1970s Ebel Gondole Vertical 18K YG

In relation to the world of watchmaking, Ebel is a relatively young company as it was only formed in 1911 by Eugène Blum and his wife Alice Levy. The name "Ebel" is actually an acronym of the couple's name "Eugène Blum Et Lévy". It's generally known Eugene headed the mechanical department of the company, while Alice was responsible for the aesthetics of the brand and many of the early designs. 

The company slowly grew throughout the early 20th century but boomed in the 1970s when Ebel began producing wristwatches for Cartier under the direction of Eugene's great-grandson Pierre-Alain Blum. Ebel was responsible for the design and creation of the, now extremely collectible, "Louis Cartier Collection" which debuted in 1973 and included models such as the Cristallor, Gondole, Ellipse, and Vendome.

Today, vintage Ebel watches remain extremely undervalued despite being one of the most experimental and interesting watchmakers to come out of the 20th century. However, this underestimated brand is poised to shoot upmarket as a result of some influential collectors recently taking notice of the brand and celebrating Ebel's creations.