Eberhard & Co. Pre-Extra Fort Chronograph, Stainless Steel, Salmon Dial, Circa 1940

An early vintage Eberhard chronograph with single-button chronograph construction, slide lock mechanism, oversized stainless steel case, and highly attractive salmon dial with snail scale.

Among important vintage chronographs of the 1930s and 1940s, Eberhard & Co. holds a distinct position. The decades spanning the 1930s to the 1950s are widely regarded as the maison’s chronograph high point, and the present watch belongs to what collectors now refer to as the Pre-Extra Fort period — an earlier and especially attractive chapter preceding the later Extra Fort models. For collectors interested in early chronograph wristwatches, this reference offers both historical relevance and strong visual identity. 

This example is housed in a 40 mm stainless steel chronograph case with snap-on caseback, giving it an unusually assertive presence for its era. Its most immediately striking feature is the salmon dial, whose warmth and tone reinforce the unmistakable charm of a true circa 1940 chronograph. The addition of a snail scale dial further enhances the watch’s vintage appeal, while contributing to the layered, technical look so prized in early sporting chronographs. For collectors searching for a salmon dial vintage watch or a rare Eberhard chronograph, these details are central to the watch’s desirability. 

Mechanically, the watch is especially notable for its single-button chronograph construction with slide lock mechanism, an early chronograph pause system described by Sotheby’s as being closely associated with Eberhard’s contribution to chronograph development. Unlike the more familiar twin-pusher layout seen on later watches, this configuration gives the present example a more unusual and historically resonant profile. Powered by the jewelled mechanical calibre 16000 and signed on the case, dial, and movement, it offers the kind of coherence and originality increasingly sought in a collectible vintage chronograph. 

Fitted on an unsigned brown strap with stainless steel buckle and offered without accessories, the watch derives its appeal not from completeness of set, but from the strength of its preservation, dial quality, and unusual mechanical format. Sotheby’s described it as preserved in very crisp and original condition — precisely the type of language that resonates with collectors of original vintage watches, pre-war chronographs, and rare tool chronographs of the mid-20th century. The result is an Eberhard Pre-Extra Fort of strong personality, elegant scale, and highly convincing vintage presence.

Inspected by our team of watch specialists.

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