ebel 1911 BTR Chronograph Review

[takashi]

Preface

This week's style of review is going to be different. First and foremost, I would like to start with serving you with Eyecandy Next, I will write a little bit of history about the brand and the (genuine) watch in particular and then we will go into all the dirty bits and bolts on another day . This week review will be on ebel 1911 BTR Chronograph.

Eyecandy

This review is dedicated to my friend By-Tor who has long been a fan of Ebel watches, 1911 BTR Chrono in particular. A special thanks to SD4K who has helped me a lot with providing me reading materials.

About the Brand

Quoted from Watchtime, April 2007:

Founded in 1911, and family-owned for many years, Ebel made its name as a manufacturer of elegant wristwatches. When Pierre-Alain Blum, the grandson of the firm’s founder, launched the Sport Classic line in 1977, a new era began. The watches in the line featured unconventional, hexagonal, rounded, satin-finished cases and polished bezels held in place by five screws. In ensuing years, the Sport Classic acquired the status of a design icon. It became so important for Ebel that it was later renamed “1911” in tribute to the year of the brand’s founding. Ebel introduced the first chronographs with this now-familiar

case in 1982, initially powered by Zenith’s El Primero caliber. In 1994, one year prior to the introduction of the exclusive

Caliber 137 in the Modulor 1911 watch, Blum was forced to sell the business to the Investcorp holding company. Ebel came

under the aegis of the luxury group LVMH (Mo

[By-Tor]

I love it.

I gotta have one of these.

[italiano17771]

thanks for the pics taka! still dont know why i dont have this one yet...shes a beauty! congrats and thanks for sharing.

[robertk]

This one is a beauty. I agree, By-Tor......a must have.

[rek001]

It's a different, very distinctive design, and all the parts are integrated so beautifully - the bracelet has elements of the case and vice versa.

Makes the HBB look like it's made of leftover parts.

Thanks Taka, for the superb photos, I'm drooling.

[hank7502]

It's a different, very distinctive design, and all the parts are integrated so beautifully - the bracelet has elements of the case and vice versa.

Makes the HBB look like it's made of leftover parts.

Thanks Taka, for the superb photos, I'm drooling.

I like it too, but the date looks a too much recessed. Could be the pic.

[mikellem]

Thanks Taka,

Superb Photos as usual...

Lookng forward to one of your great reviews!

-MM

[silvio]

Great pics.

However, I have not done my homework about this watch. May I know how close do you rate this watch to the original one?

Thanks.

[cornerstone]

I love this one too. Looks great.

[By-Tor]

Talked to Joshua recently, and he said there's a TT version coming. Hopefully it'll be available with white dial.

I'm waiting, I'm waiting... I want that watch.

The white dial stainless version is out already. Rather nice if you ask me.

[lanikai]

Great Pics Tak...

Thanks for your time spent..

It's aheavy beast.. isn't it ?..

Live Strong and Wear it Well..

Lani

[windyzz]

Thx for the picture! another awesome rep. It would look even better if they can make the rotor like the gen =p

[Toadtorrent]

Thanks for doing this one Taka! A good complement to Lani's work on this watch. I look forward to the writeup.

[By-Tor]

Excellent writeup Taka. Glad to hear the watch is nicely done (technically too).

I'll await for the white TT version... but if it never comes out, I'll go for this same one.

[jot9011]

There are some versions of this watch that have wider spacing of the sub-dials.

This one, with the CF dial, looks more like the repped version.

Edited June 13, 2008 by jot9011

[takashi]

Thanks a lot for the pointer Jot. I have seen the Ti + Carbon dial in person, it does have cut subdial too (does not look like on your picture).

If that's the case, there may be a transitional period where they don't use cal 137? Because definitely this movement has smaller subdial spacing.

EDIT: I am sorry... It is indeed using cal 137 just that the bigger subdial is smaller this time round therefore no cut. You can check that the subdial spacing is still wrong (compare it between 3 and 6 o'clock subdial. The spacing is definitely bigger on the rep).

[coolfire]

Amazing review, Taka...

You just made me wanna spend more money!

Your photos made me drool too!

[cskent69]

I love this watch - but can't get beyond the sunken date wheel.

[takashi]

IMHO the sunken date is not really a big issue on modified Asian 7750 (yes, it's still an issue). It's more of the subdial spacing and the movement itself in particular for this piece. Even then, the rep is so well made that it makes me think that it's a worthy rep watch to buy/to own.

You have to handle this piece and try it on, it feels solid and screams quality.

[By-Tor]

@Taka: Any chance of posting a few wristshots later?

[takashi]

Sorry for the dirty picture. Just happened that I am wearing the watch now

[By-Tor]

Thanks man. Found these two (Lanikai's wristshots).

[takashi]

Looks good This is the watch that looks appealing on both large and small wrists.

[By-Tor]

Some additional pics I found from Ioffer. Not as good as Taka's pics but I can't get enough of them.

All subdial spacings aside... this really screams a quality watch.