Emporio Armani Men’s 43mm Chronograph Watch (AR11458)

Blue dial, steel case, rose gold-tone markers. Three colours doing three jobs, and the reason this watch works is that none of them shouts. The dial has a sunray brush that fans out from the centre, so the blue lightens near the middle and deepens towards the outer track as your wrist turns. \n\n Case and Wrist Presence \n At 43mm this is a large watch, but the bezel is narrow and the dial takes up most of the face, which makes it look bigger still. It suits a wrist of 18cm or more. The case is stainless steel with brushed flanks and polished edges, and the chronograph pushers sit tight against the crown rather than standing proud, which keeps the profile clean under a shirt cuff. \n\n Dial and Legibility \n Slim rose gold-tone baton markers ring the dial, matched by the hour and minute hands. That warm tone against blue is easier on the eye than steel-on-blue, which tends to disappear at certain angles. Two sunken sub-dials sit stacked on the vertical axis rather than the usual three-across layout, which leaves the lower half of the dial open. The date window is at three o’clock with a white wheel and black numerals. \n\n Movement and Functions \n Quartz, so it keeps time without attention and needs nothing more than a battery change every two years or so. The chronograph runs off the two pushers: press the upper one to start and stop the elapsed timing, the lower one to send the hands back to zero. Leave the chronograph running all day and it will pull harder on the battery, so reset it when you are done. \n\n Strap, Clasp and Fit \n The bracelet is stainless steel with a fitted end link, so it flows straight out of the case with no gap. Sizing is done by removing links. Get it fitted so the watch head stays on top of the wrist rather than rolling to the side, which on a 43mm watch makes a real difference to how it looks. \n\n Who This Watch Suits \n A first proper chronograph, or a second one for somebody who already owns a black-dial version. It reads formally enough for a suit and casually enough for jeans, which is mostly down to the steel bracelet. \n\n Care and Maintenance \n There is no water rating printed on this dial, so keep it away from showers, pools and the sea. Steel bracelets pick up skin oils and soap residue between the links; a soft toothbrush with plain water and a thorough dry sorts that out. Rose gold-tone markers are under the crystal and need nothing. \n\n About the Brand \n Emporio Armani watches come out of the Italian house’s younger line. The design brief is consistency rather than novelty, which is why the range is full of variations on a few good cases with the eagle logo on the dial. \n\n Technical Specifications \n \n Brand Emporio Armani \n Model AR11458 \n Case diameter 43mm \n Case material Stainless steel \n Case shape Round \n Dial Blue sunray, rose gold-tone baton markers \n Movement Quartz \n Functions Chronograph, date \n Bracelet Stainless steel \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 ships new and unworn in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, sent anywhere in South Africa with tracking, and the Consumer Protection Act right of return applies while the watch is unworn and in its original packaging. The eagle logo is applied above the twelve, not printed.