Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Eberhard & Co. Chronograph "Pré Extrafort" Black Dial in 18k Yellow Gold, 1930s
- Maker / attribution
- Eberhard (maker)
- Date
- 1930s
- Historical period
- Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- 18k yellow gold
- Dimensions
- Case 39 mm
- Stock no.
- W-3002
- Credit line
- Dealer listing, Bulang & Sons (W-3002)
- Catalogue title (original)
- Eberhard & Co. Chronograph "Pré Extrafort" Black Dial in 18k Yellow Gold (English)
View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Catalogued by Bulang & Sons (dealer), Copenhagen (stock number W-3002), this is a wristwatch by Eberhard, made in Switzerland, dated 1930s. The Atlas places it in the Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking period (1900 – 1945) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: 18k yellow gold. Recorded dimensions: Case 39 mm. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Dealer description — Bulang & Sons
This is a very special watch from a brand that has long been beloved by Italian collectors—and now, the entire watch-collecting community is taking note! The Eberhard & Co. manufacture was founded in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the historic birthplace of the Swiss watchmaking industry, by Georges-Émile Eberhard. Remaining in outstanding condition, this large 39mm 18k yellow gold-cased watch is both rare and incredibly beautiful. The black dial features striking “snail-style” numbers in the center and a military-style telemeter scale on the outer edge. The yellow gold monopusher case is triple signed and includes a hinged case back reminiscent of a half-hunter pocket watch. Interestingly, while this watch appears to have two pushers, the pusher at 5 o’clock is actually a “sliding pusher” mechanism designed to lock the chronograph function when not in use. The watch has been fully serviced by our watchmaker and is paired with a Bulang and Sons leather strap, as seen in the pictures. Get in touch with us if you love vintage chronographs as much as we do! Specifications: - Eberhard “Pré Extrafort” dating to the 1930s - 39mm 18k yellow gold case with “olive-shaped” pushers - Triple signed (case, movement & dial) - Hinged case back - Black snail dial with telemeter scale - Eberhard Cal. 16000 manual-wound movement (Movement No. 100xxx) - Bulang and Sons leather strap - Fully serviced by our watchmaker - Includes a leather strap
Historical context
Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking (1900 – 1945)
The wristwatch displaces the pocket watch; waterproof cases, self-winding and grand complications.
The wristwatch overtook the pocket watch. Military use in the First World War, aviation, water-resistant cases (1926), automatic winding (1923–31), rectangular Art Deco designs and early chronographs and calendars defined the period.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Industrial Revolution
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
Related records
Wristwatches · originally sold in 2013 (per the lot record)
Eberhard wristwatch, ref. 30063, Extra-Fort Chrono Rattrapante Limited 011/121, originally sold in 2013
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · c. 1950s
Eberhard wristwatch, Single Button Chronograph, circa 1950's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · 1960s
Eberhard Scafodat 18K RG (Ref. 11532-1) "Roulette Date Wheel", 1960s
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · 1950s
Eberhard Extra-Fort Chronograph (Ref. 14801) 18K YG, 1950s
Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles
Wristwatches · 1931
Rolex 'Oyster Perpetual' rotor self-winding wrist-watch, lever escapement, in steel case with glass in back, Montres Rolex SA, Geneva, Switzerland, 1931
Science Museum Group, London
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Certina, Switzerland, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Omega, Västerås, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation
Wristwatches · 1900–1999
Wristwatch by Universal, Switzerland, 1900–1999
Nordic Museum Foundation