Ebel Cocktail 18k.

At the Amsterdam Watch Company (AWCo) on Reestraat, everything revolves around storytelling, and the 1965 Ebel Cocktail 18k tells one of the most romantic tales in Swiss watchmaking history. This isn’t just any watch; it’s an architectural masterpiece that embodies the Ebel brand’s motto—”Beauty Marries Function”—down to the smallest detail.
Ebel was founded in 1911 by Eugène Blum and Alice Lévy (hence the name: Eugène Blum Et Lévy). While Eugène oversaw technical perfection, Alice shaped the aesthetic. Under her visionary leadership, watches were created that feel more like jewelry than instruments. The 1965 Ebel Cocktail is a pure product of her passion: a piece of jewelry designed for the woman who refuses to settle for the ordinary.

Anyone who visits the AWCo website will immediately see what makes this piece so exceptional. The watch is designed as a solid gold bracelet, but it hides a beautiful secret. The case is nestled beneath a subtly designed clasp, lavishly set with sparkling, brilliant-cut diamonds.
In the 1960s, it was considered the height of etiquette not to openly read the time during a chic dinner or cocktail party. With this Ebel, you’re wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry that transforms into a watch only at your command. The manual winding movement (only 15 mm in size!) harks back to a time when mechanical precision could still be microscopic.
Ebel is known as the “Architects of Time,” and this is reflected in its construction. The case and bracelet are crafted from warm 18-karat yellow gold. These models often feature the famous “bark finish,” a texture that gives the gold an organic, almost living appearance. The contrast between the robust gold and the sparkling diamonds makes this piece a visual spectacle. Today, an Ebel Cocktail watch in this condition, and with this rich setting of precious stones, is a rare find. It represents an era when craftsmanship knew no bounds and a watch had to reflect the soul of its wearer.

For the woman seeking a unique heirloom that completely blurs the lines between haute jeaillerie and horlogerie, this gold gem from AWCo is the ultimate find. An ode to Alice Lévy, to the 1960s, and to the timeless brilliance of diamonds and gold.
The quality: During Alice Lévy’s period, Ebel used only very high-quality diamonds (usually VVS quality with a high color odor, such as Top Wesselton/F), because the watch had to compete with the top Parisian jewelers.
The setting: The diamonds on the clasp are often brilliant-cut. Considering the size of a 15mm case and the photos on the site, it often means a total carat weight between 0.40 and 0.80 carats, depending on how richly the clasp is set.