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.
Round Square 2388 Jumbo Chrono
This watch was nominated in the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2007 under the Sports Watch category.
It comes in a spectacular size of 50.00mm diameter and 11.50 mm thick. However, it can be worn nicely.
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 subdial
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.
The chronograph can also be used as a 2nd timezone too.
The movement is the automatic F. PIGUET PGE 1185 Caliber, with 45hours power reserve and at 21,600 vph.
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 100 pieces per year.
Extremely Rare – Original MSRP $85,500.00 – Black Rhodium Coated 18k White Gold Case – Very Special Frederic Piguet Movement! Best of all, this is the 1st piece – Serial #001!! You wont see another for sale anytime soon – Especially at this price!!
BRAND: Guy Ellia
MODEL: Round Square Jumbo Chrono #001
MOVEMENT: Automatic – Swiss – Frederic Piguet
CASE: Black Coated 18k White Gold
CROWN: Push/Pull Crown
SIZE: 50mm
LUGS: 26mm Curved
DIAL: Skeletonized Dial
BEZEL: non-rotating
CONDITION: Pre-Owned – Excellent! – slight scratches on back of 1 lug
BOXES/PAPERS: Guy Ellia Wooden Lacquer Box Set, GE Folder, etc – Box has slight damage in a couple ares – shown in the pictures – Comes everything you see in the pics!
WATER RESISTANCE: – 30m
STRAP/BRACELET: – Original Guy Ellia Black Alligator strap with 18K Black Gold Deployment buckle.
