1960s Favre-Leuba Geneve Manual "Ellipse" on Bracelet
Ref: 712
Specification
Lugs : 16.5mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its Favre-Leuba box but without its paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original 16.5mm stainless steel mesh bracelet with a signed folding clasp. The watch is from Circa. 1960s and is sold in fair vintage condition, the dial is showing obvious signs of patina, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months Non-Waterproof Warranty.
For more photos see here - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18Jzgqw06KTNQO4b3WxnOV2LjKTWyzqBr?usp=drive_link
4K YouTube video, skip to 26:26 - https://youtu.be/PKbgjCv4U_U
The Watch
Here we have a 1960s Favre-Leuba Geneve Manual "Ellipse" on a Bracelet with a 32mm Ellipse-shaped stainless steel case that gently curves over your wrist with finely tapered lugs, and a lug-to-lug length of 32mm and a case thickness of just 7.5mm ensures a comfortable fit. On the right side is a signed push/pull crown sitting slightly recessed for a seamless profile. The slim bezel holds a flat crystal above an attractive crosshatch textured silver dial. Applied stick indexes mark the hours and matching stick hands sit majestically in the centre. At noon we have the Favre-Leuba Geneve motif that completes this sophisticated vintage dress watch. On the reverse a snap-off case back, inside a manually wound Favre-Leuba Cal. 252, 17 jewels, beating at a leisurely 18,000 beats per hour. The watch comes paired with its original flowing Favre-Leuba 16.5mm stainless steel mesh bracelet with a signed folding clasp, and this watch is sold with its Favre-Leuba box but without its paperwork.
Personal Note
If you know me, you'll know that the Patek Philippe Ellipse is one of my all-time favourite watches and I think they are massively undervalued still in this market, although that is slowly changing. This Favre-Leuba Geneve Manual "Ellipse" on an integrated bracelet offers that look of the Patek but at a tiny fraction of the cost, but don't get it wrong, this Favre-Leuba packs a punch with its linen dial, manually wound movement and beautiful proportions on the wrist, snap it up whilst you can!
The Brand
Abraham Favre became the master watchmaker of Le Locle in 1749. With his sons Frédéric and Henry-Louis, he founded A. Favre & Fils in 1792. Frédéric's son Henry Auguste joined forces with Auguste Leuba in 1815 travelling the world and establishing workshops as they went. By 1851 their Favre-Leuba pocket watches won numerous awards. Fritz Favre replaced his father and continued to expand the business in India. The growing company relocated from Le Locle to Geneva in 1896. Henri Favre-Leuba took over the reins in 1908 and in family tradition expanded the business further and remained as its head until he died in 1961. They produced the first monopusher chronograph in 1925. World markets opened up after the Second World War in 1945 setting up distribution centres in London, Switzerland, Bombay, and New York to name a few. In 1955 using their FL101 Caliber they released the Sea Chief, Sea King, and Sea Raider. The company was renamed Manufacture d’Horlogerie Favre-Leuba S.A in 1963. Sadly due to the influx of cheap quartz watches into the market during the 1970s by 1985, the family closed the gates of the business for a final time. All was not lost when the Tata Group in 2011 bought the rights to the name and moved their headquarters to Zug, Switzerland. The company celebrated their 280th anniversary at BaselWorld in 2017.