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Eberhard Scafograf 300, 1960s — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Eberhard Scafograf 300, 1960s

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Eberhard (maker)
Date
1960s
Country of origin
Switzerland
Object type
Wristwatch
Dimensions
Case 42 mm
Stock no.
Product 787188219991
Credit line
Dealer listing, S.Song Watches (product 787188219991)
Catalogue title (original)
Eberhard Scafograf 300 (English)

View the source record (dealer listing) ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction

Record summary

Catalogued by S.Song Watches (dealer), Seattle (stock number Product 787188219991), this is a wristwatch by Eberhard, made in Switzerland, dated 1960s. The Atlas places it in the Modern Mechanical Horology period (1945 – 1969) of its Wristwatches collection. Recorded dimensions: Case 42 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 — S.Song Watches

In the 60’s, there are two trilogies of tool watches produced that come to mind. From Rolex, you had the Submariner for the diver, the Milgauss for the scientist, and the Daytona for the driver. From Omega you had the Seamaster 300, the Railmaster and the Speedmaster made for their respective professions. While these two brands are certainly the most popular and well known, there was one other smaller brand that had what I think to be a more enigmatic and rarer trilogy- Eberhard. Comparable in both quality and aesthetics, Eberhard had the Contograf for the driver, the Scientigraf for the scientist and the example you see here today- the Scafograf, made for the diver. Eberhard mainly sold their watches in Italy and did not have a huge presence around the world like Rolex or Omega did and as a result, the Scafograf 300 is an extremely rare watch. The previous iterations of the Scafograf 100 and 200 only had a few hundred examples made, showing you just how rare these pieces are. The twisted lugs on this watch may be recognisable to some of you and that is because the 42mm stainless steel case that houses this Scafograf 300 was produced by Huguenin Freres who also produced cases for Omega’s trilogy. So any quality you might think comes out of those vintage Omegas, you get in this Eberhard, albeit much, much rarer. At the end of the day though, this is just one good looking watch. With its muscular case and black bezel filled with lume, it has a huge presence on the wrist. On top of this, what you get is a gilt dial with massive markers with even bigger triangular markers at 12,6 and 9, filled with lume- a classic Eberhard design cue. Overall, the Eberhard Scafograf 300 combines good looks, high quality and rarity- the perfect formula for a collectable vintage piece.

Historical context

Modern Mechanical Horology (1945 – 1969)

Tool watches for divers, pilots and astronauts; electric watches anticipate the electronic age.

The classic era of the mechanical wristwatch: dive watches, chronographs for motor racing and space flight, GMT watches for jet travel, slim dress watches, automatic calendars, and the rise of Japanese manufacturers alongside Swiss, American, German and Soviet industries.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Golden Age of Mechanical Watchmaking

Atlas type guide

Wristwatches

Bracelet watches were worn by women from the early nineteenth century — Breguet made one for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810–12 — but the wristwatch only became a man's instrument with military use and aviation in the early twentieth century. Between the World Wars it overtook the pocket watch; the 1920s and 1930s brought rectangular Art Deco cases, water-resistant cases and the first automatic winding systems.

After 1945 the wristwatch became a carrier of identity — dress watches, sports and dive watches, chronographs, calendars — produced by Swiss, American, Japanese, German, Soviet and Chinese industries. The quartz revolution after 1969 and the mechanical renaissance since the 1990s, including the rise of independent watchmakers, complete the story.

What to look for

  • The reference number (between the lugs or inside the case back) and serial number, the starting point for dating.
  • The calibre: its maker and number are often stamped under the dial or on the bridge.
  • Originality of dial, hands and crown — refinished ('redial') dials are common.
  • Case material marks: 18K/750, 14K/585, stainless steel, gold-filled, plated.

Dating clues

  • Wire-lug cases: before c. 1925.
  • Water-resistant screw-down cases: from 1926.
  • Quartz movements: from 1969; sapphire crystals widespread after c. 1980.

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.

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