Ornatus-Mundi
[Zenith]
7136
The Mach One SkyEagle watch: an unusual monopusher chronograph
The sports-addicted collection in Ellicott's stable, the Mach One collection, gets a new edition of the SkyEagle monousher chronograph:
No, I have not photographed the watch upside-down! The movement is modified in that it (i) shows the escapement on the dial and (ii) places the mono pusher very conveniently (for left-hand wearers, at least) at the 8 o'clock position. This allows for a comfortable control of the chronograph with your thumb.
The case is crafted from steel and tantalum and follows the same cushionoid shape known from the Majesty collection. However, with 44 x 44 mm its considerable larger. The dial shows an even stronger emphasis on vertical dimension, partly because of the skeletonisation, partly because of the enhanced dimensions of the elements.
Legibility is great from almost all points of view as far as the chronograph is concerned, however I cannot attest the same to the basic time indications. Here the contrast of the grey hands to the metal dial is simply too low.
The open-worked and exposed escapement lives up the dial. As a nice feature the company has also moved the gears to the chronograph minute counter to the dial side.
The backside is a bit simpler than the corresponding view of the Majesty due to a more common round crystal. Since the central rotor demands more space on the third dimension a cross-shaped crystal would be a non-sensical addition.
I have no firsthand knowledge about the origin of the movement, but to me it appears to be a heavily modified Valjoux movement:
Interestingly the watch works quite well on the wrist. I also find the cushion shape to be less bothersome compared to the Majesty.
Baselworld 2013: Ellicott: Watches Fit for a King...
For most of you (and until I saw them also for me) the brand Ellicott 1738 is unknown territory. However, the name is certainly not new, nor is the philosophy or the people behind it! Ellicott is named after British watchmaker John Ellicott jr. (1706-1772...
The Royal Skeleton: celebrating 275th anniversary of Ellicott's induction to Royal Society
With this watch Ellicott is honouring John Ellicott’s admission into the prestigious Royal Society. This year marks the 275th anniversary of his induction. The watch, called Royal Skeleton , is a powerfully design skeletonised watch driven by a handwound ...
100% sure it is a Concepto movement.
The shape of the spring can't lie... Thanks Magnus! Fx
The Majesty Collection: crowned by an in-house movement with circumferential rotor
The Ellicott Majesty is not exactly a new watch, it was presented already in 2010. In fact, it enjoyed some public attention when it was presented in 2011 to the then Colonel in Chief, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. However, its a milestone for E...
The Mach One SkyEagle watch: an unusual monopusher chronograph
The sports-addicted collection in Ellicott's stable, the Mach One collection , gets a new edition of the SkyEagle monousher chronograph: No, I have not photographed the watch upside-down! The movement is modified in that it (i) shows the escapement on the...
The Master Complication RS 38: World's slimmest Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater
The 'crown' of the Ellicott collection certainly is the Master Complication RS 38 : A (-nother?) homage to John Ellicott's admission to the Royal Society in 1738, this time with a set of complications that can make watch connoisseurs' heats melt: a perpet...
I have mixed emotions here...
The sound seems to be excellent and the movement is superb. But I find the dial a bit too simplist. Thanks a lot for this comprehensive presentation! Fx
Conclusion Ellicott watches: Fit for a King, but also for you?
Instead of a foreword: Drafting my personal summary and conclusions on Ellicott was not an easy task, in fact I tried to procrastinate as much as I could ;-). The reason: I enjoyed a warm and personal welcome at their Basel booth, which makes it even hard...
great review Marcus.
not sure on the chrono, but the others look really nice and just that little bit unusual. best Graham
Magnus - this series of posts is SUPERB!!!!
Thank you for your efforts. I also appreciate your honesty. It is our duty to present all points to the Community and everyone can decide on their own. Visually, I like many of the elements I see in these watches. Certainly enough that I would like to try...
Would the issue of 'relationship' and 'connection'...
be entirely different if - say - the owners of the brand were Ellicott collectors and at some point decided that it would be a great challenge to revive the brand? I guess I have that answer.... Thanks for your comment, Magnus
Ellicott 1738: some good and some bad points
Thanks Magnus for the introduction. Others have already pointed out the incongruence of taking on a British name for a start-up Swiss company run by an Italian. It could be worse if it were a British company taking a Swiss watchmaking name! There are cert...
On the back crystal...
Your comments are of course valid, and I missed one aspect: The crystal echoes the shape of the proprietary screws... On your conclusion ( "the range provides 'choice' to punters who want to be different" ) - yes, I think you have a point here! Cheers, Ma...
Intersting new brand
They seem to know what they are doing! Beautiful design. Would love to see in person to look closer the finishing and the actual size on my wrist :-) Thanks for the article, Magnus. Ken
Thanks for bringing us closer to Ellicott
Great report and commentary. I like the look and feel of the Ellicott dials because it's masculine, simple, and has a lot of depth to it. Thanks for the 2 videos on the minute repeater. It sounds pretty good if you ask me - I like the tempo, tone, and the...
Great Review, Agree on the Name...
Thank you for the detailed review of these watches and the discussion of the brand. This brand is hardly the only one to purchase an obsolete name in hopes of providing gravitas to the company and maybe fool some buyers who don't realize that this is a co...
I don't understand it as well
If I were to make my own watches, poor my heart and soul into this project, and fund the project with my hard earned money, why would I want to name my watch brand after someone else? It's going to have my own name on it or a name I make up. I'd never sla...