Guy Ellia is one of those interesting watch makers who just recently figured out how to market their watches - by telling people about them. No doubt the hiring of some zealous PR firm can take credit for this achievement. After Guy Ella created this new Jumbo Heure Universelle watch (Jumbo Universal Hour - which purportedly refers to the fact that it is a world time watch), I was impressed enough with the line to share them with you. The collection comes in a variety of case colors and materials. Here in 18k gold, and it looks to be in a satin or sandblasted finish. The watch case is big but cool at 50mm wide. The dial itself is about half that size while the rest of the case's size is composed of mostly the city name ring. Other styles include white gold, black, and possibly a few more.

The watch feels like something between a Girard Perregaux world timer style watch (such at the Financial t.c.) and a Zenith world timer watch. Still, the Guy Ellia Jumbo Heure Universelle has a enough of its own style - a lot of that being in the case and dial design, along with the skeletonized rendition of the dial. One thing I really appreciate about the watch is just how straightforward it is. It takes you less than 10 seconds to figure out everything the watch does - and this is a good thing. The modified base automatic ETA calibre PGE 1150 movement offers a the ability to switch between timezones using the pusher at 2 o'clock (that adjusts the 24 hour hand), the time, and the case. There is also a day/night indicator. The date is offered as a "big date" where the date is shown where the two dial gears with numerals on them come together. Not the most original approach technically speaking, but done in a fun and novel way here.

The dauphine hands are interesting in the non-polished finish and the GMT hand is quite easy to read. While the array of cities on the multicolor blue turning ring is a bit cluttered, it goes with the theme of the watch and is appreciated from a design perspective. Almost artistic looking as well as being functional. The front and rear of the watch have AR coated sapphire crystals. The watch is truly well-done, but took some time to grow of me. If you are looking for a solid world timer watch this Guy Ellia timepiece should be something for your list.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review sire aBlogtoRead.com.