Manufacturer: Ebel Year: Circa 1990 Reference No: 8134901 Case No: 64105158 Model Name: Sports Classic Chronograph Calibre: Automatic, cal 400, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18k yellow gold Ebel deployant clasp Dimensions: 38mm diameter
Catalogue Essay
- The Ebel Sport Classic—later renamed the 1911—is undeniably one of the defining watches of the 1980s. Few timepieces capture the era’s spirit of insouciance and maximalism quite like this one.
- Founded in 1911, Ebel initially built its reputation by supplying private-label watches to other brands. The company’s breakthrough came in the late 1970s when Pierre-Alain Blum, a grandson of the founders, took the helm, transforming Ebel into one of the most iconic watchmakers of the 1980s and 1990s.
- The Sport Classic line debuted in 1977, instantly recognizable by its signature “wave” bracelet. However, it wasn’t until 1982 that Ebel introduced a chronograph model, sourcing movements from Zenith’s legendary El Primero—long out of production but available in limited stock. While Rolex is often credited with reviving the El Primero movement in 1988 with the automatic Daytona ref. 16520, Ebel had already championed its resurgence six years earlier.
- The present example is a strikingly opulent variation, featuring an ultra-rare mother-of-pearl dial with applied Roman numerals. Inside, it houses the El Primero caliber 400, making it a remarkable piece of horological history.