The story of Ebel watches begins in 1911 when husband and wife Eugene Blum and Alice Levy (from whose initials Ebel takes its name) both talented individuals in the business brought about the birth of the Ebel brand. Their combined talents ensured early success for the company. Uncompromising yield standards brought not only awareness for the Ebel brand, but also orders from other watch brands who purchased completed watches for resale under their own names.
In 1929 Charles-Eugene Blum, son of the founders and a skilled watchmaker, Marcel Reuche joined the Ebel watch company. Orders by luxury watch brands such as Vacheron Constantine prolonged to be settled for the precise, dependable movements offered by the Ebel brand and although this was crucial to the viability of the business, some might argue that the elegant and sophisticated art of institute which had become synonymous with the brand in its earlier years was now less of a priority and by the 1960's Ebel's creative momentum had somewhat stagnated.
Watches
Pierre-Alain Blum, son of Eugene joined the Ebel firm and although he was possibly reluctant to take up a position in the business, became the originator of the brand's new identity - that of "The Architects of Time". With the publish of the Ebel Sport classic range featuring the "wave" bracelet, it's sporty image re-enforced by associations within golf and tennis sponsorship, Pierre-Alain brought the brand up to date and gained a new and younger style-conscious client base. It seemed that with this new charismatic leader that the Ebel watch brand could once again reclaim it's legacy as producer of acclaimed and affordable timepieces for men and women with the emphasis firmly on design.
Success of collections such as the Beluga, Sport Wave, E-type and 1911 models, all highly desirable should have ensured the time to come of the brand, but as profits soared the finance branch of the firm invested heavily in over-valued non-watch associated pursuits resulting in such a drain on resources that the firm had to be sold, and was acquired by InvestCorp in 1994 and then resold again in 1999 to Lvmh. Neither of these acquisitions were in the brand's favour with both fellowships failing to re-ignite the artistic spark which had been missing in the Ebel institute department.
Strong direction did not return to Ebel until Ephraim Grinberg, head of the Movado group and a long time admirer of the brand took ownership. He recognized the possible of Ebel and lead the institute team to refocus on what had made the brand unique in the first place - the classic sensuous lines of the Ebel ladies collections and the sophisticated sports range for men.
Today the Ebel brand remains in the rights of the Movado group. Flourishing re-workings of the iconic models in the Ebel range and the reintroduction of the legend "Architects of Time" have re-launched the brand to a new worldwide client base as well as giving brand belief back to its former fans.
Ebel Watches - Luxury Watches With Humble Beginnings
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