Elysee Picus reviewed>>>>>

It’s the second time I review a watch made by the Düsseldorf based brand Elysee, again with “innards” not being “Swiss Made” or “Made in Germany”.
Today I am reviewing the Elysee PICUS, reference no. 77010G, which – as most of you might already know or heard of - houses a Citizen/Miyota
automatic movement 90S5.


With its “open heart” or “open balance” the Elysee PICUS already has a lot of competitors like Perrelet, Edox, Limes, Orient, Epos, Tempo d’Oro, Tissot (to name some), all being well known for providing overall good or even excellent quality, reliability and being available within the €500 to €1000 price mark.


However, the Miyota 90S5 measuring only 3,90mm in height is a very flat movement allowing to use a very flat case, not unimportant for a classic dress watch.
In his “Plea for the Dress Watch” once published in Forbes magazine, Jack Forster, US editor in chief of Revolution Magazine, said that “…the true gentleman’s dress watch is very thin (whether self-winding or manually wound) and in its purest form, eschews any additional ornamentation or functions — the most pure examples dispense even with a seconds hand.”

However that may be, Jack Forster was right: You should at least own one classic dress watch.

Since the Elysee PICUS is available for a - - somehow - - reasonable price (475 Euro) I gave this one a try to be worn during the summer vacation in Italy to see how it feels and wears.

ELYSEE Watches Düsseldorf – Brand Profile, History and Products

ELYSEE as a brand is kind of a globetrotter. Elysee was founded by Jacques Beaufort back in 1920 in a small village close to Bémont in the Canton of Jura/Switzerland. When Jacques Beaufort died in 1938 the brand died as well.

In 1960 ELYSEE experienced a re-birth, this time settling down in Germany, finding a new home in the “Goldstadt” (“Gold Town”) Pforzheim. The Harer company, a family runned enterprise, became the new owner. Harer put the focus on the production of mechanical watches with gold cases.

In 1991 Elysee moves from Pforzheim to Düsseldorf. Entrepreneur Reiner Seume acquires the brand.

For the next 9 years Elysee watches are only available in Germany. In 2000 Elysee watches become available in Austria, Switzerland and in the Netherlands. It takes another 12 years and Elysee watches are available almost all over the planet.

In 2013 the production completely moves to Germany. Elysee is now “Made in Germany”.


Elysee Picus - Aesthetics & Design

The PICUS with its open balance is not made for everybody. The “open heart” thing is something not everyone is going to appreciate and perhaps the most polarizing aspect. I am aware of that and you will find threads on WatchUSeek where I stated that an “open heart” isn’t my cup of tea. Wasn’t !! Times change, people change, taste change.


For my wrist (<7.5) a case diameter of 40 mm to 43 mm always seemed ideal to me. So the Elysee PICUS with a case diameter of 41,5mm just fit into may favoured bracket.

Visually it does wear a lot smaller compared to my Elysee DualTime or the hefty Mühle Seebatallion which I primarily credit to the flat case and its small bezel, added by short lugs and a small crown.

Case, Crown and Crystal Build Quality

Case specs aren’t heart-stopping

- Stainless steel polished,
- 5 ATM,
- Ø: 41,5 mm, height only: 9,8 mm,
- Display back,
- Lug width: 22mm,

but still you get value for money.

The case is simple and clean with really no frills or surprises to speak of. In a side view the case looks like a flying saucer with four levels (top, mid, back, see-through-window).


Measuring 41,5 mm in diameter and 9,8 mm in height the PICUS does not appear to be large due to the short and curved lugs. A perfect fit on my wrist.

The stainless steel case appears to be very well built, and the finish also appears to be durable. This being said I had to face a very small hairline scratch on the left side of the case (note: I am not a lefty) after (only) three days. .... happens though.

There is nothing to complain when looking at the tolerances between the case and the sapphire coated anti-reflective crystal. Everything secure and tight, the crystal does not line up precisely with the case, you can see and feel it being a tad higher. Readability isn’t an issue at all. Taking shots is another story !


The same level of care in construction applies to the back of the case, where six tiny Phillips screws secure the display back For the money you have to pay the Elysee Picus appears to be well executed.

The PICUS is fitted with a display back revealing the 24 jewels Miyota 90S5 automatic movement. The rotor is engraved with the Elysee logo and Made in Germany lettering in gold.

The case back engravings repeat some features of the PICUS, as there are

- All stainless steel
- 5 ATM
- Made in Germany
- Elysee 77010/172
- Sapphire Ctd.

The crown is positioned between 3 and 4 o’clock. The reason why is mentioned in the next section “Dial and Hands”. The crown appears to be a tiny one but with regard to the height of the case a larger crown would somehow look misplaced and out of proportion. Winding it with gloves might become tricky though.

Dial and Hands

The characteristic of the dial is the double layer technique. Both, top and base layer appear in matte grey. From 1 to 11 the top layer features recessed/cut out hemispheric geometric forms.


The dial is functional and visually pleasing. Although the hands are very small the PICUS is easy to read during day time.
It features silver “appliqués”, indexes from 1 to 11 and a roman XII at 12. Very small dauphine shaped-hands are completing the picture.

To me it looks like the top layer of the dial has first been "milled" and later on the milled out sections were backfilled with the stainless steel indexes.


The matte grey dial color goes very well with silver appliqués, its hands and the case. The imprinted Elysee logo, the “Made in Germany” lettering at 6, and “Automatic” cursive handwriting are carried out in silver as well, all in good proportion and sober and rather unobtrusive.


The PICUS does not have a date indication. In my humble opinion a good decision because Elysee’s designers did not need to try to find a (visual) balance between a date window and the open heart.
The “open heart” with its golden balance cock (with a very slight circle graining) and golden balance wheel is surrounded by a subtle silver circle with a recessed, fluted border and a second angled silver inner circle.


It should be noted that there is no luminosity at all. This watch for sure is not made to please the night owls amonst the WUS community. That being said, all hands are in the right proportion. The minute hand is as long as it has to be, long enough to reach well into the minutes chapter. Same is valid for the seconds hand. The hour hand is a bit shorter but still featuring a good length.


Wrist watches housing the Miyota 90S5 usually feature the crown at the 3 o’clock position. The “open heart” ordinarily then is off center, slightly shifted towards 4/5 o’clock.
Elysee choose for a slightly different way. The movement is mounted differently into the case with the effect that the crown now sits between 3 and 4. As a consequence the open balance is centered at 6 o’clock which definitively is a benefit to the visual balance of the PICUS.

Strap and Clasp Build Quality

From the very first moment the black leather strap with red lining was soft and comfortable to wear. Going by 475 Euro the Elysee PICUS is not cheap. However, upper and lining leather are seamed together (black stitched on upper, red stitched on lining leather) so you should not expect Hirsch rembordé technology.


The double fold polished stainless steel deployant is sufficient, reliable and very easy to operate. It is engraved with the Elysee logo.
Will check later if a dark grey croc might be more eye-catching. For the time being the strap works well.

Movement Accuracy & Reliability

All Elysee PICUS models house an automatic movement, the Miyota 90S5 (“Premium Slim”)

• Diameter: 11 ½ lines ( 25,60 mm)
• Height 3,90 mm
• Accuracy per day (as stated by Citizen): - 10 to + 30 sec with an overall position difference of under 40 sec/day.
• Power reserve +42 hrs
• 24 jewels
• 28.800 b/h
• Hacking
• Lift angle 51°


There’s already a lot of info available on the internet, for example on ???????????????? - CITIZEN -? "?????????????"???????? (Specification | MIYOTA MOVEMENT cal.9015) so I will just give you my impression on the movement. Since this is not my first Miyota movement I familiarized with living with a daily deviation in the -10 to +30 second range as described by Citizen. To my surprise and delight written theory differs from real life. The PICUS performed better than Citizen tells on their web site.


Box / Packaging

Packaging and boxing is standard – an outer cardboard box with centered silver colored Elysee imprint, inner faux leather box with a small drawer for the manual and warranty card as well as for two straps. Another small compartment contained a little strap changing tool which comes in handy in case you had none yet. A crème colored inlay with a large pillow in a recessed compartment to hold the watch completes the box.


All that was shipped in more than sufficient bubble wrap again in an outer and inner card box.

Warranty

As usual within the European Union: 24 month

Summary and Conclusions

For 475 Euro you will get a versatile well built dress watch. Not sure what Jack Forster’s overall judgement would be but imho there is no doubt that the Elysee PICUS with its matte grey dial provides a classic and desirable look.

The PICUS suits all cuffs and can be worn with Polo shirts at any pool party and BBQ as well. Cuts a fine figure even in an exclusive surrounding.


I recommend the Elysee PICUS 77010G and its classmates as an everyday classic watch, Made in Germany, affordable, well built, uncluttered, and reliable. There’s not much to dislike (but the strap). Of course, you have to like the open balance.

Thanks for reading.