Tazio Nuvolari and the 336

I don't know if there was as much press on this one as maybe it deserved, so I thought I'd re-heat this one.  This was brought out by Eberhard earlier this year.

Courtesy of Eberhard

Tazio Nuvolari is generally something we simply connect with watches.  And that is fair enough but there was more to it, is more to it than that.

Born in 1892 in Italy, his life spanned some of the most important and defining moments of modern Italy.  2 world wars, the industrialization of Italy, a racing career that really started in many ways at the beginning of modern motorized racing.  He came from a family of bicycle racers, and on first a motorcycle, and later in an automobile he became a legend.

The father of 2 children neither of whom lived to the age of 20, he in many ways embodied the ups and downs that Italy experienced as she pulled herself up from the ashes and into the modern, industrialized Italy of today.

So, enough about the past, let's talk about the future and the present -

The Tazio Nuvolari is a wonderfully sporty piece with hours, minutes, seconds, date as well as a GMT and Power Reserve.  Based on the ETA 2824-2, you can count on this to be serviceable for some time to come.

Courtesy of Eberhard

45 mm of stainless steel, the movement boasts 42 hours of power reserve. The second time zone can be adjusted with a push-piece at approximately 10 o'clock.

Useful, functional and just sporty enough!

Traversetolo - packaging

I've been at this blogging business so long, I forgot about the time honored tradition of the "unboxing" ceremony so popular on watch forums. Well, in an effort to reconstruct it visually...

The packaging is first rate. A beautifully "semi-rustic" finish to the wood that the box is made from. A truly great "first impression".

Eberhard & Co. and the Gran Premio Nuvolari

A 21 year partnership of timing excellence, celebrating the memory of the “Mantua Flyer”.

Mantua, Italy is the starting point for this year’s Gran Premio Nuvolari.  Today (September 21^st ) marks the start of the XXII edition of the Gran Premio Nuvolari.  Once again Eberhard & Co. is taking part as Official Partner and Timekeeper for this important historical race.

Courtesy of Eberhard

 This year, among the more than 300 vintage cars are approximately seventy cars dating back to the Second World War, a record-breaking participation level that only the “Mille Miglia” can equal.


No fewer than 16 Eberhard pairs (teams) will be lined up at the start: 4 foreign pairs from Team Eberhard and 12 pairs from the Classic Team Eberhard.

And it is this strong connection to classic car rallies and races that has inspired the “Tazio Nuvolari” chronograph collection, a tribute to the legendary driver known to many as the “Flying Mantuan”.

To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the birth of the great “Nivola”, Eberhard & Co. proudly presents the “Tazio Nuvolari Data”. This is a self-winding, mechanical chronograph with a distinctly sporty style. The distinctive feature of the Nuvolari Data lies in the date function. It is the first model in the Tazio Nuvolari collection, since 1992 (when the first model was presented) to utilize a date feature. On Sunday September 23rd , against the splendid backdrop of Mantua’s Bibiena Theatre, Eberhard & Co. will be presenting the “Tazio Nuvolari” chronograph to the winners of the event, and also awarding two exclusive and highly prestigious silver cups to the highest ranking Italian and foreign yards. Eberhard & Co.’s are proud to continue their 21 year partnership with the fascinating world of vintage car races.

www.eberhard-co-watches.ch

Eberhard & Co. and Passione Engadina

Courtesy of Eberhard

This just in from Eberhard -

Last weekend, Eberhard & Co. took part in the Passione Engadina as the Premium Sponsor.  This is an exciting vintage car race open only to Italian-made cars manufactured prior to 1982.  Passione Engadina took place in the splendid settings of St. Moritz and Engadina.  This was a true rally featuring  beautiful, vintage Italian autos.

The race was held over two days -

Saturday was dedicated to the “Umbrail Rail – St. Moritz Race”, with the drivers facing the challenge of 3 different mountain passes, among spectacular mountains.  

Sunday was devoted to the Elegance Competition in the historic centre of St. Moritz,
a special location which also played host to the final award ceremony.

The winners of the "Cars Made Before 1947" category were awarded a Tazio Nuvolari chronograph and a Gilda model by Eberhard & Co., while the winner of the “cars made before 1982” received a Champion V, and the “Sportcar” category winner received a Traversetolo.

www.eberhard-co-watches.ch

Traversetolo

Courtesy of Eberhard

This is a watch that has always struck me as painfully under appreciated.  This is a watch that for whatever reason, has not been nearly as appreciated here in the US as it should have been.  This is the Eberhard Traversetolo.  A watch that in some ways seems to be from another time, but still timeless.
Beautifully basic, only essentials.  Hand wound Swiss goodness!

Back in my watch retail days, I sold two of these to a gentleman who came in wanting another Panerai (he already had five of them), and I explained that what he really "needed" was something more discerning.  My argument being that with five of them already, Panerai was a "gimme".  He walked out with two Traversetolos - one black and one white.  I still hear from him from time to time, and he informs me that of the many watches that have come and gone from his collection, the two Traversetolos are still with him - but already "selected" as graduation presents for his son and daughter.