Excelsior Park Chronograph Watch Movement Brief
Sep 13, 2023
Vintage chronograph watches are among the most exciting categories in collecting — and Excelsior Park is one of the most underappreciated names in that world. Rare, historically significant, and increasingly coveted, Excelsior Park movements powered some of the finest chronographs of the 20th century. Here is a brief overview of the brand and its most notable calibers.
A Brief History of Excelsior Park
Excelsior Park is a Swiss watch movement manufacturer founded in 1866 by Jules-Frédéric Jeanneret. After a series of ownership changes — and the addition of “Park” to the name to appeal to English-speaking markets — the company emerged as one of the pioneers of the chronograph, registering its first patent in 1891.
Excelsior Park built a reputation for precision and innovative chronograph calibers, supplying movements to respected brands including Girard-Perregaux, Gallet, and Zenith. For decades it developed its own calibers and produced chronographs for every type of sport timing application.
In 1983, Excelsior Park fell victim to the quartz crisis and ceased production. Several attempts to revive the brand followed, but none succeeded. For years the name was known only to serious enthusiasts — undervalued and overlooked. That changed around 2020, when Excelsior Park re-emerged as one of the most coveted names in vintage chronograph collecting. The trademark was subsequently secured by Korius, with a mission to restore the brand to its former glory using modern technology and innovation.
Excelsior Park Movements — Full Caliber List
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EP 1 — 44mm “Compteur”
- EP 11 — “Compteur-rattrapante”
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EP 2 — 43mm “Compteur”
- EP 20 — Compteur avec compteur d’heures
- EP 22 — Distance entre les deux aiguilles compteur-rattrapante
- EP 222 — Distance entre les deux aiguilles compteur-rattrapante
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EP 42 — Ovoid 27.1×29.4mm chronograph (formerly “Excelsior Park 12/13”)
- EP 4 — 31.6mm chronograph based on EP 42, with “mise à l’heure de la seconde”
- EP 40 — Chronograph with hour counter based on EP 4
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EP 5 — 23.5 or 26mm
- EP 51
- EP 6 — 40.6mm “Compteur-football”
- EP 7 — 36 or 42mm Réveil
- EP 15 — 42mm chronograph
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EP 16 — 42mm, 4.5mm
- EP 17 — 42mm, 5mm
Notable Excelsior Park Calibers
Excelsior Park 4 (EP4)
Introduced in the 1930s, the EP4 was one of Excelsior Park’s earliest successes — a hand-wound chronograph movement known for its reliability and accuracy.
Excelsior Park 40 (EP40)
Introduced in the 1940s and widely used by various watchmakers, the EP40 featured a column wheel design — a hallmark of high-quality chronograph movements. It was supplied to Girard-Perregaux, Gallet, and others.
Excelsior Park 4CH
An improved version of the EP4, the 4CH was known for its robust construction and precise timekeeping. Produced in the mid-20th century.
Excelsior Park Caliber 4-68
Introduced in the 1960s, the 4-68 featured a 45-minute counter for timing sporting events and was utilized by several prestigious Swiss watch brands. The related Cal. 40-68 — with a 30-minute counter and 12-hour counter — was used in the Girard-Perregaux Chronograph Olimpico 9227 FA Diver.
Excelsior Park 40-72
Introduced in the 1970s with a 30-minute counter, the 40-72 continued to showcase Excelsior Park’s commitment to precision and quality in the final years before the quartz crisis.
Excelsior Park Caliber 40-120 (Rattrapante)
The most complex Excelsior Park caliber, the 40-120 featured a split-seconds (rattrapante) function allowing the simultaneous timing of multiple events. Highly regarded by collectors and enthusiasts, it represents the pinnacle of Excelsior Park’s technical achievement.
The Excelsior Park Monte Carlo — A Special Note
Excelsior Park also produced watches under its own name using movements sourced from other manufacturers. The Excelsior Park Monte Carlo, for example, used the Lemania 872 movement — an extremely rare configuration. In character it is closely related to the Vacheron Constantin chronograph (mostly Cal. 492, Valjoux-based) and bears a strong resemblance to the vintage Patek Philippe chronograph reference 130.
Why Excelsior Park Matters Today
Despite their reputation for producing exceptional chronograph movements, Excelsior Park — like many traditional Swiss manufacturers — could not survive the quartz crisis of the 1970s and 1980s. Today, vintage watches powered by Excelsior Park movements are highly collectible and appreciated for their historical significance, mechanical ingenuity, and craftsmanship. Watch enthusiasts and collectors actively seek out timepieces equipped with these movements for their mechanical charm and rarity.
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