Ebelis aSwissluxury watch company that was founded in 1911 atLa Chaux-de-Fondsin thecanton of Neuchâtel,Switzerland.
 | |
| Industry | Watchmaking |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1911 |
| Founders | Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy |
| Headquarters | , Switzerland |
| Products | Watches |
| Website | www.ebel.com |
History
editEugène Blum and his wife Alice (née Lévy), founded Ebel in 1911. The brand name originates from the first letters of their names:EugèneBlumetLévy.[1]According to the company catalogue of 2008, Eugène was responsible for the technical elements, while Alice was responsible 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.).[2]
In 1929, their sonCharlestook over the management of the company. He built the sales network of the business by further expanding it into many foreign countries, including theUnited States.Under the direction of Blum's grandsonPierre-Alain,the company took a significant upturn since the beginning of the 1970s and producedwristwatchesforCartier.The company was part ofLVMHGroup until the end of the 2003.
Towards the end of 2003, LVMH sold Ebel toMovadoGroup for $62.2 million.[3]
The "Architects of Time"
editEbel has long sponsored the work of famous architects such asLe Corbusier(who was born inLa Chaux-de-Fonds),Andree Putman,or — in the early 1990s — contemporary Swiss painters, such asJean Arcelin. In 1986, theVilla Turque,an early masterpiece ofLe Corbusier,was acquired by the group for its 75th anniversary.
In 2019, a gold-and-diamond wristwatch fabricated in 1974 and gifted from the singerElvis Presley.
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".[4]
References
edit- ^Battegay, Lubrich, Caspar, Naomi (2018).Jewish Switzerland: 50 Objects Tell Their Stories.Basel: Christoph Merian. pp. 106–109.ISBN9783856168476.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^Mahrer, Stefanie.Handwerk der Moderne: Jüdische Uhrmacher und Uhrenunternehmer 1800-1914.Böhlau Köln.ISBN341220935X.
- ^"LVMH sells Ebel".LVMH. SE.RetrievedDecember 23,2003.
- ^"Elvis Presley's Gold Ebel Watch Up For Sale: $498,000".A Timely Perspective. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-08-13.Retrieved12 August2020.