Emporio Armani Men’s 43mm Chronograph Watch (AR1609)

Brown on brown, which is unusual enough to be the point. The case is finished in a warm brown metal tone, the dial is a deeper chocolate, and the strap is dark brown croc-embossed leather. White Roman numerals are the only cool element on the watch, and they do all the reading. Case and Wrist Presence Forty-three millimetres across, with the wide flared lugs that mark this case shape: they sweep out from the mid-case and then drop steeply, which anchors the strap close to the wrist and stops a big watch from rocking. The chronograph pushers sit above and below the fluted crown. A monochrome brown watch reads slightly smaller than a bright steel one at the same size, so this wears a touch more discreetly than 43mm normally does. Dial and Legibility Painted white Roman numerals ring the outer dial, with an inner track and three recessed registers: elapsed minutes on the left to 30, a 24-hour scale on the right, running seconds at the bottom. The centre section is very slightly raised and matte, which separates the numerals from the counters. A framed date window opens between four and five. Faceted white hands sit above everything. White on brown is a softer contrast than white on black, so this dial is comfortable to look at rather than stark. Movement and Functions Quartz. The chronograph starts and stops from the upper pusher and resets from the lower; the counters return to zero in one movement. The 24-hour register is a day-or-night reference, not a second time zone. The date steps at midnight and needs a nudge after any month shorter than 31 days. No depth rating is printed on the dial, so treat it as rain-safe only. Strap, Clasp and Fit Dark brown leather with a crocodile emboss, fitted with a pin buckle in the same brown tone as the case. Leather this thick takes a fortnight or so to break in and then holds the curve of your wrist. Embossed grain hides small scuffs better than smooth leather does, which suits a strap that will sit against a desk edge every day. Who This Watch Suits Someone who wears brown shoes and a brown belt and wants the watch to join in rather than argue. It is a good winter watch and a good alternative to the standard steel-and-black chronograph. Care and Maintenance The brown case finish is a coating, so avoid polishing compounds and abrasive cloths; a soft dry cloth keeps it clean without cutting into the tone. Keep the leather dry, and replace the strap rather than nursing a cracked one, since a matching brown strap is easy to find. About the Brand Emporio Armani was one of the first brands to run a fully brown-cased chronograph at this level, and it remains one of the few colours in the range that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere. Technical Specifications Attribute Specification Brand Emporio Armani Reference AR1609 Case diameter 43mm Case shape Round Case Brown-toned Dial Brown Markers White Roman numerals Movement Quartz Functions Chronograph, date Strap Dark brown croc-embossed 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.