DESIGN, ENGINEERING & EXPERTISE
Elgé watches, now represented by the Chamonix, offer a thoughtful balance between precision engineering, meticulous design, rare details in contemporary watchmaking, and a touch of French sophistication. Every curve, every detail is carefully crafted to combine technical excellence, elegance, and durability.
THE HERITAGE OF THE CHAMONIX:
A STRONG & TIMELESS DESIGN
A versatile tool watch, the original Chamonix adapted just as well to the demands of great ascents as to everyday adventures. Its bold design elements, combined with French watchmaking craftsmanship, tested by the quartz crisis, give it a unique place in the world of vintage watches.
Building on this heritage, the new Chamonix, powered by the France Ébauche movement, is not merely a nostalgic reissue but a modern heir: the starting point of a new adventure for Elgé and a concrete embodiment of the revival of French watchmaking.
Building on this heritage, the new Chamonix, powered by the France Ébauche movement, is not merely a nostalgic reissue but a modern heir: the starting point of a new adventure for Elgé and a concrete embodiment of the revival of French watchmaking.
CASE: PROPORTIONS, MATERIALS & COMFORT
The Chamonix case features harmonious proportions and a meticulously designed aesthetic.
SHAPE, MATERIALS & REFINEMENT
With an effective diameter of 38 mm and a refined thickness of just 11.6 mm, it perfectly balances functional robustness and timeless elegance.
Crafted from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, this durable and corrosion-resistant material ensures the Chamonix's exceptional longevity while maintaining its sophisticated appearance.
Each surface is meticulously finished, alternating predominantly brushed finishes with polished accents, creating a sophisticated interplay of textures.
Crafted from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, this durable and corrosion-resistant material ensures the Chamonix's exceptional longevity while maintaining its sophisticated appearance.
Each surface is meticulously finished, alternating predominantly brushed finishes with polished accents, creating a sophisticated interplay of textures.
GENEROUS CROWN
This attention to detail extends to the crown, perfectly proportioned and positioned along the midline of the case to preserve the harmony of the design while ensuring ergonomic handling.
The crown, an essential element of a tool watch, is slightly oversized (7 mm in diameter), staying true to the original but enhanced with a screw-down mechanism. This generous size ensures easy handling, smooth winding, and effective water resistance, guaranteed up to 150 meters (15 ATM).
The crown, an essential element of a tool watch, is slightly oversized (7 mm in diameter), staying true to the original but enhanced with a screw-down mechanism. This generous size ensures easy handling, smooth winding, and effective water resistance, guaranteed up to 150 meters (15 ATM).
EFFECTIVE & REFINED CASEBACK
The decagonal caseback, a nod to Elgé's rich heritage, brings a clean elegance that paradoxically evokes a timeless modernity. The France Ébauche movement is securely held by a mounting ring engraved with Elgé's markings and the caliber details, including the historic trademark of the France Ébauche manufacture.
Inside, a brushed "circular graining" finish highlights the craftsmanship, while the inscription « EN CAS D'OUVERTURE L'ÉTANCHÉITÉ DOIT ÊTRE VÉRIFIÉE PAR UN HORLOGER CERTIFIÉ » serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving water resistance after the case has been opened and manipulated. This French phrase translates to "IN CASE OF OPENING, WATER RESISTANCE MUST BE VERIFIED BY A CERTIFIED WATCHMAKER," a standard precaution in modern watchmaking to ensure the watch's water-resistance integrity is maintained.
Inside, a brushed "circular graining" finish highlights the craftsmanship, while the inscription « EN CAS D'OUVERTURE L'ÉTANCHÉITÉ DOIT ÊTRE VÉRIFIÉE PAR UN HORLOGER CERTIFIÉ » serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving water resistance after the case has been opened and manipulated. This French phrase translates to "IN CASE OF OPENING, WATER RESISTANCE MUST BE VERIFIED BY A CERTIFIED WATCHMAKER," a standard precaution in modern watchmaking to ensure the watch's water-resistance integrity is maintained.
DIAL: THE MASTERY OF CONTRASTS & THE ART OF TYPOGRAPHY
The Chamonix dial embodies efficiency, simplicity, and refinement.
LIGHT & DEPTH OF THE DIAL
Its black lacquered surface offers a strong contrast, enhancing legibility while evoking timeless sophistication.
The Elgé logo and typography, directly inspired by the brand’s archives, feature serifed numerals and indices, carefully redrawn by hand.
This meticulous work recalls the original Chamonix aesthetic, with attention to detail in the tracing of the indices—a rare finesse not often seen since the 1960s.
The Elgé logo and typography, directly inspired by the brand’s archives, feature serifed numerals and indices, carefully redrawn by hand.
This meticulous work recalls the original Chamonix aesthetic, with attention to detail in the tracing of the indices—a rare finesse not often seen since the 1960s.
CHARACTER & TYPOGRAPHY
The generously applied Super-LumiNova® "Old Radium" on the indices provides excellent visibility in low light while adding undeniable vintage charm.
The dial’s texture, the raised indices, and the interplay of light create a dynamic visual effect, highlighting Elgé’s commitment to precise, functional, yet refined design.
The dial’s texture, the raised indices, and the interplay of light create a dynamic visual effect, highlighting Elgé’s commitment to precise, functional, yet refined design.
THE HANDS: MAGNUM STYLE & PRECISION
The "Magnum" hands, a hallmark of the Chamonix, pay tribute to Elgé’s heritage with bold proportions and a polished finish that blend form, efficiency, and refinement.
MAGNUM HANDS:
THE ELGÉ SIGNATURE
The "Magnum" hands, a defining feature of the Chamonix, honor Elgé's legacy with bold proportions and a polished finish that combine efficiency and elegance.
Their curved tips allow the sapphire crystal to be positioned as close as possible to the dial—a true technical achievement that brings the thickness down to 11.6 mm, or rather, 11.6 mm of comfort and elegance.
Their curved tips allow the sapphire crystal to be positioned as close as possible to the dial—a true technical achievement that brings the thickness down to 11.6 mm, or rather, 11.6 mm of comfort and elegance.
SECONDS AT THE FOREFRONT
The second hand, finished in white with a Super-LumiNova® "Old Radium" coating, ensures readability and precision in all conditions.
Its design foregoes the traditional counterweight—an audacious choice that pays tribute to and preserves a distinctive feature of the original Chamonix.
Its design foregoes the traditional counterweight—an audacious choice that pays tribute to and preserves a distinctive feature of the original Chamonix.