Eberhard & Co: More Than 125 Years of History
The history of Eberhard & Co, a Swiss watchmaking manufacture, spans more than 125 years since it was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1887.
Georges-Emile Eberhard, just 22 years old, drew on his talents as a watchmaker and entrepreneur to propel the young manufacture into the ranks of the most important.
Eberhard & Co’s story is punctuated by innovations, fostered by the leadership’s unmistakable “flair” for capturing trends and the spirit of the times.
In 1919, following the launch of the pocket chronograph, Eberhard & Co introduced its first wrist chronograph.
Continuing its research into chronograph watches, the maison launched a two-pusher chronograph in 1935 featuring stop and restart of the hand without resetting to zero. Three years later, in 1938, the brand’s first chronograph with an hour counter was born.
1939 saw the creation of the “rattrapante” chronograph. This remarkable innovation made split-second timing possible.
Eberhard & Co forged its identity through credible ambassadors who, early on, wore its watches—Italian Navy officers in the 1930s, on the one hand, and also aircraft and racing drivers.
In the 1950s, the Extra-fort chronograph took centre stage with its slide pusher enabling the measurement of intermediate times. I am particularly fond of this emblematic line, with the watch’s highly successful design, the balance of the dial, and its virile hands (which sometimes divide enthusiasts).
In 1996, the manufacture successfully negotiated a winning turn with the development of large-format watches, including the Traversetolo with its 43 mm case diameter.
1997 marked the launch of a new exclusive movement dubbed “8 days”, a reference to its exceptional power reserve.
Eberhard & Co entered the 21st century with the Chrono 4, the first chronograph equipped with four counters aligned horizontally, closely followed by the Chrono 4 Temerario, also featuring four counters, but arranged vertically.
In 2003, victory in the Vanderbilt Cup (the oldest automobile race in the United States) inspired a new model in the Tazio Nuvoliri collection.
After speed, it was time for the depths with the Scafodat collection, water-resistant to 500 metres.
1887–2007: 120 years of Eberhard & Co were duly celebrated with the release of the sumptuous 120th Anniversary Chronograph. Offered in six versions (steel, red gold, platinum), the watch features an oscillating weight shaped as the number 120.
From 2008 onwards, the brand’s most emblematic watches were reinterpreted: the Extra-fort with display back and the Tazio Nuvolari Grand Prix TN (limited edition of 999 pieces) in 2009, followed by a red-gold version of the latter in 2010, issued in 123 pieces.
Women were not forgotten, with the Gilda line created in 2009 and its very distinctive elliptical case.
The Chrono 4 became a “Giant” in 2010. Another celebration of the Chrono 4’s 10th anniversary: the Large-size version.
Extra-fort Display-Back Version (2009)
Tazio Nuvolari Grand Prix TN (2009)
Chrono 4 Giant
Gilda
In 2011, the Eberhard & Co maison gave birth to the Champion V (below, the Grande Date model).
In 2012, Eberhard & Co celebrated the brand’s 125th anniversary with the superb Extra-fort 125th Anniversary. The watch is fitted with an automatic movement (Valjoux 7750 base) with a column wheel and a large date. Only the Arabic numerals 1, 2 and 5 appear on the dial. This subtle touch was more than enough to evoke the brand’s 125 years without needing to spell it out beneath the logo.
Let’s now touch on the financial aspect. The brand positions itself in a relatively accessible segment given the quality of the watches produced. The average price of Eberhard & Co watches is €3,700 (CHF 4,500).
The website: www.eberhard-co-watches.ch
