Emporio Armani 31.5mm Rectangular Watch (AR1605)

A rectangle, which is a rarer thing than it should be. The steel case is upright and narrow with softly rounded corners, and the champagne dial inside it carries brown Roman numerals and a small seconds register low down. It is a 1930s shape built with modern tolerances. Case and Wrist Presence The case measures 31.5mm across the width, and because a rectangle uses its length rather than its diameter, it covers more of the wrist than that number suggests while staying narrow from side to side. That is the useful property of the shape: it looks generous without overhanging a slim wrist. The steel is polished on every surface and the sides curve gently inward, so it slips under a cuff easily. Dial and Legibility The centre panel is finished with a fine woven guilloche pattern, framed by a plain champagne border. Brown Roman numerals sit on that border at the top and bottom halves, with EMPORIO ARMANI printed across the middle and the eagle above it. A small seconds dial at the foot carries a 30 marking. The hands are dark and leaf-shaped. Brown on champagne is a quiet, low-contrast dial, which is part of the period character; in strong light the guilloche does most of the work of separating the numerals from the ground. Movement and Functions Quartz, with the seconds displaced to their own small register rather than running from the centre. That arrangement leaves the main dial clean and keeps the movement of the watch confined to one small circle. There is no date, so nothing to correct. Nothing on the dial states a water rating, so keep this one to rain and hand washing. Strap, Clasp and Fit Dark brown leather with a crocodile-pattern emboss and a pin buckle. A rectangular case needs a strap that carries its lines straight down the wrist, and this one does; the lugs are integrated into the case sides so there is no gap where the strap meets the metal. Expect the leather to darken and soften with wear, which suits the dress character of the watch rather than working against it. Who This Watch Suits Someone who already owns round watches and wants something with a different outline. It works under a shirt cuff with a suit, and it is the sort of watch that gets noticed by the few people who notice watches. Care and Maintenance Leather and water do not mix; take it off before washing up or swimming, and let a wet strap dry away from a radiator so it does not go hard. Polished steel marks easily on a rectangular case because the flat surfaces show every scratch, so wipe it with a soft cloth rather than anything textured. About the Brand Emporio Armani’s rectangular watches are the most overtly classical thing in the range, borrowing a dress-watch shape that predates the brand by fifty years and executing it plainly. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Emporio Armani Reference AR1605 Case width 31.5mm Case shape Rectangular Case Polished stainless steel Dial Champagne with guilloche centre Markers Roman numerals Movement Quartz Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds Strap Brown croc-embossed leather with pin buckle Warranty 24 months Buying With Confidence The watch carries a 24-month international manufacturer warranty on the movement; the battery and normal wear fall outside it. It ships new and unworn in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, travels on a tracked nationwide courier, and the Consumer Protection Act gives you the right to return an unworn watch in its original packaging.