Emporio Armani 32mm Watch (AR11245)

Black metal, black dial, and a disc of black crystals set into the middle of it. The only warm thing on the watch is the rose gold-tone furniture — the numerals, the batons, the hands and the eagle — and against all that black it does not take much of it to register. Case and Wrist Presence 32mm, slim, and finished in black ion plating from the bezel through to the clasp. Black plating is harder than the steel beneath it, which helps on a watch this size where the bracelet edges take most of the contact. The bezel is a narrow polished ring and the crown at three is small and capped with a black stone. On the wrist this reads dark and compact rather than large and dressy. Dial and Legibility A circle of black pave crystals fills the centre of the dial and catches light in a hundred small points as the wrist moves. Around it the dial is plain gloss black. Rose gold Roman numerals sit at nine and six, with applied rose gold batons at the other hours, and the hands are the same tone. That warm metal is the entire reason the dial is readable: black hands on a black dial would have been unusable, and the rose gold gives a constant point of contrast whatever the crystals are doing. Movement and Functions Quartz, hours and minutes. No date, no seconds hand — the pave centre would have had to be interrupted for either. Bracelet and Fit A five-row bracelet with polished links, scaled narrow to match the case. It curves tightly, which is what a small case needs if it is not to slide round the wrist. Black plating shows wear at the clasp fold before anywhere else, because that is where the metal folds against itself every time the watch goes on. Keeping grit out of the clasp does more to preserve the finish than anything else. Sizing is by link removal. Who This Watch Suits Someone who wants sparkle without brightness. Black on black with rose gold is an evening combination, and the crystals do their work under artificial light rather than in daylight. Care and Maintenance Pave settings collect dust and skin oil between the stones, which dulls them quickly. A very soft dry brush across the crystal will not reach them — but the dial is sealed, so what you are actually cleaning is the outside of the glass. For the bracelet, a soft brush and soapy water, dried completely. Avoid abrasive cloths on black plating. About the Brand Emporio Armani reserves the Roman numeral treatment for its dressier women’s watches, and pairing it with a pave centre is a deliberately maximal choice on an otherwise very controlled monochrome design. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Emporio Armani Reference AR11245 Case diameter 32mm Case shape Round Case colour Black ion-plated Dial Black with pave crystal centre Markers Rose gold-tone Roman numerals and batons Functions Time only Bracelet Black ion-plated steel Movement Quartz Warranty 24 months Buying With Confidence Twenty-four months of international manufacturer warranty stand behind the movement; batteries and the marks of ordinary wear are not covered. The watch is new and unworn, comes in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, and ships tracked to any address in the country. Under the Consumer Protection Act you may return an unworn watch in its original packaging.