Eberhard & Co.

Who are Eberhard & Co.?

Eberhard & Co. is a Swiss watchmaker founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1887 and best known for chronographs, which Europa Star calls its flagship product (Eberhard & Co.; Europa Star, 2025). It is independent and owned by the Monti family, an Italian family that acquired it in 1969 (Europa Star, 2025). This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying an Eberhard & Co. watch second-hand in the UK.

Eberhard is a mid-sized brand: Europa Star reported in 2025 that it makes about 16,000 watches a year. Italy is its largest market, with about 40% of sales in 2018, and it has offices in Lugano and Milan as well as its headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Worldtempus, 2018).

The history of Eberhard & Co.

Eberhard & Co.’s history runs from its founding in 1887, through its chronographs of the 1920s to 1960s, a sale by the founding family in the 1960s and 1970s, a long period in Bienne, and a return to its original building in 2018.

The founding. Eberhard & Co. was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1887. Sources differ on the founder’s name: the brand gives Georges-Lucien Eberhard, while Wikipedia gives George-Emile Eberhard and says he was 22 at the time. The company’s headquarters on rue Léopold-Robert, a building with a round tower topped by an eagle, was finished in 1907 (Wikipedia); Worldtempus says the founding family commissioned it in 1906. It is now known as the Maison de l’Aigle (Eberhard & Co.).

Chronographs. Eberhard presented its first wrist chronograph in 1919, the year the founder’s sons Georges and Maurice took over the company (Eberhard & Co.; Wikipedia). The Extra-Fort chronograph, with a sliding pusher, followed in 1940. In 1942 an Eberhard split-seconds chronograph was used on the first Rome–Tokyo flight (Eberhard & Co.). The first Scafograf dive watch and the first split-seconds Extra-Fort appeared in 1959, the antimagnetic Scientigraf in 1961, and the Contograf in the 1960s (Eberhard & Co.); Europa Star dates the Contograf to 1960.

The founding family steps back. In November 1962 a car accident left the company without its president, and the family decided to sell (Worldtempus, 2018; Wikipedia). Sources give different accounts of what followed. Europa Star says the Monti family, previously Eberhard’s distributor in Italy, acquired the brand in 1969 (Europa Star, 2025; Worldtempus, 2018). Wikipedia says the sale was completed in 1972, with Charles Brandt taking over general management. In 1978 the registered office moved to Bienne (Wikipedia).

Modern collections. The Tazio Nuvolari chronograph, named after the Italian racing driver, followed in 1992, the 8 Jours with an eight-day power reserve in 1997, and the Chrono 4 in 2001 (Eberhard & Co.).

Back to La Chaux-de-Fonds. On 3 November 2018, after about 40 years in Bienne, Eberhard moved its headquarters back to the Maison de l’Aigle in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Worldtempus, 2019). Its museum opened there in 2019 (Eberhard & Co.). In 2025 it launched the Contodat collection and the Chronographe 1887 (Eberhard & Co.; Europa Star, 2025).

What is Eberhard & Co. known for?

Eberhard & Co. is known for chronographs, including the Extra-Fort, Contograf, Tazio Nuvolari and Chrono 4, and for the 8 Jours long power-reserve watch.

Chronographs. Eberhard has made wrist chronographs since 1919, and chronographs remain its flagship product (Eberhard & Co.; Europa Star, 2025). The Extra-Fort of 1940 and its split-seconds version of 1959 are the brand’s longest-running chronograph line (Eberhard & Co.).

The Chrono 4. The Chrono 4 of 2001 arranges its four chronograph counters in a single row across the dial. Eberhard calls it the first and only chronograph in watchmaking history with four aligned counters (Eberhard & Co.). Among other chronograph specialists at a similar level, see our pages on Breitling and on Anonimo, another Italian-market Swiss-made brand.

Eight-day power reserve. The 8 Jours of 1997 is a hand-wound watch that needs winding only every eight days (Wikipedia; Eberhard & Co.).

Movements. Eberhard works with outside movement makers and has developed some calibres of its own. The 2025 Chronographe 1887 uses column-wheel flyback chronograph calibres developed with AMT Manufacture, and the brand has developed its own manual-winding movement since 2019 (Europa Star, 2025). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains what the difference means.

Which Eberhard & Co. collections are there?

Eberhard & Co.’s current range includes Contodat, Scientigraf, Scafograf, Contograf, Traversetolo, 1887, Chrono 4, Extra-Fort, Tazio Nuvolari, 8 Jours and Gilda (Eberhard & Co.).

A few points help when you read listings:

• Revived names. Several names come from older models: the Contograf of the 1960s was reinterpreted in 2014, and the Tazio Nuvolari has had new models in 2003, 2015, 2018, 2023 and 2026 (Eberhard & Co.). Check the reference to know which generation a watch belongs to.
• Vintage chronographs. Older Extra-Fort and other Eberhard chronographs are sold second-hand alongside modern ones. On a vintage chronograph, ask whether the dial, hands and pushers are original.
• Dive watches. Scafograf is the brand’s dive line (Eberhard & Co.). Water resistance on a second-hand watch depends on its seals; our guide to water resistance explains what to ask.

Who owns Eberhard & Co.?

Eberhard & Co. is owned by the Monti family and describes itself as having a long, uninterrupted history of independence (Eberhard & Co.). Europa Star calls it an independent, family-run business and says the family acquired the brand in 1969 (Europa Star, 2025); Worldtempus described it in 2018 as one of the last historical brands that is still 100% independent.

Barbara Monti, daughter of Palmiro Monti, was chief executive in 2019 (Worldtempus, 2019), and Wikipedia lists her as chief executive with Mario Peserico as managing director. Europa Star described Peserico as chief executive in January 2025. Ginevra Ripamonti, the third generation of the family, joined in 2023 (Europa Star, 2025).

Buying an Eberhard & Co. watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check the reference and movement against the papers, ask whether the warranty card was activated and dated, ask for the service history, and run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask which items come with the watch and whether they are originals. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Warranty. Eberhard gives a two-year international warranty on new watches. It must be activated by an authorised retailer at the time of purchase, which issues a SHIELD card or a completed, dated paper warranty card; the warranty is not valid without one (Eberhard & Co.). It does not cover watches whose reference or serial number has been worn away or altered (Eberhard & Co.). The terms do not say whether the warranty passes to a second owner. See watch warranties explained.

3. Servicing. Eberhard recommends a movement check or service about every three years and says technical work should be done only at its authorised service centres (Eberhard & Co.). Ask when the watch was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. Our guide on how to care for a mechanical watch covers what a service involves.

4. Bought abroad. Italy is Eberhard’s largest market (Worldtempus, 2018), so many second-hand Eberhard watches are sold from there. If you buy from a seller outside the UK, our guide to import duty and VAT explains what you may pay on arrival.

5. 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.

6. 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

Where is Eberhard & Co. based?

In La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1887. It moved back there from Bienne in November 2018 (Eberhard & Co.; Worldtempus, 2019).

Who owns Eberhard & Co.?

The Monti family, which acquired the brand in 1969 according to Europa Star (Europa Star, 2025).

Is Eberhard & Co. independent?

Yes. It is family-owned and not part of a watch group (Europa Star, 2025; Worldtempus, 2018).

Is Eberhard & Co. Swiss or Italian?

Swiss. It was founded and is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds; the owning Monti family is Italian, and Italy is its largest market (Worldtempus, 2018 and 2019).

What is the Eberhard Chrono 4?

A chronograph launched in 2001 with four counters in a row, which Eberhard calls the first chronograph with four aligned counters (Eberhard & Co.).

Why is a watch called Tazio Nuvolari?

The chronograph line, launched in 1992, is named after the Italian racing driver Tazio Nuvolari (Eberhard & Co.).

What warranty does an Eberhard & Co. watch have?

Two years internationally, activated by an authorised retailer at purchase (Eberhard & Co.).

How often should an Eberhard & Co. watch be serviced?

Eberhard recommends a movement check or service about every three years, carried out only at its authorised service centres (Eberhard & Co.).

What is the Eberhard & Co. 8 Jours?

A hand-wound watch, launched in 1997, with an eight-day power reserve between windings (Eberhard & Co.; Wikipedia).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Eberhard & Co.

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.