Ebel

Who are Ebel?

Ebel is a Swiss watch company founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1911 by Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy (Ebel). It is known above all for the Sport Classic of 1977 and its wave-shaped bracelet, and in the 1980s it made chronographs with Zenith El Primero movements (Phillips). This page covers Ebel’s watches: their history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying an Ebel watch second-hand in the UK.

Ebel has belonged to Movado Group since 2004 (Movado Group 10-K), but in October 2026 Movado agreed to sell 95% of it to a group led by Montres Journe SA, the company behind F.P. Journe, with Chanel taking part (Movado Group). Most Ebel watches today are quartz, and Ebel makes about 20,000 a year (Europa Star).

The history of Ebel watches

Ebel’s history runs from a family firm through boom years in the 1980s, three changes of owner from 1994, and a slimmer range built around the Sport Classic. The key dates are the founding (1911), the Sport Classic (1977), the El Primero chronographs (1982), the 1911 and the Villa Turque (1986), and Movado Group (2004).

The Blum family. Eugène Blum and his wife Alice Lévy founded Ebel in 1911 (Ebel), and the name comes from the initials of “Eugène Blum et Lévy” (Wikipedia). Their son Charles took over in 1929 and expanded sales abroad, including to the United States (Wikipedia). Their grandson Pierre-Alain Blum took over in the early 1970s and bought out his father in 1975 (Phillips). In 1972 Ebel signed a contract to make Swiss quartz watches under the Cartier name, including the Must de Cartier line (Phillips); see our Cartier page.

The Sport Classic and the El Primero. Ebel launched the quartz Sport Classic in 1977, with a wave-shaped bracelet and a bezel fixed by five screws (Phillips). Phillips says Ebel began buying El Primero movements from Zenith in 1981, after Zenith had stopped making mechanical movements, and in 1982 launched the Sport Classic Chronograph with the El Primero, called calibre 134 at Ebel; a perpetual calendar chronograph on the El Primero, calibre 136, followed in 1984. Our Zenith page covers the El Primero’s history.

The 1911 and the 1980s. For its 75th anniversary in 1986 Ebel launched the 1911 Chronograph and bought the Villa Turque, a house in La Chaux-de-Fonds designed by Le Corbusier and completed in 1917 (Phillips; Ebel). Sources differ on when the 1911 first appeared: Phillips and Monochrome Watches give 1986, while Watchonista gives 1983. Wikipedia says the late 1980s and 1990s were Ebel’s peak, and that Don Johnson wore an Ebel 1911 Chronograph in Miami Vice; Phillips says he wore a Sport Classic in the second season and a 1911 Chronograph from the third.

New owners. In 1994 Pierre-Alain Blum sold Ebel to Investcorp after losses outside the watch business (Phillips; Wikipedia). Ebel’s in-house chronograph calibre 137 appeared in the Le Modulor collection in 1995 (Phillips). LVMH bought Ebel in 1999 and agreed in December 2003 to sell it to Movado Group (Phillips; Wikipedia), which dates the completed purchase to 2004 (Movado Group 10-K). Phillips says Ebel moved from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Biel/Bienne in the early 2010s, and that Ulysse Nardin bought the rights to calibre 137 in 2012 after Movado ended its production.

Recent years. The Sport Classic was relaunched for its 40th anniversary in 2017 (Europa Star; Monochrome Watches), the 1911 returned as the 1911 Marine in 2022 (Monochrome Watches), and Phillips reports an official reissue of the 1911 Chronograph at the end of 2023. For Ebel’s 115th anniversary in 2026, two limited Sport Classic editions were added, including a 40 mm chronograph limited to 115 pieces (Europa Star).

What is Ebel known for?

Ebel is known for the Sport Classic and its wave bracelet, for the 1911, for the El Primero chronographs of the 1980s, for its link to Le Corbusier’s Villa Turque, and today for mostly quartz watches worn largely by women.

The wave bracelet. The Sport Classic’s curved bracelet links and five-screw bezel have been the core of Ebel’s design since 1977 (Phillips). The Wave collection is named after the same bracelet (Ebel).

Who buys it now. Ebel’s chief executive, Flavio Pellegrini, describes Sport Classic buyers as “80% women, 80% two-tone and 80% quartz” (Europa Star).

Movements. Ebel does not make movements today and does not aim to: over 95% of its movements are quartz, mainly from ETA and Ronda, almost all its automatics use Sellita movements, and the Sport Classic Chrono uses a Dubois Dépraz chronograph movement (Europa Star). The 1911 Marine of 2022, for example, has a Sellita SW300 (Monochrome Watches). Older watches are different: the 1980s chronographs used the Zenith El Primero, and Ebel developed its own calibre 137 between 1991 and 1995 (Phillips). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why the distinction matters.

The Villa Turque. Ebel has owned the Villa Turque, designed by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret (later known as Le Corbusier) for the watch industrialist Anatole Schwob, since 1986, and calls it the “House of EBEL” (Ebel; Europa Star).

Which Ebel watch collections are there?

Ebel’s current range is grouped into the Sport Classic, 1911, Wave, Discovery and Brasilia (Ebel). The collections table on this page gives a line on each. A few points help when you read listings:

• Quartz or automatic. Most current Ebel watches are quartz (Europa Star). The 1911 range includes automatic models, while the Wave, Discovery and Brasilia models listed on Ebel’s site are quartz (Ebel). Our guide to mechanical and quartz watches explains the difference to own.
• Solid gold or plated. Ebel’s own descriptions distinguish 18-carat gold parts from yellow gold PVD coating; some two-tone bracelets combine steel with PVD-coated links (Ebel). Ask which yours has.
• Older models. Vintage chronographs with calibres 134, 136 or 137, and lines such as Le Modulor and Voyager, are not part of the current range (Phillips; Ebel).

Who owns Ebel?

Ebel belongs to Movado Group, the American watch company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which bought it from LVMH (Movado Group 10-K; Wikipedia). Our Movado page covers the group.

That is changing. On 8 October 2026 Movado Group announced a binding agreement to sell 95% of Ebel to a buyer group led by Montres Journe SA, the Geneva company behind F.P. Journe, with Chanel and Pierre Jacques taking part; Movado would keep 5% (Movado Group). Under the agreement, Ebel’s trademarks, stock and the Villa Turque move into a new Swiss subsidiary, 95% of which passes to the buyers at closing, which Movado expected “in the next few months” (Movado Group). Pierre Jacques is to become chief executive (Movado Group). When we checked on 29 October 2026, no completion had been announced. See our pages on F.P. Journe and Chanel.

Buying an Ebel watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check whether the watch is quartz or automatic and which movement it has, ask whether any gold is solid or plated, match the serial number to the papers, ask about servicing for older chronographs, and run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask which items come with the watch, whether they are originals, and whether the serial number on the case matches the card or receipt. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Movement. Ask the seller what movement the watch has. Most modern Ebels are quartz, with Sellita automatics in some models (Europa Star). A vintage chronograph should state its calibre: 134 and 136 are El Primero-based, and 137 is Ebel’s own (Phillips).

3. Vintage chronographs. Movado ended production of calibre 137 and sold its rights to Ulysse Nardin in 2012 (Phillips). Ask who can service the watch and whether parts are available before you buy.

4. Gold and plating. Ebel’s warranty on its US site excludes gold plating and PVD finishes (Ebel). Check two-tone watches for wear to plated parts and ask whether the gold is solid.

5. Warranty. Ebel’s US site gives a three-year limited warranty to the original buyer, valid only with proof of purchase from an authorised Ebel dealer (Ebel). A second owner may not be covered. A dealer’s own warranty is a promise from the dealer, not from Ebel. See watch warranties explained.

6. Servicing. For an automatic or chronograph, ask when it was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. Our guide on how to care for a mechanical watch covers what a service involves.

7. Authenticity. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

8. Stolen-watch check. Check the serial number against a stolen-watch register before you pay. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Ebel?

Movado Group, since 2004 (Movado Group 10-K). In October 2026 it agreed to sell 95% to a group led by Montres Journe SA, with Chanel, keeping 5% itself; the sale was expected to close within months (Movado Group).

Is Ebel being bought by F.P. Journe and Chanel?

Movado Group agreed on 8 October 2026 to sell 95% of Ebel to a buyer group led by Montres Journe SA, which trades as F.P. Journe, with the participation of Chanel and Pierre Jacques (Movado Group).

Where are Ebel watches made?

In Switzerland. Ebel was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Phillips says it moved to Biel/Bienne in the early 2010s.

When was Ebel founded?

In 1911, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, by Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy (Ebel).

What does the name Ebel stand for?

The initials of Eugène Blum et Lévy (Wikipedia).

Does Ebel make its own movements?

Not today. Its movements are mainly quartz from ETA and Ronda, with Sellita automatics (Europa Star). In the 1990s Ebel developed its own chronograph calibre 137 (Phillips).

Are Ebel watches quartz or automatic?

Mostly quartz: over 95% of Ebel’s movements are quartz (Europa Star). Some models, such as 1911 automatics, are mechanical (Ebel).

What is the Ebel Sport Classic?

Ebel’s main collection, launched in 1977, with a wave-shaped bracelet and a five-screw bezel (Phillips).

Did Ebel use the Zenith El Primero?

Yes. From 1982 Ebel’s chronographs used El Primero movements, called calibre 134 at Ebel (Phillips).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Ebel.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.