Emporio Armani 38mm Watch (AR11103)

White dial, steel case, brown leather — the most conventional set of ingredients there is, saved by one decision: every marker and hand on the dial is rose gold rather than silver. That single warm note against a flat white ground is what stops it looking like every other three-hand dress watch. Case and Wrist Presence 38mm is the classic dress diameter and it suits almost everyone. It is small enough to disappear under a shirt cuff and large enough not to look borrowed. The case is polished steel with a narrow bezel and short curved lugs, so the strap starts turning down close to the case and the watch hugs a wrist of any size. There is nothing on the case but the crown. Dial and Legibility Slim rose gold batons at each hour, longer at twelve and six, with a printed minute track and a fine railway-style inner ring. The eagle sits at twelve above the wordmark, both printed rather than applied, which keeps the upper half of the dial calm. The date is at three in a plain unframed aperture. Rose gold on white gives you enough contrast in normal light, though it is less emphatic than black hands would be in a dim room. Movement and Functions Quartz, running hours, minutes, a central sweep seconds and the date. There is nothing to wind and no reserve to worry about; a battery gets you through years of daily wear. Strap Clasp and Fit Dark brown leather with a plain smooth grain and stitching so fine you have to look for it. A pin buckle fastens it. New leather is stiff and will feel too flat across the wrist for the first week; it breaks in and takes the curve. Expect the section that sits under the wrist to darken with wear — that is leather doing what leather does. Who This Watch Suits Anyone who wants one plain watch for interviews, church, weddings and the office. The 38mm case makes it genuinely unisex, and the neutral white dial takes both silver and gold jewellery without arguing. Care and Maintenance Keep the leather out of water. If it does get soaked, dry it at room temperature and away from any heat source. Wipe the polished case with a soft cloth; polished steel shows fine scratches more readily than brushed steel does, which is worth knowing rather than worrying about. A watchmaker should handle battery changes so the case gasket goes back correctly. About the Brand Emporio Armani is the accessible arm of the Armani group, and its watches carry the same restraint as its ready-to-wear: simple shapes, one accent, nothing added for the sake of it. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Emporio Armani Reference AR11103 Case diameter 38mm Case shape Round Case material Stainless steel Dial White Markers Rose gold-tone batons Movement Quartz Functions Date Strap Dark brown leather Warranty 24 months Buying With Confidence Movement cover runs for 24 months under the international manufacturer warranty, with the battery and ordinary wear excluded. Every watch leaves us new and unworn, boxed with the manufacturer’s paperwork, and goes out by tracked courier anywhere in the country. An unworn watch in its original packaging can be returned under the Consumer Protection Act.