Ebel 1911 Discovery Chronograph Chronometer Swiss Watch Review

Ebel 1911 collection marks a relatively new venture for the brand. Historically, Ebel specialized in quartz movements, and the steps toward mechanical watchmaking show an important development. 1911 Discovery, BTR and Tekton all contain automatic movements with several complications, produced in-house – demonstrating a newly discovered prowess in the highly competitive and technologically complex field of mechanical watchmaking. Discovery, the line discussed in this review, is a chronograph watch encasing the Ebel 750 caliber.

Design

While featuring a distinct sports look, this manifests characteristics similar to the dressy Brasilia and Classic collections...

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The bracelet design is clearly derived from Brasilia watches, though it's notably more muscular. The integrated dial, along with the screws and curving lines embracing the sapphire crystal glass, replicates Ebel Classic.

Yet despite these allusions – which form the stylistic basis – the 1911 Discovery displays qualities never seen in other Ebel watches: less control (or more recklessness), a measure of aggressiveness, and perhaps a sense of liberation from the dressy, indoors manners of Beluga and its counterparts.

Chronographs in this category are also chronometers – high precision instruments tested in official Swiss laboratories for damage endurance, water resistance, and other specifications.

Two complications include day-date, appearing in a dual aperture at 3 o'clock, and chronograph. The chronograph operates through two push buttons and three subdials for hours, minutes and seconds, located at the other quarter hour markers.

Extremely bright red hands facilitate legibility (the tip of the central seconds hand is also colored red); combined with the tachymeter scale on the bezel, these visual traits disclose motor racing tendencies. Overall, a solid high-end, general purpose sports timer.

Materials

1911 Discovery watches arrive strictly in stainless steel, with some decorative colored aluminium (in the bezel). Bracelets are stainless steel as well, while there's also a rubber strap option, which would definitely reduce the weight, and render the watches easier to wear and operate.