Starting in Antwerp in 1973, Guy Ellia learned the importance of quality workmanship. While there, his cousin introduced him to the famous diamond cutter, Gabriel Tolkowsky, who gave him his very first diamond scale. This instrument would bring him good luck, and undoubtedly would help enhance his innate sense of balance and good taste.

Guy Ellia travelled to the four corners of the globe, from Thailand to Colombia, in search of the world’s rarest gemstones. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds passed between his expert hands, as did the most beautiful fancy diamonds. He selected only the best quality stones that he would later use in his own creations.

One day, however, he decided to give up travelling the planet in search of exceptional stones. In 1994, on the advice of his mother and friends in the jewellery manufacturing business, he acquired the company, Etablissements Jean Guerin, and set up shop on the Rue La Fayette, in the diamond quarter.

With his background in stone cutting and the stone trade, he quickly became interested in prestige jewellery design, and so a new career was launched with his first order coming from the Place Vendôme. Confronted with the crisis in the Gulf, Guy Ellia responded with opulence and luxury. “I did not mind going against the tide. During this period, we were one of the rare jewellery houses to preserve our stock and propose exceptional pieces.”

This boldness is what led him to create his own brand in 1999. While Guy Ellia proclaims himself to be a prestige jeweller and designer, he wants, above all, to distinguish his brand from the others. “We want to adorn women. We want to dare as much as we can, playing with fashion without giving in to it. We want to be harmoniously associated with the opposite.” In his collections, he was the first to unite alternate materials with precious stones as is seen, for example, in his “Nylon” line which combines transparent cord with diamonds that seemingly float in the air like fireflies on a summer evening. The “Elysa” model allies leather with a scintillating brooch of interchangeable diamonds to give a young and timeless look.

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