Guebly - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Guebly is a high-horology brand founded in in Geneva (Switzerland), born from the vision of Adnane Kerd, a collector-turned-entrepreneur and conceived as a universe of contemporary restraint where hand-finishing, titanium volumes and instrumental legibility take precedence over showmanship.

From desert wind to crisp, multifaceted lines

The name “Guebly” refers to a warm wind and to dunes shaped by nature: a founding story expressed by multi-facet cases, sharp edges and deliberately pared-back design; the watch aims for quiet elegance rather than spectacle, with polished, satin-brushed or micro-bead-blasted surfaces playing with light, so that the brand’s identity rests on mastered simplicity supported by top-tier execution.

Chapter 1 and CH1 Rétrograde: micro-rotor, retrograde seconds and ergonomics

The inaugural watch, commonly called Guebly Chapitre 1 (Prologue), sets the vocabulary: grade 5 titanium case around 42 mm, thickness near 10.5 mm, 100 m water-resistance, inward-curved caseback and crystal for comfort; the display pairs central hours/minutes with a 30-second retrograde seconds at 6 o’clock, driven by a micro-rotor calibre (≈ 70-hour power reserve, variable-inertia regulation, 35 jewels) with titanium mainplate and bridges, hand-decorated throughout, meaning the show happens as much on the dial as through the caseback.

The second-generation Guebly CH1 Rétrograde keeps the base architecture but reworks proportions and details in depth: 23 new facets (design by Éric Giroud), very short effective length (≈ 44 mm lug-to-lug) for wearability, quick-release strap system and a 925-silver dial with hand-guilloché spiral; the retrograde arc, now in gold with grand feu champlevé enamel, gains presence while the movement is re-engineered in its finishing (inward angles, double-spiral ratchet, mirror-polished screws) without denying its OM Mechanics base.

A ring of renowned artisans behind the finishing

The brand embraces an “extended workshop” model, bringing specialists to each component: cases and dials with Voutilainen & Cattin, grand feu enamel by Maëlle Constant (Vallée de Joux), regulating organs by Atokalpa, movement re-engineering by Horocraft (Sylvain Pinault) and Christophe Beuchat, hand decoration by Nathalie Jean-Louis, straps by Atelier Jean Rousseau; this transparent production stance targets enthusiasts who value a traceable chain of savoir-faire rather than a cosmetic “fully integrated manufacture” claim.

Model families and collecting cues

The line-up remains purposely tight and readable, built around one coherent technical and aesthetic grammar:

• Guebly Chapitre 1 — Sober sport-chic, 30-sec retrograde, micro-rotor, titanium case 42 mm, 100 m water-resistance; launched in a confidential, limited production (very small annual output and total piece count).
• Guebly CH1 Rétrograde — A thorough update of Chapter 1: shorter case on the wrist, hand-guilloché silver dial, gold enamelled retrograde plaque, reworked 21.31 movement; announced as a limited edition of a few dozen units.

In practice, choosing between the two hinges on dial treatment (guilloché, retrograde plaque), your sensitivity to the ergonomic update (effective length on the wrist) and how much weight you give to invisible finishing (inward angles, bespoke screws) — all reasons why CH1 Rétrograde aims at an even more detailed elegance without losing the original spirit.

Positioning, volumes and selective retail

Positioning sits squarely in independent haute horlogerie, with a public price around CHF 38,900 for Chapitre 1/CH1 (depending on editions), scarcity-consistent production (some series limited to a few dozen units) and short-circuit retail: Geneva address, Perpétuel Gallery (Dubai) and The Limited Edition (UK) listed as points of sale; within this framework, access typically involves a direct relationship and personalised follow-up.

Buying advice: real-world wear, legibility and care

Before deciding, try the watch on to validate the balance of diameter/thickness/length: 42 mm wear more compact thanks to titanium’s lightness and a curved back; a second filter is use case (daily vs. occasional wear), tolerance for the retrograde seconds (jump every 30 s) and night-time legibility (applied markers and lume on recent versions); lastly, ask about lead times, servicing titanium finishes and regulation operations, since a piece with this level of decoration warrants care matching its ambitions.

Conclusion

Built on restrained aesthetics and a ring of high-level artisans, Guebly offers a contemporary take on the micro-rotor sport-chic, recognisable by its retrograde seconds and faceted volumes. It speaks to enthusiasts who prefer tangible quality over ostentation and who want to understand what they wear down to invisible details. To choose between variants, weigh dial design, on-wrist ergonomics and actual availability. To back up your decision with lived experience, consult Dialicious customer reviews.

(Updated August 2025)