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Thread: Just arrived! Ebel Chronosport (El Primero) - photo heavy

  1. #1
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    Just arrived! Ebel Chronosport (El Primero) - photo heavy

    This came right at the end of the work day, after much anticipation all day. Ebel Chronosport 1134901, stainless steel and gold bracelet and case, black dial.

    This features the El Primero Cal 400 movement made by Zenith (recast by Ebel as Cal 134). All you need to know about the watch (and photos of the white dial version) is here in Rick's thread at The Old Place. http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/inco...l-1002005.html

    The watch is in great shape with no marks, with the exception of mild scratches on one or two center links. The watch features a very early anti-reflective coating on the crystal (this is a known weak point in this watch) but the crystal and AR coating look perfect even under the loupe. The small seconds subdial does no justice to the smoothness of the El Primero Cal 400 movement but you can appreciate the almost imperceptible motion of the main seconds hand when you run the chrono.

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    It is remarkably thin for a chronograph.

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    Last edited by WWII70; Jan 16, 2015 at 02:46 AM.
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  2. #2
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    bracelet and clasp

    The two-tone bracelet is light, nicely tapered and highly flexible and feels very comfortable on the wrist at first blush (although I confess I have not sized it to my wrist yet and there is a lot of slack).
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    The clasp is a machined with the thin side 'snapping' into the groove in the other fold.
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    There appears to be plenty of grip to this as it take a good pull to get them apart, but Ebel have provided a fold-over keep for safety (I've never seen this arrangement before).
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    Last edited by WWII70; Jan 16, 2015 at 02:47 AM.
    Ebels (lots), IWC, Omega, FC, Eterna, Tag, Invicta, Movado
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  4. #3
    Antipodean Ape GlennO's Avatar
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    Nice find mate, you've got yourself a classic there and it looks to be in great condition. Once you've got the bracelet sized you'll find it to be extremely comfortable if it's anything like the Ebels I've owned.

  5. #4
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    I am not sure aout sizing the bracelet. This one may be a safe queen.
    Ebels (lots), IWC, Omega, FC, Eterna, Tag, Invicta, Movado
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  6. #5
    Antipodean Ape GlennO's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by WWII70 View Post
    I am not sure aout sizing the bracelet. This one may be a safe queen.
    Really? You don't have the urge to wear it? I'm not familiar with that concept.

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  8. #6
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    Just arrived! Ebel Chronosport (El Primero) - photo heavy

    wristshot





    Side-by-side with the 46mm Hexagon GMT



    and the 1911 BTR chrono that replaced the Chronosport in the Ebel line up.
    Last edited by WWII70; Jan 17, 2015 at 01:13 AM.
    Ebels (lots), IWC, Omega, FC, Eterna, Tag, Invicta, Movado
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  10. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by WWII70 View Post
    I am not sure aout sizing the bracelet. This one may be a safe queen.
    Oh, no. This watch is completely wearable, and a great value for owning an El Primero watch. It's not a tool watch but it can certainly be worn in daily life. I have not noticed that the AR coating is all that soft, though it is an early application of that treatment.

    I've said it too often on this forum already, but I think this is one of the great watches of the 80's, and historically important in a lot of ways. But it's not important in ways that should make you afraid to wear it.

    Have you checked the date code on the bracelet?

    Rick "it's on the end of the bracelet at the deployant" Denney
    More than 500 characters worth of watches.

  11. #8
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rdenney View Post
    Oh, no. This watch is completely wearable, and a great value for owning an El Primero watch. It's not a tool watch but it can certainly be worn in daily life. I have not noticed that the AR coating is all that soft, though it is an early application of that treatment.
    OK, I am being a pansy abut this. The bracelet seems a little 'flimsy' by modern standards but you are right that it should be worn. I took out one of the link screws and it was surprisngly short. More surprising, nothing happened; no bar came out or pushed out the other side. Any advice on the link system on these? EDIT $20 at the mall and it's taken care of!

    Quote Originally Posted by Rdenney View Post
    Have you checked the date code on the bracelet?

    Rick "it's on the end of the bracelet at the deployant" Denney
    No, I've looked and can't find it but I would obviously be keen to know the vintage of this watch. Can you post a photo?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rdenney View Post
    Oh, no. This watch is completely wearable ...... it can certainly be worn in daily life.
    I haven't seen any photographs of yours 'on the wrist'
    Last edited by WWII70; Jan 17, 2015 at 11:15 PM.
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  12. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by WWII70 View Post
    No, I've looked and can't find it but I would obviously be keen to know the vintage of this watch. Can you post a photo?

    I haven't seen any photographs of yours 'on the wrist'
    You mean like in this post?

    http://www.intlwatchleague.com/showt...ull=1#post8462

    Plus many others at WUS.

    Look on the last link at the hinge with the deployant.

    The bracelet is not at all flimsy, by the way. It's is pure beef compared to the bracelets of many mid-priced watches before that time, which were constructed of formed sheet metal.

    You have to remove two screws, and then remove the other end of the link, by the way. But they are fiddly and the screws of used watches have often been gooped in Loctite.

    Rick "who had to find extra links for his bracelet" Denney
    More than 500 characters worth of watches.

  13. #10
    Ich bin ein Ebeler! WWII70's Avatar
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    Of course you have posted pictures of you wearing your EP Ebel and I have commented on one http://www.intlwatchleague.com/showt...ll=1#post37529

    It sounds like my bracelet is different from yours. There are screws only on one side of the links. The ones I tested turned easily enough but clearly there is more to disconnecting the links than removing these screws. The watch repairer got the links apart OK and I will inspect the removed pieces to understand the linkage.

    Still looking the for the date.

    Rory

    Quote Originally Posted by Rdenney View Post
    You mean like in this post?

    http://www.intlwatchleague.com/showt...ull=1#post8462

    Plus many others at WUS.

    Look on the last link at the hinge with the deployant.

    The bracelet is not at all flimsy, by the way. It's is pure beef compared to the bracelets of many mid-priced watches before that time, which were constructed of formed sheet metal.

    You have to remove two screws, and then remove the other end of the link, by the way. But they are fiddly and the screws of used watches have often been gooped in Loctite.

    Rick "who had to find extra links for his bracelet" Denney
    Ebels (lots), IWC, Omega, FC, Eterna, Tag, Invicta, Movado
    If you are interested in the details http://www.intlwatchleague.com/membe...70&tab=aboutme

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