Guy Ellia, does it ring a bell?
Kong
According to a watch-executive, a few companies in the region have battled for 3 years vying for the distributorship of Guy Ellia.
Last month, Sincere Watch Limited (Singapore & Malaysia) got the distributorship for the brand, Guy Ellia.
Understand that Guy Ellia is very selective in choosing their retailers and he wants to maintain a certain positioning of status and prestige.
From his list of retailers, the focus is Middle East and Europe, including Greece and Russia. USA has four point of sales in the key cities. Seems like Singapore & Malaysia are his first step into Asia.
So Who is Guy Ellia (GE) ?
GE's background is jeweler (in stone cutting & stone trade) and designer.
Born in Tunisia in 1950. When he was 3 months old, his parents with GE came to Paris. After completing his studies, he joined the diamond industry.
Started apprenticeship in Antwerp as a diamantaire under the tutelage of the legendary master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky.
After learning the trade, he returned to Paris as a diamond dealer. During 1973, the diamond trade was going through a crisis and he started to manufacture fine-quality jewellery and travelled around the world to source for exceptional stones for his creations.
After twenty years, he decided to setup his own business on the advice of his mother and friends in the jewellery manufacturing business. In 1994, he acquired a company in Rue La Fayette, in Paris.
He was not only good in diamond cutting but excel in prestige jewellery design too.
His first order was to create a piece of Haute Joaillerie for the Place Vendome. After which he continued to design fabulous jewellery pieces and captured the attention and respect of many international boutiques.
In 1999, he founded his own brand - Guy Ellia, and ventured into watch design.
As a jeweler, he had learned the importance of quality workmanship. In timekeeping he demands the exact same level of excellence.
His first watch creation "Square" was for the ladies.
In BaselWorld2004, he created a man's watch, the 'Z1' (with the Z representin the first name of his son, Zacharie).
He continued to design more complicated watches using movements from Parmigiani, Christopher Claret and Frederic Piguet.
His design philopsophy is the design "must reflect the trends and yet remain timeless". He also appreciates simplicity and minimalist design - doing more with less.
A picture of the daring gentleman. Neat, Sophiscated and Chic!
Likely a perfectionist....
The Watches
1. Time Space
Initially, when the Sincere Haute Horlogerie's Manager mentioned this brand, I was not excited. He then showed me the 'Time Space'.
Ok...it is Wow! Simple and well-executed. The look is just right. Attractive. Minimalist.
Everyone does perlage-decoration on the watch-movements and also on some elevator-walls.
How come nobody thinks about having full-perlage as fascia? ( I don't remember seeing any).
The 5-level of contrasting gray (from the outer bezel, inner spacer,the bottom-plate, the exposed components & the hands) is just
harmoniously beautiful together. The 3 ruby jewels add an refreshing twist to sleek gray.
The diameter is 46.80mm. Sounds huge...but it wears nicely on a thin wrist (see the wrist-shots below).
An interesting note, the arrangement of the screws along the bezel, is symmetrical except for position 3'o clock.
The double-AR-coated sapphire curved crystal accentuate marvellous spiral pattern of the perlage decoration.
The ruthenium plated perlage 'dial' is actually the bottom-plate.
It blends very well with the 18k solid matte gray gold case giving the 'Time Space' a high-tech feel!
The crown is stealthy set with a diamond of Ø 1,30 mm.
"Dauphines" shape 18k solid gold hands
Water-resistant to 3 atm (30 m)
Well-matched dark gray Alligator strap, with ardilon buckle, strap size of 25 X 20 mm.
GE does not normally place his logo on the front and the crown, as you will see on the other models. The above Time Space is the exception.
The 'GE' logo is inconspicuously engraved on the bottom plate (or 'dial').
The thickness is at at 4.90 mm! ( the reference Singapore $1 coin is about 2.20 mm thick).
One spectacular observation, the caseback met the caseband with such extreme precision that it is like a monocoque case, as if the gap is
not there. As my fingers glided over the whole case, there isn't any protrusion or burrs...it was seamless.
Just found out that GE has his own watch assembling workshop. Perhaps his people mix & match the caseband and caseback to get the exact fit.
Just found out that GE has his own watch assembling workshop. Perhaps his people mix & match the caseband and caseback to get the exact fit.
The movement is the F.Piguet, Caliber PGE 15.
Diameter of movement : Ø 35,64 mm
Movement thickness : 1,90 mm
Diameter of movement : Ø 35,64 mm
Movement thickness : 1,90 mm
Power reserve : 43 hours
Jewels : 20
Frequency : 3 Hz (21’600 Vph)
Total number of Time Square produced is 150 pieces per year.
2. Round Square 2388 Jumbo Chrono
This watch was nominated in the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève 2007 under the Sports Watch catergory.
It comes in a spectacular size of 50.00mm diameter and 11.50 mm thick. However, it can be worn nicely. See the wrist-shot later.
The rotating date-disc with date-figures cut-out is on the outer perimeter.
The date read-out is at the 2'o clock position, using a contrasting white-background underneath the date-disc.
From the above picture the date is displayed as '7'.
Again, clever use of various shades of gray and different surface texture to design the whole aesthetic.
Like the Time Square, there is actually no dial!
The step sub-dials are mounted on top of the movement but they give an illusion that the dial has cut-outs.
The cut-outs reveals the wheels with their high level of finishing.
Observe the finely skeletonised wheels on beneath every subdials (clearer on the first picture above).
The function of the sub-dials are :
1) Hour, minute at 12 o'clock
2) 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock
3) 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock
4) the Second hand at 6 o'clock
and the chronographe second hand at the middle.
2) 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock
3) 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock
4) the Second hand at 6 o'clock
and the chronographe second hand at the middle.
The chronograph can also be used as a 2nd timezone too.
The Jumbo Chrono has lesser screws on the bezel, but the signature double screws at the crown-side remains.
The movement is the automatic F. PIGUET PGE 1185 Caliber, with 45hours power reserve and at 21,600 vph.
The movement diameter is 26.20mm so it should be masked otherwise there would be too much space on the circumference.
However a good job was done by GE.
The full circular rotor ( with the GE logo engraved and rhodium plated) is shaped like an alloy wheels revealing the bridge as the disk brakes of a car.
This piece was rated water-resistant to 3 atm (30 m).
It comes with 18K gold deployant buckle.
Total number of Jumbo Chrono produced is 200 pieces per year.
Total number of Jumbo Chrono produced is 200 pieces per year.
Some Pictures of the RG Version
3. The Tourbillon Magistere
The Tourbillon Magistere is a joint-project with Christophe Claret.
The hour and minute in the centre and the tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock.
The movement has been completely skeletonised for optimum lightness, total transparency ( so can be admired from all angles) and
an illusion of suspension as if movement is hanging in the balance.
The sapphire crystal does not seem to be double AR coated as it is highly reflective /glaring.
The tourbillon cage (weighs less than 1 gram) which makes one revolution every minute and rotates weightlessly.
The bi-convex case (43.5 x 36 x 10.9mm) reminded me of the Franck Muller Curvex case. It is designed to sit snugly on the wrist.
Notice the winding shaft goes round the perimeter before reaching the barrel.
The GE logo forms part of the bridges.
The bottom plate and bridges are made of titanium.
The limited Edition of Tourbillon Magistere are :
White Gold : 12 pcs
Pink Gold : 12 pcs
Platinium : 6 pcs
Titanium : 24 pcs
Also have the option to add jewelery, set with paved-diamonds or baguettes diamonds.
However Claret could only deliver 12 tourbillon movements per year!
White Gold : 12 pcs
Pink Gold : 12 pcs
Platinium : 6 pcs
Titanium : 24 pcs
Also have the option to add jewelery, set with paved-diamonds or baguettes diamonds.
However Claret could only deliver 12 tourbillon movements per year!
Wrist-Shots
Time Square
Jumbo Chrono
The Tourbillon Magistere
The bi-convex case embraces the wrist nicely.
So what do you think of these pieces?
Kong
Added Info.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2008-07-11 22:29:17
This message has been edited by MTF on 2008-07-12 19:42:45
Comments:
nycWIS July 10th, 2008-16:36
I have had the opportunity to see and wear these pieces... At the GE AD in NYC. For me, the Time Space is an incredibly interesting and beautiful piece, and although it uses a fairly "pedestrian" Piguet manual wind movement, the finishing is impeccable,. The chrono is also a beautiful piece. If I had to guess, I ...
Kong July 10th, 2008-20:27
The Time Space is eye-catching... the Time Square is also.. very attractive. The Square version of the Time Space. The Time Space here is already sold. Mitch, how did you get to know this brand? Kong
nycWIS July 11th, 2008-07:52
I was introduced to GE by the NYC AD mentioned above (nt)
giago July 10th, 2008-19:14
I like them. I knew the brand, but I had never seen one in real life. The tourbillon is really nice. In which range are they priced?
LCDW July 10th, 2008-20:50
Interesting, Kong Well, i think the pieces are quite interesting and the movements, too. I will need to read more about it and see it in real to get the real feel about it. Thanks for featuring it here. Cheers..
Kong July 11th, 2008-15:19
Nothing much to read...should see the real pieces instead. Will be
amanico July 10th, 2008-22:32
I was amazed by a Tourbillon presented by GE In a blue color, but in fact, if I remember well, C.Claret conceived it. The first one, quite minimalist, is interesting, in terms of esthetics, and finish... But no one of these watches makes me feel I will be crazy for them... Very nice and interesting ...
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