Nixon Spectra Automatic A1323-010 Unisex 40mm Skeleton Watch – Black / Gold Exhibition Dial, Stainless Steel Bracelet

Nixon Spectra Automatic A1323-010: A Skeleton-Dial Automatic in Black and Gold

The Nixon Spectra Automatic A1323-010 is a 40 mm self-winding watch in the brand’s Black / Gold colourway. It is built around an exhibition dial, which means the face is open and the movement can be seen working behind the hands and indices. A Japanese Miyota 82S0 automatic calibre drives it, the case is solid stainless steel, and the bracelet is a custom five-link stainless steel design. At 40 mm it falls between the usual men’s and women’s sizes, so it is sold here as a unisex watch that suits any wrist that likes a clear, mechanical look.

Design and Wrist Presence

Nixon is a California surf and street brand, and the Spectra reflects that: it takes a traditional mechanical idea and presents it in a clean, modern form. The round case is 40 mm across and 13 mm thick, which is a little taller than a dress watch but suits a movement that is visible through the dial and the case back. The crown has a fine coin-edge texture that gives the fingers good grip when winding or setting, and the crystal is slightly domed, so reflections roll across the face instead of flashing in one flat block. The Black / Gold name describes the colour pairing used on this version.

• 40 mm solid stainless steel case – a balanced, versatile diameter
• 13 mm thickness – room for an automatic movement with a visible rotor
• Coin-edge crown – textured for a confident grip
• Slightly domed crystal – hardened mineral glass with a gentle curve

The Exhibition Dial

This is the feature that sets the Spectra apart from an ordinary three-hand watch. The dial is an exhibition dial, so instead of a solid printed face you look straight through to the mechanism below. Applied, dimensional stick indices mark the hours, standing slightly proud of the surface so they catch the light. The Nixon wordmark is placed on the underside of the crystal, which makes it appear to float above the movement. Because there is no solid background, the visual interest comes from the gears, the rotor and the layers of metal moving beneath the hands. The case back also has a window, so the movement can be seen from the wrist side as well.

Movement and Functions

The Miyota 82S0 is a Japanese automatic movement with 21 jewels and three hands for hours, minutes and seconds. It winds itself using a multidirectional tungsten flywheel, which captures energy from the swing of your arm in either direction. When fully wound it holds a power reserve of over 40 hours, so the watch will normally keep running through a night or a weekend off the wrist. There is no date window or chronograph here, which keeps the display uncluttered and the focus on the mechanism itself.

• Automatic winding – no battery to replace, powered by wrist movement
• 21 jewels – Japanese calibre with a tungsten flywheel winding system
• 40+ hour power reserve – carries through a standard weekend rest
• Three-hand display – hours, minutes and seconds only

Case Back and Crystal

The case back is screw-down and has a window that shows the movement. Screw-down construction holds the case firmly sealed, which supports the water resistance rating. The crystal is hardened mineral glass. It resists everyday scuffs reasonably well, but it is not sapphire, so avoid rubbing the face against rough surfaces such as concrete walls or door frames.

Bracelet and Fit

The bracelet is a custom solid stainless steel design with five links across its width. It is 20 mm at the lugs and tapers to 18 mm at the clasp, a shape that feels lighter at the buckle and sits neatly against the underside of the wrist. It attaches with spring bars and is a free-swing type, so it moves with the wrist. The clasp is a stainless steel double-locking clasp with a micro adjuster, which lets you lengthen or shorten the fit by a small amount without tools. That is useful in warm weather when wrists swell slightly, and it removes much of the need for visits to a jeweller to take out links.

Water Resistance

The watch is rated to 100 metres, or 10 ATM. In plain terms that means it handles rain, washing, showers and swimming, and it is suitable for snorkelling. It is not a diving instrument. Make sure the screw-down case back and the crown are properly closed before the watch gets wet, and avoid pressing the crown while submerged. Because this is an exhibition watch with glazed openings on both sides, an annual check of the seals by a watchmaker is a sensible habit if you swim often.

Nixon and the Spectra

Nixon was founded in 1998 in Encinitas, California, and built its reputation on watches for surfers, skaters and snowboarders. The Spectra sits in the brand’s more mechanical line and shows that the same casual attitude can be applied to an automatic movement. The result is a watch with real engineering visible in the dial, but with the relaxed styling you would expect from the brand.

Who This Watch Suits

• Anyone curious about mechanical watches who wants to see the movement at work
• Buyers after a 40 mm watch that works equally well on smaller and larger wrists
• People who want a steel bracelet watch with a swim-ready rating
• Wearers who prefer a clean three-hand layout without a date window

Care and Maintenance

Wipe the case and bracelet with a soft cloth after exposure to sweat or salt water, and rinse the watch under fresh water if it has been in the sea, with the crown fully closed. Wear it regularly so the movement stays wound, or set the time again if it has stopped. As with all automatic watches, a service every few years by a qualified watchmaker keeps the movement running accurately. Keep it away from strong magnets, which can disturb the balance and cause the watch to run fast.

Technical Specifications