What do you get when you cross a hardcore military born hummer with a Lexus LC coupe … something very much like an Ebel 1911 BTR GMT … It even sounds like a sports car… it’s obviously not! What we have here is the most comfortably curvaceous, brick busting, muscular sports watch I think I’ve ever seen! Ebel was formed in 1911 by a husband and wife team who were both extremely active in the design and development of the company’s watches. They tended to split their duties along gender lines, technical stuff was handled by Eugene Blum and the aesthetics and functional beauty by his wife Alice.

This watch oozes the brands’ historical DNA that was built on passionately producing distinctive watches that endlessly delight their owners. In this watch we have a truly paradoxical timepiece, it’s brutally bold and yet gracefully adorns the wrist. It has the thumping heft of a dumbbell on the gym floor and yet delivers the quizzical comfort of cotton balls all at the same time. There is so much engineering and art melded into this wrist jewel.

The bracelet effortlessly anchors the 45mm case to wrist via a double deployant clasp that smoothly molds the completely edgeless case to your body. After the initial settling moments you can not notice the beast as it does transform into easy wearing bling. There is a diverse combination of treatments on the dial and the way the company logo sits proudly and perfectly with clarity and depth is an enduring statement to the care that went into creating this timepiece. The applied indices catch every light ray and the dial flickers endless charm. It’s easy to stare at the time for far too long as the case shape, bolt like bezel screws, surface finishing and the delightful blued GMT hand tip all scream for attention. One thing is certain with this watch, it will get noticed and you will get comments when you wear it.

The watch has an in-house movement that emerged from a joint collaboration between Ebel and Ulysses Nardin. Ebel retained the rights to manufacture it. The movement is so superbly accurate and the GMT function is 1/2 hr graduated so you can even track Adelaide from Sydney! I feel that this watch is a classic, not just a relic from a bygone era. The interaction of the case shapes, the masterfully finished bracelet and the Chronometer Certified engine room is rarely seen like this in our hobby. Having spent a few long years with this timepiece I have to say that it does not grow old, only ever more graceful! It won’t suit many collectors who want small and light watches but for those summer evenings when you want to throw on the jeans and t-shirt and venture out with a uniquely impactful timepiece, you will have to go a very long way to try and outdo this one for cool comfort and practical time keeping! This impactful design from the mid 2000’s will continue to hold a slot in my “top box”. If you ever get the chance to check out older Ebel sports watches you will not be disappointed.