Overview
Founded in 1911 by Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy, Ebel became a respected family-owned Swiss watch company that would take off in the 1970s when the pair’s grandson, Pierre-Alain Blum, launched the quartz-powered Sport Classic during the Quartz Crisis. Featuring a bold, sporty-chic design with the now iconic "wave" bracelet and hexagonal case, the new collection helped Ebel gain cultural prominence and establish itself as a leader in the Swiss watch industry.
During the next decade, Ebel reached for even greater heights, turning their attention from quartz to luxury mechanical watches. In the early 1980s, Blum struck a deal with Zenith to produce and supply El Primero movements for Ebel, which the company then used to power the Sports Classic Chronograph and the 1911. In 1989, the brand released another mechanical watch aimed at a broader demographic — the world time Voyager. There were several executions of the Voyager, and most featured a world time bezel and a 24-hour ring to keep track of multiple time zones, while a select few received a distinctive map dial.
The watch offered here is one of the more captivating Voyager designs with a horizontally-brushed dial and a mirror-finish map. The dial is almost cream in tone, dancing in the light and providing contrast to the map at just the right angles. Powering the watch is an ETA 2892-2 based movement with a GMT module from Lemania, which keeps the case profile low at 10mm thick. Unconventional, fun, and incredibly useful, the Voyager is a standout neo-vintage world timer that should not be overlooked in the midst of the brand’s recent resurgence amongst collectors.
Specifications
Brand:
Ebel
Model:
Voyager Automatic
Reference:
9124913
Year:
1990s
Case Number:
34506189
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
38 mm
Lug Width:
20 mm
Thickness:
10.0 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
43.0 mm
Dial:
Silver
Lume:
Tritium
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
Ebel 124
Bracelet/Strap:
Custom Hu black alligator strap with Ebel-signed foldover deployant clasp
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The stainless steel case shows normal signs of wear for a watch this age. The mid-case is very clean with only a couple faint imperfections visible upon close inspection. The lugs are thick and well-defined. The word time bezel has a few light scratches and scruffs throughout. The city names are legible and retain their black filling. The caseback shows wear in the form of hairlines, tiny nicks, and small scuffs. The backs of the lugs show light signs of prior strap removal. The model and serial number engravings remain detailed and legible.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The brushed cream dial and polished hands show light imperfections in the form of a couple micro scratches and tiny spots visible on the mirror-finished map. There is a tiny dot of discoloration between the 14 and 15 marker of the chapter ring. The rehaut shows some yellowing, presumably from age. The tritium hands briefly glow when exposed to UV light. The sapphire crystal is squeaky clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The Custom Hu black alligator strap is in mint condition with virtually no signs of use. The Ebel-signed foldover deployant clasp is in great condition with only light wear in the form of hairlines and tiny scratches to the sides. The brand engraving remains detailed and legible.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown winding, time setting, and date changing are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
