An Element of Ebel

The four classical elements that reside in the external world are: air, water, fire, and earth. In their natural states, these elements are said to compose all of life and bring balance to the environment. When balance is needed externally, it must be provided internally as well. As such, there are two transparent elements that further human connectivity by bringing an aura of balance into our field of energy. Both of these elements are so embedded in our everyday lives that both are often disregarded in the hastiness of our busy schedules or only cherished when they begin to fade away. These elements are known as: love and time. When Eugène Blum and his wife Alice Lévy decided to take their craftsmanship to the next level, they agreed that the foundation of EBEL would be built on the elements of love and time.

Ancient civilization tried to observe time, learn time, and understand time through the movements of the sun. However, as society evolved it understood that time must be loved, it must be brought closer; it needed to be encapsulated and placed in front of us by sitting on the floor or hanging on the walls of our houses. Then, when we still felt that time was too far away, we designed it to be placed in our pockets enabling us to take it out and hold in the palm of our hand whenever we pleased. Yet even still, time had not formed a deep connection with our hearts. In order to solidify our intimate relationship with time, we needed to reconstruct and intricately design its chambers and lavishly display it on our wrists, to rest on top of our pulse connecting the piece directly to our heart. The watch no longer just held time; it held the secret to our inner world and created a selected perception of our personality for the world to see. And thus, in 16th century Switzerland, during a time when jewels were banned from being worn, the inventive craftsmen turned to timepieces as a symbolic representation of inner beauty.

Switzerland’s third-largest export worldwide comes from the clock and watch industry; it exports approximately 95 percent of its product. This trend began early because “by 1790, Geneva was already exporting more than 60,000 watches.” With the popularity of craftsmen crowding Geneva, watchmakers spread further out to the Jura Mountain region of Switzerland. It is here where you will find the home of EBEL, one of the major centers of Swiss watch-making, La Chaux-de-Fonds. On July 15, 1911, Eugène Blum rose among his competition by offering a quality the other male-dominated companies had not: the feminine touch. While Eugène focused on the technical aspects of construction and precision, Alice used her aesthetic sense to bring the piece to life through grace and visual appeal. Their company, an acronym combining their names, was “built from the very beginning on the twin pillars of masculine and feminine values and qualities, united by the most powerful force in the world: love.”

Presently, due to the rich history and experience of watch-making, Switzerland is still leading the market for innovative and memorable timepieces: “Since more than four centuries now, tradition, craftsmanship, high technologies and permanent innovation have allowed the Swiss watchmaking industry to keep its leadership in the world watch market.” The appeal of EBEL was successful because Eugène and Alice learned the importance of infusing their own personalities into the pieces they were making. As the company grew, it focused on re-creating the strong persona of individual men and women around the world into each piece that was constructed. EBEL uses fresh and surprising design to create the ultimate icon of self-expression. Their breathtaking collection can be viewed at Calgary Jewellery, Ebel’s exclusive dealer in Alberta. Each timepiece is made to flatter the individual by sharing a piece of their inner beauty with those around them. In the end, there are those who wear their hearts on their sleeves, remaining an open book for the world to see, and then there are those who wear the right watch and leave the rest up to the imagination.