The Ercigoj Cornely watch debuts a truly unique embroidered dial, merging a century of textile art with precise Swiss mechanics. Explore how each limited-edition piece becomes a personal commission.
The new Ercigoj Cornely is a watch built around a genuinely unique idea: its dial isn't made, it's embroidered. This limited edition of fifty pieces comes from a Slovenian embroidery studio founded in nineteen twenty-three, and it puts that century-long heritage front and center.
Each dial is a made-to-order commission, featuring a double spiral chain stitch with colors chosen by the buyer. It's a level of customization that'll make any dialhead look twice, moving beyond simple colorway options into a truly commissioned piece of textile art. The watch takes its name from the historic Cornely embroidery machine, a tool central to this style of stitch work. The hour and minute hands are even shaped to mimic the hook needle of that machine, which pulls the thread up through the cloth to form the chain stitch. This detail connects the watch's two mechanical systems: the Swiss movement telling time, and the historical machine that enables the dial's artistry.
The Cornely packages this unique display in a forty-millimeter stainless steel case that's twelve point five millimeters thick, with a forty-seven-millimeter lug-to-lug distance. This is a versatile size known to fit a wide range of wrist sizes comfortably. It's powered by a top-grade Swiss Sellita SW two hundred one B automatic movement, visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback. This workhorse caliber operates at twenty-eight thousand eight hundred vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of approximately forty-one hours. The watch has three atmospheres, or thirty meters of water resistance, making it suitable for everyday exposure like rain, but not for swimming.
The Ercigoj Cornely is priced at about two thousand seven hundred dollars, and it merges traditional horology with a craft rarely seen inside a watch case. It's a piece that focuses on texture, personalization, and material artistry.
For the full breakdown, head over to the Veloce Journal.
Ercigoj Cornely: Embroidered Dials Meet Swiss Horology — watch the reel or listen to the full narration.
The new Ercigoj Cornely is built around a single, compelling idea: its dial is not made, but embroidered. Limited to 50 pieces, this watch comes from a Slovenian embroidery studio founded in 1923, and it puts that century-long heritage front and center. Each dial is a made-to-order commission featuring a double spiral chain stitch, with colors chosen by the buyer.
40mmCase
About $2,700Price
41hPower Reserve
30mWater Res.
The Cornely packages this unique display in a 40mm stainless steel case powered by a top-grade Swiss Sellita SW 200-1b automatic movement. It merges traditional horology with a craft rarely seen inside a watch case. The result is a piece that focuses on texture, personalization, and material artistry.
CORNELY in motion: the embroidered dial, the signed crown, and the decorated Sellita movement.
A Dial Unlike Any Other
The entire story of the Cornely starts and ends with its dial. Ercigoj isn't a watch brand that decided to use fabric; it's an embroidery house that decided to make a watch. This distinction is key.
Each dial is made for its specific owner. After placing an order, the buyer works with the studio to select the colors for the base thread and the embroidered hour markers. The technique used is a double spiral chain stitch, also known as Chenille stitch, which creates a textured, three-dimensional surface.
This process means that no two of the 50 watches will be identical. Beyond the edition number, each piece carries its owner's personal color choices. It’s a level of customization that makes fellow dialheads take a second look, moving beyond simple colorway options into a commissioned piece of textile work.
Design Born from the Machine
The watch takes its name from the historic Cornely embroidery machine, a tool central to this style of stitch work. This inspiration is not just nominal; it's directly integrated into the watch’s design. The hour and minute hands are shaped to mimic the hook needle of the machine, which pulls the thread up through the cloth to form the chain stitch.
The hands serve a dual purpose: they tell the time while also referencing the very tool used to create the dial's unique texture.
This detail connects the watch's two mechanical systems—the Swiss movement telling time and the historical machine that enables the dial's artistry. The rest of the case is clean and functional, with the Ercigoj signature engraved into the crown, keeping the visual focus squarely on the dial.
Case, Proportions, and Wearability
Ercigoj uses a versatile case for the Cornely. It measures 40mm in diameter with a 47mm lug-to-lug distance, a combination known to fit a wide range of wrist sizes comfortably. At 12.5mm thick, it has presence without feeling cumbersome.
The case is made from 316L stainless steel, with a mix of polished and sandblasted finishes that frame the textured dial. The watch weighs 74 grams with its strap, a manageable weight for daily wear. It comes fitted on a dark brown suede strap that complements the tactile nature of the dial.
A Swiss Engine Under the Hood
Visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback is the movement: a Swiss-made Sellita SW 200-1b. Ercigoj opted for the top-grade version, which includes decorations like blued screws and a Glucydur balance wheel for improved stability. This workhorse caliber is a logical choice, known for its reliability and serviceability.
The movement operates at a standard 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a power reserve of approximately 41 hours. Adding to the sense of ownership, the rotor is custom-engraved with the watch's individual number in the 50-piece edition. While the base SW 200-1 typically has 26 jewels, Ercigoj has not published this specific detail for their version.
Practicality and Protection
The watch is fitted with a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, ensuring a clear view of the intricate dial work. Sapphire provides high scratch resistance, which is essential for preserving the watch's primary feature.
Water resistance is rated at 3 ATM, or 30 meters. This level of resistance is sufficient for everyday exposure like rain or handwashing but is not suitable for swimming or showering. The Cornely is best understood as a piece of wearable art, designed more for its aesthetic and craft than for rugged, all-conditions utility.
The Takeaway
The Ercigoj Cornely is for the collector who prioritizes unique materials and personal commissioning over raw specifications. By pairing a reliable Swiss automatic movement with a genuinely bespoke embroidered dial, it offers a watch that is less about telling time and more about telling a story of craft and individuality.
Ercigoj Cornely Specifications
Case
40mm x 12.5mm, 47mm lug-to-lug, 316L stainless steel
Movement
Sellita SW 200-1b, automatic, top grade, approx. 41h power reserve
The Ercigoj Cornely is a limited-edition watch (50 pieces) from the Slovenian embroidery studio Ercigoj. It features a Swiss Sellita automatic movement inside a 40mm steel case, but its main feature is a custom-embroidered dial where the buyer chooses the colors.
How is the dial of the Ercigoj Cornely customized?
Each dial is made to order. After purchasing, the customer coordinates with the Ercigoj studio to select the specific colors for the main dial (ground) and the hour markers. This ensures every watch in the 50-piece series is visually unique.
What movement does the Ercigoj Cornely use?
It uses a top-grade, decorated version of the Swiss Sellita SW 200-1b automatic movement. This caliber is known for its reliability and features a custom rotor engraved with the watch's edition number.
How much does the Ercigoj Cornely cost?
The official price is €2,500 including 22% VAT, which is approximately $2,700 USD. Shipping is scheduled to begin in November 2026.
Is the Ercigoj Cornely water-resistant?
The watch has a water resistance rating of 3 ATM, equivalent to 30 meters. This makes it safe for minor splashes and rain, but it should not be worn for swimming or submerged in water.
GALLERY
WRITTEN BY
Nick
I originally started VELOCE to put my skills to work, hone my app design and web development practices, and dive deeper into the world of horology. I wanted to learn more about the watches, the brands, and the incredible people behind them - the creators, the designers, and the collectors. I love discovering new timepieces and sharing their stories with the world. VELOCE is my ultimate passion project and hobby, the creative space I head to after my full-time job to build something I truly care about.
By Nick·October 15, 2026· 6 min read
