Ebel’s heritage and changing ownership
Founded in 1911 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Ebel takes its name from the initials of its founders, Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy. The brand enjoyed considerable success during the 1970s and 1980s, notably under Pierre-Alain Blum, and maintained a strong position in the market for elegant quartz watches during the quartz crisis. Following its sale to Investcorp in 1994, Ebel was acquired by LVMH in 1999 before joining the Movado Group in 2003. More than two decades later, the latest transaction marks another turning point for the historic watchmaker, allowing Movado to streamline its portfolio while opening a new chapter for Ebel under investors with a strong connection to high-end watchmaking.
A new direction for the brand
Led by François-Paul Journe, the investor consortium aims to restore Ebel to greater prominence within the Swiss watchmaking industry. The combination of F.P. Journe’s independent watchmaking expertise, Chanel’s luxury-sector experience and Pierre Jacques’s leadership could signal a renewed strategic direction for the brand, although the investors’ individual stakes and detailed development plans have not been disclosed. For Chanel, the acquisition also expands an existing portfolio of watchmaking investments and partnerships, which includes G&F Chatelain, Bell & Ross, Romain Gauthier, F.P. Journe, Kenissi, MB&F and Kross Manufacture. The transaction therefore represents both a new phase for Ebel and a further development in the evolving landscape of luxury watchmaking.
Source : https://monochrome-watches.com/fp-journe-chanel-pierre-jacques-acquire-95-percent-of-ebel-from-movado-group/
