ebel is a

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

luxury watch A watch is a portable timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities. A wristwatch is designed to be worn around the wrist, attached by ...

company that was founded in 1911 at

La Chaux-de-Fonds La Chaux-de-Fonds () is a Swiss city in the canton of Neuchâtel. It is located in the Jura mountains at an altitude of 1000 m, a few kilometers south of the French border. After Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg, it is the fourth largest city loc ...

in the

canton of Neuchâtel The Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel (french: République et Canton de Neuchâtel); rm, Chantun Neuchâtel; it, Cantone di Neuchâtel is a French-speaking canton in western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,782, of whom 39,654 (o ...

, Switzerland.

History

Ebel was established in 1911 by Eugène Blum and his wife, Alice (née Lévy). The brand name originates from the first letters of their names: Eugène Blum Et Lévy. According to the company catalogue of 2008, Eugène was responsible for the technical elements and Alice for aesthetics and design. Little is known about her public identity as an artist and entrepreneur, nor about her private life in the family and in the Jewish community. The prize certificate for a patented ring watch in 1914 demonstrates the societal restrictions and lack of recognition for women at the time, being issued to “Messieurs Blum & Cie, Fabrique Ebel La Chaux-de-Fonds” (Gentlemen Blum & Co.). In 1929, their son

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

took over the management of the company. He built the sales network of the business by further expanding it into many foreign countries, including the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. Under the direction of Blum's grandson Pierre-Alain, the company took a significant upturn since the beginning of the 1970s and produced

wristwatches A watch is a portable timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities. A wristwatch is designed to be worn around the wrist, attached by ...

for

Cartier Cartier may refer to: People * Cartier (surname), a surname (including a list of people with the name) * Cartier Martin (born 1984), American basketball player Places * Cartier Island, an island north-west of Australia that is part of Australia' ...

. The company was part of

LVMH LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (), commonly known as LVMH, is a French holding multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in luxury goods, headquartered in Paris. The company was formed in 1987 through the merger of fashion house ...

Group until the end of the 2003. Ebel 1911 BTR GMT ref

Towards the end of 2003, LVMH sold Ebel to

Movado Movado is an American luxury watchmaker. It is best known for its Museum Watch. Movado means "movement" in Esperanto. The watches are known for their signature metallic dot at 12 o'clock and minimalist style. Movado traces its origins to La Ch ...

Group for $62.2 million.

The "Architects of Time"

Ebel has long sponsored the work of famous architects such as

Le Corbusier Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (6 October 188727 August 1965), known as Le Corbusier ( , , ), was a Swiss-French architect, designer, painter, urban planner, writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now regarded as modern architecture. He was ...

(who was born in

), Andree Putman,.q=cache:EKck496weVcJ:www.public.asu.edu/~jabern/Voices_In_Design_Symposium/andree.htm+Ebel+andree+putman&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com
Biography of Andree Putman or — in the early 1990s — contemporary Swiss painters, such as

Jean Arcelin Jean Arcelin is a French and Swiss painter born in Paris in June 1962. He studied at Charpentier, a licensed art history school at the Sorbonne, where he developed an interest in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century painting. His paintings incorpo ...

. In 1986, the ''Villa Turque'', an early masterpiece of

, was acquired by the group for its 75th anniversary. In 2019, a gold-and-diamond wristwatch fabricated in 1974 (and gifted from the singer

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

J.D. Sumner John Daniel Sumner (November 19, 1924 – November 16, 1998) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice, and his innovation in the Christian and Gospel music fields. Sumner sang in five quartets and wa ...

) was put up for sale at M.S. Rau Antiques in New Orleans with an estimate of US$498,000. It is crafted in 18 kt gold and features 26 round white diamonds framing the clock face. A personal inscription reads, "From Elvis to J.D. Sumner 1974".

Sources and references

* *Ebel History, ''Amywatch'

{{Authority control Companies based in the canton of Neuchâtel Design companies established in 1911 Watch manufacturing companies of Switzerland Manufacturing companies established in 1911 Swiss companies established in 1911