130 years of passion by Eberhard & Co

The history of Eberhard & Co has been ticking by since 1887, the year it was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Georges-Lucien Eberhard. These 130 years have forged the DNA of the Maison, whose name is now synonymous with tradition, research and innovation.

130 years of special passion for an art made up of charm and precision, 130 years of uninterrupted history of taking up new challenges, 130 years of watches with timeless personality. Eberhard & Co has always made these values the sole benchmark for the creation of its models, which are innovative yet at the same time able to inherit the richness of a renowned history.

The success of Eberhard & Co’s creations spans the entire twentieth century, enabling it to file numerous patents which have consolidated its position among the aristocracy of luxury Swiss watchmaking. This innovative spirit has found expression in precious timepieces with high technical content which have marked important stages of development, particularly of the chronograph, among other timepieces.

1894 saw the creation of a pocket watch with an innovative patented setting system. 1905 was the year for a special watch with a patented new system for reading the hours and minutes. 1919 saw the launch of the era’s most advanced single button wrist chronograph, while 1921 produced a watch with a special patented device - «Calotte Patrouille» - protecting the movement from dust and moisture. In 1935 the maison unveiled an unprecedented chronograph with two buttons for stop and restart without resetting, then in 1939 the «rattrapante», or split-seconds chronograph made its appearance, followed by the Extra-fort chronograph in the early 1940s.

1942 was the year of the «Magini System», a split-seconds chronograph that was one of the protagonists of the Italian-Japanese raid during World War II, flying from Rome to Tokyo and back. The ’50s were the setting for the Scafograf diving collection, whose 300 model was re-released in 2016 to great success, receiving several awards including the Sport Watch Award at the prestigious Grand prix d’horlogerie de Genève. The Sixties saw the Contograf become an emblem of its time thanks to its innovative features, in the true style of a Maison that is always ahead of its time.

Collectors and enthusiasts of the brand could easily complete the list by citing a number of fascinating new mechanisms and absolutely unique shapes, each of which has in some way left its mark on the world of watchmaking. In addition, from the very beginning the Eberhard name has been adopted by the sports world and military specialists, participating in the great achievements of many outstanding personalities.

Since the early decades of the last century, officers of the Italian Royal Navy have worn Eberhard & Co chronographs on their wrists, while the Maison’s «Frecce Tricolori» Chronomaster has accompanied the flights of the world’s most famous aerobatic team since 1984.

This overview would not of course be complete without the collection dedicated to the legendary motor racing champion Tazio Nuvolari, the great driver who was never without his Eberhard pocket watch.

In recent times, the range has been enhanced with the 8 Jours model which, by means of a special device patented by Eberhard & Co, only needs winding once a week, and the Extra-fort, a re-interpretation of a chronograph that has been an iconic collection since the Forties. And last but not least, for the new millennium the Maison revolutionised the way we tell the time with the Chrono 4 (patented - registered design), the first and only chronograph in the history of watchmaking with four aligned counters, a veritable icon of the brand today. Never before had the minutes, hours, 24 hours and small seconds been arranged horizontally in a linear progression. Never before had telling the time proved to be so remarkably natural. A milestone of excellence, achieved thanks to the passion and commitment put into creating a mechanism that is unique for the complexity and difficulty of its construction.

For these reasons Eberhard has chosen the Chrono 4 to celebrate its 130th anniversary, as an emblematic model which embodies the essence of the maison and confirms its natural propensity for evolution and growth, its ability to reinvent itself while keeping its personality and independence intact, and without sacrificing its deep bond with its roots.

The commemorative version is the Chrono 4 130, in a steel version with an attractive, sporty look and also in a limited edition of 130 units.

May 11, 2017