The Traversetolo

Now I know that this might seem like an odd parallel for some readers, but when I think of Panerai and in particular the runaway insanity that the Luminor wrought amongst San Francisco's watch cognoscenti circa 2003, I am reminded of a moment that I had while manning the counter of the first iteration of Tourneau involving Panerai and the Eberhard Traversetolo. A customer came in and said:

Customer:

"I'm looking for a watch, I can't remember exactly but it sounded Italian."

Me:

"Ah, you're in luck! We just got this Panerai into our pre-owned!"  Needless to say, I was already counting my commission ; )

Customer:

"No, that's not the one..."

Me:

"Well, we also have Anonimo!"  

(author's note - this was back when Anonimo was actually made in Italy.)

Customer:  

"No..."

I took out my trusty copy of the Wrist Watch Annual and started leafing through the pages, and there in Eberhard's entry was the Traversetolo.  

Customer:

"That's it!  That's the one!"

Courtesy of Eberhard

(Editor's Note - this is the current Traversetolo, very similar, but not exactly the same as the Traversetolo of 2003).

Well, gentle reader, this is where a fast sale went down the tubes.  

"Well sir, I do apologize but we do not carry Eberhard...but I can see if we have one in the Tourneau inventory in pre-owned."

Every Tourneau was consulted, no avenue left unexplored, and the following Saturday we had not one, but two Traversetolos sitting in the safe.  

The customer came in, examined both the black dial and the white dial versions we had brought in -

Courtesy of Eberhard

And looking at his two daughters who had come in with them, bought them both! 

What this reminds me is that in a world that all might be swimming in one direction, there are a wonderful handful of people who know what they like, and can make up their own minds.

Enjoy your watches!

Eberhard and the AMBRÌ PIOTTA Hockey Club

This just in from in From Eberhard -

Courtesy of Eberhard

TRAVERSETOLO

LIMITED EDITION FOR HCAP

Fans and supporters, but also lovers of Swiss watch making and ice hockey will get the chance to buy one of the 77 prestigious specimens through the dedicated section present on the HCAP website www.hcap.ch .

Technical Features

Reference: 21016. Limited edition of 77 pieces.

Case: steel

Movement: calibre UNITAS/ETA 6498 16 ½ “, mechanical watch with hand-winding, continuous small second at 6 o’clock

Case diameter: 43,00 mm.

Case thickness: 10,70 mm.

Case-back: minted, with the marks in relief, fixed by 8 screws.

Strap-attachment: 21,00 mm.

Water-resistance: 50 m.

Crown: water-resistant, personalised “E”

Bezel: polished

Glass: sapphire, curved

Dials: glossy white, black Arabic numerals, 12 luminescent dots and HCAP logo in blue colour; luminescent leaf-shaped hands

Strap: brown with blue stitching. Steel buckle personalised E&C.

Passione Engadina and Eberhard

This just in from Eberhard -

Courtesy of Eberhard

Here's What's in a Name! A Reply from Eberhard

Hi guys, we could not leave this question unanswered…James is correct, Traversetolo is the name of a small place near Parma, in Italy, in a region where good wine, good food and real friendship are a religion…At the time of the creation of this model, Eberhard & Co. wanted to honor a story of true friendship that was born in Traversetolo, and there was no better way to do so than naming an everlasting timepiece after it!

From Raffaella, Eberhard & Co. Switzerland



So here is  another "inspiration" from that magic place -

A bit more old-school!

Traversetolo - what's in a name?

So as you know, I am now a full week in with my fantastic Eberhard Traversetolo.  The time keeping has been quite good - best day so far was +4 seconds, the worst +7.

So as you can imagine, I got to wondering where the naming convention came from.  I decided to do some homework on my own without asking the folks at Eberhard (although I suspect that I will hear from them shortly) - and here's what I came up with.


Traversetolo is a municipality in the Province of Parma, Italy - this is according to Wikipedia, so it must be true ; )


Having said that, feel free to drop me a line if you know the real answer.  Former and current Eberhard employees are welcome to give feedback as well.  I will give it until Friday, then ask for help from the source.

So here are a few images - of the watch!

A tribute to "SIDEWAYS" as I'm in Santa Barbara

I think what keeps speaking to me about this watch is the semi-hybrid feel it has.  Yes, it is the same size, shape, movement, dial layout as the other Traversetolos, but it has a more modern look and feel.  Almost slightly Bauhaus.  The white dial is almost porcelain in its appearance, and the polished stainless steel markers and hands offer a wonderful counterpoint.

And while I am a die-hard fan for the "classic" black and white Traversetolo models of recent vintage, this one was just that little bit different.  The red accents on the dial and with the strap stitching give it that extra little something.  This is still an Eberhard Traversetolo, there can be no doubt.  But it is a wonderful variation.  Clearly the same family, but not every brother and sister look alike - nor should they!

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".

Traversetolo Day Three - True Beauty is a Rare Thing

With all due respect to everyone else out there making watches - look at this movement! It would be easy to do a half-ass job with the movement - to simply bang in whatever is available and call it done. Not so with the Traversetolo. I don't want to go into too much detail - I will go into much more depth later in the week. But for now, this is sort of like those first few dates - where you really grow to appreciate the beauty of the woman sitting across the table from you.

More to come - stay tuned.

The First Fifteen Days with MY Eberhard Traversetolo

So I often get the question - what is your favorite watch?  A little like "which is your favorite child?"  My parents, by the way, had no difficulty in answering that question... let's just say I've learned to try a little harder ; )

At any rate, one of my all-time favorite watches is Eberhard's Traversetolo.  In a phenomenally good year, apart from the beautiful SWATCH that Wendy might gift me with, I only really have enough pocket money to occasionally consider a new watch.  So after about 7 months of fighting the homeless for empty bottles and cans to return (KIDDING!), I was able to save enough for one of my all - time favorites!

So this 15 days is different than the other reviews where I return the watch to its rightful owner.  This one is all mine - so let's get started!  The First Fifteen Days with MY Eberhard Traversetolo begins NOW!

DESIRE - The Traversetolo

Courtesy of Eberhard

Eberhard's Traversetolo is a watch that I feel very familiar with.  It is, to my way of thinking, one of the true classics, it is instantly recognizable.  Back in my time at Tourneau, it was the one watch I was able to sell to a Paneristi who came in looking for another Panerai.  He bought two Traversetolos instead.  He would have loved this one.

For many years, the Traversetolo has stayed somewhat the same - white or black, right hand or left.  But this version is something special.  This is different, slightly sportier, a tad more modern but still clearly the Traversetolo.  The DNA is there - a hand-wound watch, large and visible, almost like a pocket watch on the wrist.  The subtle tone of the hands and the markers is a fantastic touch.

I love the balance of the dial, the use of red accents both on the dial (and the strap!) adds a nice element,  and creates a new dimension to an old icon.

In a world crammed full of multi-function watches, there is something very reassuring about a hand-wound time only watch

It is official - I am obsessed!