EBEL

EBEL was founded in 1911 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, by husband and wife Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy. The brand name is an acronym of their names (Eugène Blum Et Lévy). Eugène handled technical elements while Alice was responsible for aesthetics and design. Their son Charles took over management in 1929, expanding the sales network internationally including the United States. Under Charles's direction, EBEL began producing wristwatches for Cartier in 1932. The company's third-generation leader, Pierre-Alain Blum, drove significant growth from the early 1970s. Pierre-Alain developed the iconic Wave bracelet in 1977 and the Sport Classic collection in 1983, which became instant global successes. In 1985, the Beluga ladies' collection launched to international acclaim. EBEL acquired Le Corbusier's Villa Turque in 1986 for its 75th anniversary, reinforcing its connection to architecture and design. The brand became part of LVMH Group before being sold to Movado Group for $62.2 million at the end of 2003.