Emporio Armani Men’s 40mm Watch (AR1647)

A blue dial, a blue strap and a plain steel case. There is no date, no chronograph and no bezel markings; the only thing breaking up the dial is a small seconds register sitting below the centre. Watches this stripped back either look empty or look considered, and the difference comes down to proportion. This one gets it right. \n\n Case and Wrist Presence \n The case is 40mm, which is the size that suits the widest range of wrists. It works from about 16.5cm upwards and does not look undersized on a larger arm. The bezel is very thin, so the dial takes up almost the whole face, and the case sides are polished with no brushing anywhere. That polish is what turns a plain watch into a dress watch. \n\n Dial and Legibility \n Applied silver batons at every hour, with longer ones at the quarters, and slim silver hands over a matte navy dial. Contrast is high and there is nothing else on the dial to slow you down, so this is one of the quicker watches to read in this range. The small seconds sub-dial at six is marked 20, 40 and 60, and its constant movement is the easiest way to tell at a glance that the watch is running. \n\n Movement and Functions \n Quartz, hours, minutes and small seconds. No date, which is deliberate: a date window would have cut into the run of markers and spoiled the symmetry. Battery replacement every couple of years is the only routine job. \n\n Strap, Clasp and Fit \n Smooth navy leather, matched to the dial, with stitching close to the edge. Matching a strap to the dial rather than contrasting it makes the watch read as one object instead of two parts, and it works particularly well with blue. Leather this smooth marks more easily than a grained finish, so expect a few small scuffs to appear in the first month and then blend in. \n\n Who This Watch Suits \n Someone who wants a proper dress watch without going to a white dial, or a first grown-up watch that will not date. It slips under a shirt cuff without catching. \n\n Care and Maintenance \n No water rating is printed on this dial, so keep it dry: off before washing, off in the rain if you can help it. Leather is the part that fails first on a watch like this, usually where it folds at the buckle end, and a replacement strap is inexpensive when the time comes. Wipe the case with a dry cloth. \n\n About the Brand \n Emporio Armani’s simplest men’s watches are the ones that have stayed in the range longest. This is the house’s plain three-hand format with the seconds moved off the centre, and the eagle applied above twelve. \n\n Technical Specifications \n \n Brand Emporio Armani \n Model AR1647 \n Case diameter 40mm \n Case material Polished stainless steel \n Case shape Round \n Dial Navy blue with applied batons, small seconds \n Movement Quartz \n Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds \n Strap Navy leather \n Gender Men’s \n \n\n Buying With Confidence \n A 24-month international manufacturer warranty covers the movement, excluding battery and normal wear. The watch arrives new and unworn in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, delivered nationwide with tracking, and the Consumer Protection Act right of return applies to an unworn watch in its original packaging. The lugs are drilled for standard spring bars, so a strap change needs no special tools.