Offered here is an extremely rare and highly collectible yellow-gold Ebel Le Modulor Ref.8137240 Chronograph (Special Limited Edition Mother-Of-Pearl Dial)
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The Watch is running well in immaculate condition.

The Dial is clean with no signs of markings or damages. The MOP in the dial inserts show no signs of damage or cracks.

The Case in superb condition, unpolished and thick, with no deep scratches. There is a small visible chip at 5 o’clock. All hallmarks are present and are both deep and crisp. Buckle also has all hallmarks present, deep and crisp.

Year: Circa 1995

Watch Only with Original Ebel Rose-Gold Deployant Buckle and Strap.
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Brief summary:
The brand Ebel was once a highly known and very popular/sought-after brand back in the 80s and 90s. Since the once-thriving, venerable Swiss watch brand Ebel suffered a series of setbacks in the 1980s, its fortunes have been revived by a return to more moderate, subtle tastes. Today, its sleek early chronograph – the 1911 and/or Le Modulor is considered a modern classic and quite sought-after among collectors in the know.

Ebel was established in 1911 by Eugène Blum and his wife, Alice (née Lévy). The brand name originates from the first letters of their names: Eugène Blum Et Lévy.

Ebel survived the Second World War as one of the suppliers of ATP watches to the British Army. The company took a significant upturn since the beginning of the 1970s and produced/supplied watches/high-end movements for Cartier, among others, and with its prescient leadership also foresaw the return of mechanical watchmaking, working with Zenith to resurrect the El Primero for their 1982 Sport Classic Chrono line. This watch, the 1911 Chronograph, made Ebel a hit in the 1980s, gracing Sonny Crockett’s wrist in Miami Vice, the rolled-back suit cuffs ensuring plenty of screen time!

The company was part of LVMH Group until the end of the 2003 and offloaded Ebel to the Movado group, who had no such qualms about macho watches. Movado took the Ebel 1911 case design, pumped it up to 44.5mm and relaunched it as the BTR (“back to roots”) collection. 

The Ebel Le Modulor Chronograph was first introduced around 1995 as an improvement and update on the 1911 El Primero Chronograph.
The Le Modulor Chronograph was one of the few automatic chronographs at the time that was also an officially certified chronometer!

This Le Modulor features a gorgeous clous de paris guilloche dial with beautiful a set of yellow-gold Breguets hands, chronograph hands and Breguet numerals!
The manufacturer’s signature “Ebel Automatic” is found below the 12 o’clock numeral with the signature “certified chronometer” sleekly placed above the 6 o‘clock sub-dial.
The dial also has a black tachometer display and the date display is featured in between the 4 and 5 o’clock position.

As Rolex adopted the El Primero for their Daytona, Ebel knew its movement supply was liable to get squeezed. For this reason, it looked to develop its own movement. The brand initially settled on Calibre 1340, the first automatic movement created by Lemania in 1970, but was another movement in need of resuscitation, as it had been supplanted by the 5100 series, which was cheaper to produce.
After the redesign and improvement of a number of elements, this became Ebel Calibre 137 which powered the magnificent Le Modulor!

What makes this particular example so unique and highly collectible is that these special edition MOP sub-dial Le Modulor were made in 4 different metals and each limited edition.
499 in yellow, with this example being one of them, 249 in rose, 149 in white and 99 in platinum!
They were made to mark the creation of the Le Modulor Chronograph as it took Ebel more than five years to develop.

With this particular example belonging to its first owner prior before ending up in our hands, the rose-gold case and buckle have developed a slight patina adding so much more to the charm of this neo-vintage hidden gem!

Once disregarded and forgotten like many treasures buried from the golden age, Ebel has always been a brand that something truly iconic and unique in its own right, yet also housing a truly spectacular high quality movement.
Today in the market, they offer so much value and finesse on a collectors wrist, which might explain the significant and sudden interest for them, and rightfully so! Anyone looking to add something truly unique and special in their collection, this beautiful and truly rare Ebel is the one for you!
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Please feel free to contact us for more questions or for a private viewing of the watch!
For more information do visit our Q&A post at https://carousell.app.link/roUoDh0y3kb

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