Emporio Armani Classic Men’s 42.5mm Chronograph Watch (AR0396)

Two-tone went away for a decade and came back properly. This one puts gold-tone on the bezel, the crown, the pushers and the centre links of the bracelet, and leaves everything else steel. The dial is silver with a fine vertical texture and three registers cut into it. Case and Wrist Presence At 42.5mm the case is large enough to carry three sub-dials without crowding them. The gold-tone bezel is a slim ring, so it frames the dial rather than dominating it – which is the difference between a two-tone watch that works and one that looks like a bad eighties revival. The case sides are brushed steel with a polished edge, so the two finishes catch light differently as the wrist turns. Dial and Legibility Silver, with a close vertical guilloche running through it that stops it looking flat. Gold-tone applied batons mark the hours and gold hands sweep over them. Three registers sit at nine, three and six: two carry 30 and 60 scales for elapsed timing, the third runs a 24-hour count numbered 24, 18, 12 and 6. The date sits at four on a white disc. Gold markers on a silver dial are a soft contrast, so this is a daylight watch rather than a dark-room one. Movement and Functions Quartz. The two pushers flanking the crown drive the chronograph – upper to start and stop, lower to reset both hands to twelve. Between them the registers accumulate the elapsed run. The 24-hour scale tells you which half of the day you are in at a glance, which matters if you deal with 24-hour timetables. The date steps at midnight and needs correcting after a short month. Bracelet and Fit A five-row bracelet with gold-tone centre links running between polished steel outer rows. Narrow links this many across follow the wrist closely and drape rather than hinge, which is why a two-tone bracelet usually feels more comfortable than a three-link one. Fit is set by removing links; get it done properly once so the watch sits above the wrist bone rather than sliding onto it. Who This Watch Suits Someone who wears both gold and steel jewellery and is tired of choosing. A two-tone bracelet resolves that argument, and the vertical-brushed dial keeps this one looking modern rather than nostalgic. Care and Maintenance The gold-tone sections are plated and will wear at the clasp and along the bracelet edges first. Clean with a dry cloth and a soft brush, never with polish. Reset the chronograph after every use to preserve the battery, and have the caseback gasket reseated at each battery change. About the Brand Emporio Armani applies its fashion-house eye to watches: proportion first, decoration last, and the eagle at twelve doing the work a logo should. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Emporio Armani Reference AR0396 Case diameter 42.5mm Case shape Round Case finish Two-tone gold and steel Dial Silver, textured Markers Applied batons Functions Chronograph, 24-hour register, date Movement Quartz Bracelet Two-tone gold and steel Gender Men’s 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.