EBERHARD & Co.
Eberhard & Co. is a traditional Swiss watch company which has a rich heritage of manufacturing exceptional mechanical timepieces including some innovative chronographs since 1887.
History of Eberhard & Co. Watches
In 1887, Georges Eberhard founded the Manufacture d’Horlogerie Eberhard & Co. in La Chaux- de-Fonds. The Company specialised in the production of technical watches, launching the pocket chronograph, followed in 1919 by the first wrist chronograph.
In 1935, innovation centred on the double pulsating chronograph, offering the stop and start functions without having to reset to zero; 1938 was the year that saw the launch of the first chronograph with an hour counter. When 1939 arrived, it heralded a new revolution: the Company created a wrist chronograph equipped with an innovative fly-back device, enabling dual time keeping. These were the years when the Eberhard chronographs were ploughing through the waves on the wrists of the Italian Royal Navy’s officers.
After the war, the first ladies model was launched, after which, at the end of the 50s, the first Extra-fort made its appearance, a real watch industry jewel with seconds hand re zeroing by means of a sliding push piece. Technical passion and the taste for a challenge brought together Eberhard and the “Frecce Tricolori” (Three-coloured Arrows), to which the Chronomaster was dedicated in 1984.
The Company’s centenary (1887-1987) was celebrated with the Navymaster collection. 1992 was the year of the “Tazio Nuvolari” chronograph, created in honour of the greatest car racing legend of all time.
In 1996, production was orientated towards large-sized models: the Traversetolo was born, with its 43 millimetre diameter. The following year saw a new milestone: “8 Jours”, which, thanks to an exclusive device, needs rewinding only once a week. The third millennium opened with Chrono 4, the first and only chronograph in the history of watchmaking to display four counters aligned horizontally, subsequently also aligned vertically with the Chrono 4 Temerario.
In 2003, a new model was added to the “Tazio Nuvolari” collection, dedicated to the famous victory of the Vanderbilt cup. Then once more in the context of extreme challenges, the Scafodat collection was launched in 2006, tackling the ocean depths down to 500 metres.
In 2007, Eberhard & Co. celebrated its 120th Anniversary with a chronograph dedicated to this important milestone: the “Chronographe 120ème Anniversaire”, which is the custodian of 120 years of history, passion and dedication. In 2008, the Company is embellishing its collections with important developments to its most representative models and, in this way, laying the bases for new and exclusive projects in the future.
In 2009 the Company reinterpreted the spirit of Extra-fort with a refined version “Vitré” and presented the special steel chronograph “Tazio Nuvolari Edition Limitée Grand Prix TN”, produced in only 999 pieces.
In 2010 the “Grand Prix” line was enriched by a red gold edition, limited to 123 precious pieces. With Gilda, Eberhard & Co. gives a new meaning to its concept of femininity, thanks to its soft lines and harmonious details expressing modern and timeless elegance. To confirm the continuous search for evolution and innovation gave birth to Chrono 4 Géant, an indomitable, sporty and dynamic chronograph.
In 2011 the brand introduced a special titanium version of the latter with a gutsy, distinctive look. The same year Eberhard & Co. celebrated the 10th anniversary of Chrono 4 with two limited Editions of Chrono 4 Grande Taille and Chrono 4 Géant Titane.
In 2012 the Maison celebrated its 125th anniversary with “Extra-fort Roue à Colonnes Grande Date 125ème Anniversaire”, 125 years dedicated to research and constant innovation. Champion collection launched in the early ‘90s is revisited in a contemporary style with Champion V and Champion V Grande Date. On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of Tazio Nuvolari’s birth Eberhard & Co. introduced “Tazio Nuvolari Data”.
In 2017, Eberhard & Co. celebrated its 130th anniversary. Honoring its history and origins, the brand launched the new 1887 collection in 2019.
Important Watch Collections
8 Jours
The 8 Days collection combines tradition with committed workmanship as it comprises mechanical hand winding watches which need winding only once every 8 days. The dial has a days-left indicator, with a patented device, whose hand shows the remaining power reserve i.e. for how many days left the watch will still be telling the time.
The Company’s innovation here is a special winding device consisting of two overlapping springs, which, together, are more than one metre and a half long, while a standard wrist watch has only one spring, about 30 cm long.
Champion
The Champion collection was launched at the beginning of the 90s. The brand recently revisited this sports oriented collection by adding new models Champion V, and Champion V Grande Date, with big date at 3o’clock. Dedicated to a strong, sporty wrist, Champion V and Champion V Grande Date are proposed with a variety of dials and bezels which exalt their distinctive personality signed by Eberhard & Co.
Chrono 4
Introduced in 2001, the Chrono 4 is the first and only chronograph in the history of watchmaking with four aligned counters. This Registered Design is an aesthetic and functional innovation and represents a technical revolution thanks to the device developed and patented by Eberhard & Co. with sophisticated complexity. Indeed the entire mechanism operates using no fewer than 53 rubies. Never before had minutes, hours, 24 hours and seconds been arranged horizontally in a linear progression.
Chrono 4 Temerario
Chrono 4 Temerario presents itself in a completely original and unique way and boasts 3 exclusive patents developed by Eberhard & Co. One of these regards the movement, another concerns the access system to the crown, and the third relates to the safety clasp of the leather strap and the bracelet. Equipped with a mechanical automatic movement and an Eberhard & Co. device, Temerario features the auxiliary dials – continuous seconds and 24 hours – and the hour and the minute counters in a vertical row.
The two push buttons of the chronograph are situated at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock. Beneath the case, at the level of the chronograph’s push buttons at 1 o’ clock, there is a lever that when trigged releases the lid of a small chamber, at 12 o’ clock, in which the crown is kept. This device that opens the chamber is exclusive to Eberhard & Co. The strap and the bracelet are both fitted with the innovative and exclusive deployment clasp Déclic.
Extra-Fort
Extra-fort represents an important stage in the history of watchmaking. It’s a chronograph by Eberhard & Co. which, as a post-war offspring, became a synonym for a new era in horology in the 50s. Half a century later this by now renowned timepiece was freshly interpreted and brought up to the state of the art by the same Maison Suisse.
Glida
With Gilda, Eberhard & Co. gives a new meaning to its concept of femininity. The soft lines of the elliptical case, the harmony shown by the exclusive details and the floral motif engraved on the caseback express modern and timeless elegance. The extreme refinement of Gilda is enhanced in all models by precious materials, such as mother-of-pearl and diamonds. Sensual, strong-minded, studded with little secrets, just like a woman.
Les Courbées
Les Courbées is a collection of mechanical watches with automatic winding that combines originality and elegance. Available in steel or in 18 ct. pink gold, these models have a rectangular case with slightly curved profile and a vaulted sapphire glass.
Scafodat
Scafodat is the name of the diving-watch collection for professional use; it resumes and actualises the Eberhard & Co.’s tradition in sport watches with technical features. The ingenuity of its production and the careful selection of the materials make Scafodat water-resistant down to 500 m.
Scafodat is characterised by such interesting technical details as the big crown located at 4 o’clock, equipped with a special security device. The crown activates the inner rotating flange, protected by a non-reflecting sapphire glass, which is especially useful for indicating diving times on a sexagesimal basis. The security valve is fitted on the middle part. It works automatically and sees to it that helium escapes in the decompression phase.
Scafodat comes in steel; it has a mechanical automatic movement and screw-in crown. The caseback is locked by screws, and an individual feature of it is the traditional seahorse image that was inspired by the original design registered in 1958.
Scafomatic
With the creation of Scafomatic, Eberhard & Co. has chosen modern, functional lines that are carefully adapted to the sober and balanced style, for which the Swiss Company has always been noted. This mechanical watch, with automatic winding and a sporty look, has a domed sapphire crystal, protecting a generously proportioned, fully steel case (42 Ø), perfectly complementing the particularly distinctive dial.
Available in a variety of colours, the dial reveals an outer gloss-finish highlight and a regular alternation of large Arabic numbers and indices of an original trapezoidal shape, all luminous, guaranteeing 24-hour optimum legibility. The ancient shield, engraved in a prominent central position on the case back, is a symbolic fragment of history, representing a faithful and constant reminder of the tradition of the House of Eberhard.
Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Nuvolari is a mechanical automatic winding chronograph, water-resistant, with screw-in crown, sapphire glass and black dial. The special pearl-finish of the caseback, secured by screws, and of the bezel, drew inspiration from the vintage racing car instrument panels. The engraving of the driver’s signature and the stylised image of the mascot tortoise – given to the great Nivolaby Gabriele D’Annunzio, with the dedication “To the fastest driver in the world, the slowest animal” – make these chronographs absolutely unique.
Chrono Traversetolo
Chrono Traversetolo is a mechanical chronograph with automatic winding characterized by a very finely machined movement that is revealed through the transparent caseback in sapphire glass.
The rotor deserves particular attention: it is entirely decorated with “Côtes de Genève” embellishments, circular, and it is elegantly personalized with a shield – the old symbol of the Maison – that depicts the letter “E” in 18 ct. gold. Chrono Traversetolo comes in steel; it has a large-sized case (Ø 43 mm.) and it features special push-buttons for the chronographic functions with a particular, curved shape.
Traversetolo
Traversetolo is accurate, resistant and reliable. The qualities of this watch lie in its large size and its movement, conceived in the ‘50s and improved through the years: one of the most traditional and highly esteemed movements in Swiss watchmaking. Traversetolo is available in the classical version, with minted caseback and marks in relief, Vitré with transparent caseback which reveals the movement, and in a special Vitré version dedicated to left-handed
Aliante
Aliante comes in steel, it has a mechanical movement with hand-winding and a big case (Ø 41 mm.), whose thickness of 8 mm. gives to it a slim line and optimum wearing comfort. Aliante is characterized by the reintroduction of the old shield, emblem of the Maison, which personalizes the inner part of the dial as a delicate embellishment in the same colour. The prestigious symbol is also on the crown and on the caseback, where it is minted with the “E” in relief. To celebrate the refinement of the new watch by Eberhard & Co., the shield “E” comes on the “pont de rouage” of the movement.
Replica
The Replica collection is inspired by the distinctive line of a 1930s model which the Maison Suisse used to supply to the Officers in the Italian Royal Navy. Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding, Replica is available in different versions, most notably so, a model with full calendar and with or without moon phases.
Montres en or
In this collection of classic gold watches, Eberhard & Co. combines reduced, no nonsense design with the richness of materials thus creating forever lasting models in 18-carat white, yellow or classical warm pink gold with hand winding, automatic winding or quartz movement.
Montres de Poche
Eberhard & Co., which began by producing pocket-watches, preciously hidden in the waistcoat, continues its original tradition by offering the Montres de Poche collection, dedicated to all those who like beautiful things with an antique flair. Strictly mechanical with hand winding and also in the sophisticated “savonnette” style.
Gingi Date
The Gingi Date collection features pure, stylish lines that impart to it a seductively feminine charm all of its own. This quadrangular model comes in steel, with calendar, and curved sapphire glass.
Désirée
Désirée by Eberhard & Co. deserves to be called “a veritable timeless jewel”, available both in stainless steel and 18 carat gold. The original structure of the steel bracelets and the elegant design of the gold ones make this timepiece a precious ladies ornament offered in different dial versions that will easily adapt to any occasion.
Bracelets or
In this collection, characterized by the richness of its materials and by the lucidity of its design, Eberhard & Co. combines its tradition of watchmaking with the art of the master goldsmiths to create precious wrist jewels in 18-carat gold: ladies models made of a rich material, in which the skilful play of the lights and the nobility of the shapes create real jewels whose elegance never goes by.
Aquadate
The Aquadate watches have been part of Eberhard & Co. collections since the 60’s. Today, the Maison Suisse presents new, up-to-date models. The style of Aquadate can be sportive, elegant, or luxurious, depending on the combination of different materials such as steel, gold and diamonds.
Aquadate, for gents or for ladies, has a mechanical automatic winding or quartz movement, is water-resistant and features a sapphire glass with magnifying lens providing optimum readability of the date, a screw-in crown and a caseback fixed by screws.
The deployment clasp Déclic by Eberhard & Co.
The patent pending deployment clasp Déclic is a new accurate detail that the Maison has added to its watches. The traditional constructive technique has been improved thanks to a special security mechanism, which prevents the opening of the deployment clasp Déclic, when worn.
Déclic, available in steel and in 18 ct pink or red gold, is easy to adapt and to combine with the leather and rubber straps, or the steel bracelets. Its correct closing is ensured by a “click” which indicates that the lever has reached its right position.
