Long-established Swiss watch brand Eberhard & Co has been manufacturing timepieces since 1887. It is commemorated with two special chronologies.
Not (yet) well-known in our part of the world, the Swiss watch brand Eberhard & Co already looks back on a long history: production based in one of the hotspots of the Swiss watch world in La Chaux-de- Fonds has been manufacturing timepieces since 1887. And that too without a hitch. Founded by Georges-Lucien Eberhardt, the heritage brand is still family-owned today. However, no longer from the Eberhardt family, but from the Monti family. Palmiro Monti took over the company in 1969 and his daughter Barbara has led it as CEO since 2004. He is supported by Mario Becerico, the brand’s general manager. Eberhard & Co has made a name for itself over the decades with precision timepieces and chronographs.
Noteworthy is the first wristwatch chronograph of 1919, which was the inspiration for many Eberhardt collections. These are mostly sporty in nature, but also futuristic and revolutionary. One model in particular, the “Chrono 4” introduced in 2001, caused quite a stir. It was the first chronograph with four counters arranged horizontally in a row. Unprecedented technical and aesthetic innovation. In 2016, the “Scaffograph 300” won a prize in the “Sports Watch” category at the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG). In short: the manufacturing company has indisputable merits in watchmaking.
Premier
This year they participated in Watches & Wonders for the first time. Two new short-time stoppers from the 1887 line were presented there, a tribute to the year Eberhard & Co was founded: the “Chronographe 1887 Édition Limitée” and the “Chronographe 1887 Automatique”. The former is a hand-made chronograph limited to 250 pieces, while the “Chronographe 1887 Automatique”, as the name suggests, uses an automatic movement.
Both stainless steel timepieces have one thing in common: their calibers were developed in collaboration with the AMT factory, the specialist department of movement manufacturer Cellita, responsible for special customer requests, and feature a column wheel and a flyback function.
A feature of two calibres, namely the EB 280 and EB 380, is a special lever through which the chronograph reset pusher can be moved parallel to the crown. It can be viewed through a sapphire crystal back. Characteristic of the brand and similar to the coat of arms engraved on the rotor of the automatic version. Visually, the Chronographs are reminiscent of Eberhard & Co’s historic models.