ELYSEE is a German watch manufacturer based in Düsseldorf. The brand was originally founded by Swiss watchmaker Jacques Beaufort in 1920 near Le Bémont. The first watches to bear the name ELYSEE were created in the following year.
Watches ceased to be made after Beaufort’s death in 1938. The current iteration of the brand was registered in 1960 by the Harer company in Pforzheim, Germany. In 1992, German businessman Reiner Seume acquired the brand and established its current location in Düsseldorf.
Jochen Mass
German Formula 1 driver Jochen Mass was announced as a brand ambassador for ELYSEE in 2008. A number of driver edition watches were released around 2013, including the Jochen Mass Magny Court Special Edition (ref. 70950, on a strap) as well as a Paddock Quartz Chronograph model (refs. 18007, 18008). Jochen Mass limited editions notably had the edition numbers directly on the dial.
Wolfgang von Trips
According to the ELYSEE website, the late Formula 1 driver Wolfgang von Trips has also appeared as an ambassador of the brand.
As early as 2013, ELYSEE released a number of Graf Berghe von Trips Edition pieces in honor of the German Grand Prix driver. They appeared in both Pilot watches as well as chronographs. Three Rally Timer I models (refs. 80516, 80516M, and 80517) appeared in their 2015 catalog. Documentation is fragmented, but other known references include 80508, 80509, 80463, 80463S, 80464, 28413. 28414, 76012, 76004, and likely others.
Drivers & Wolfgang von Trips with Jo Bonnier (left) at the 1957 Argentine Grand Prix. (Photo: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Related Pages
References
https://elysee-watches.com/en/pages/uber-elysee
https://www.watchreport.com/brands/elysee/
https://www.watchtime.net/brands/elysee/elysee-zeit-maas
https://www.ablogtowatch.com/elysee-jochen-mass-magny-court-special-edition-watch-review/
https://allwatches.org/de/elysee-jochen-mass-18007~76-p12825/
https://longislandwatch.com/elysee-18008-chronograph-18008/
https://www.watchreport.com/elysee-graf-berghe-von-trips-hemmersbach-watch-review/
https://fliphtml5.com/jzyj/aqzh/ELYSEE_Catalogus_2015/
https://allwatches.org/de/elysee-graf-berghe-von-trips-limited-edition-28413~28-p1325/