Eugene Blum and Alice Levy registered the Ebel brand of watches with the chamber of commerce in the watch capitol known as La Chaux de Fonds in 1911. One year later, the watch manufacturer released its first wristwatches.
In 1914, the watch firm was awarded a gold medal for patented ring watches with pallet escapement and hidden time setting at the Swiss National Exhibition. This sparked other watch manufacturers to order timepieces that were completely manufactured by Ebel and resale the watches with their brand name. This was Ebel’s primary activity for many years.
1925 was the year Ebel was presented the Grand Prix Commemorative Diploma during the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Modern Industry in Paris. This diploma was presented to Eble for producing High Jewelry Art Deco timepieces that were available in platinum, onyx, emeralds, and diamonds.
In 1929, the son of Eugene Bloom and Alice Levy partnered with master watchmaker Marcel Reuche to develop infallible production control systems. This innovative design attracted clients such as Vacheron & Constantin. This was the year Ebel produced wristwatches specifically for the American market under the name Paul Breguette.
Ebel was awarded an honorary diploma at the Brussels Universal Exhibition in 1935. The watch manufacturer was the first watch company to establish the Western Electric Precision Evaluation System. 1935 was also the year the watch firm was presented with the Paris Diploma of Art and Technique.
The watch manufacturer produced watches exclusively for the British Royal Air Force from 1939 through 1945. In 1952, Ebel released the Videomatic. The Videomatic was one of the first watches to feature retort automatic movements. This was also the year Ebel launched the Chatelaine, which was inspired by the design of the Chatelaine belt.
In 1961, Charles-Eugene Blum launched the President and Ebel caliber 059 to commemorate the watch company’s 50th anniversary. The Ebel caliber 059 included a winding crown that could be turned backwards. The watch firm was awarded first prize, in the jewel watch category, at the Swiss National Exhibition for the Lune Etoilee watch in 1964. By 1971, the watch manufacturer’s turnover had increased by 30 percent.
In 1973, Pierre-Alain Blum acquired 70% of the company from this father Charles-Eugene Blum. Two year later, Pierre-Alain Blum was in complete control of the watch brand. In 1977, the watch firm released the Sport Classique collection of watches. This line featured a wave design bracelet, and it was a very popular among watch collectors. 1977 was also the year Ebel entered into an agreement to produce watches for Cartier.
1982 marked the year the watch firm released the Chronograph Sport-Automatik, which included a Zenith El Primero caliber. One year later, Ebel launched the Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. In 1986, the Architect of the Times was released to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary.
The watch firm launched several watches through the 1990s including the Voyager, Beluga Lichine, Sportwave, and the Lichine Tonneau. In 1999, the watch firm was acquired by the LVMH group.
In 2001, Ebel released the Classic Wave, which was a remake of the model from 1911. The watch firm released the Haute Jewelry collection, which was named Jewels of the Nuit in 2003. This same year, the company launched the 1911 La Carree and the Tarawa.