Emporio Armani Men’s 43mm Chronograph Watch (AR2494)

Blue dial, steel case, dark brown strap: a combination that sits somewhere between a dress watch and a daily one. The dial on the AR2494 is worked with a fine diagonal texture that runs top-left to bottom-right, so the blue never looks completely flat, and the three chronograph registers are printed rather than sunk, which keeps the surface calm. \n Case and Wrist Presence \n The stainless steel case is 43mm wide, round and polished, with lugs that curve sharply down towards the strap. That curve is what stops a wide watch from looking like a plate on the wrist. Two pushers sit at three o’clock either side of a fluted crown. At this size and with a leather strap, the watch feels lighter than the steel-bracelet versions of the same design. \n Dial and Legibility \n A 30-minute counter at nine, a 24-hour indication at three and running seconds at six. The date appears between four and five. A minute track is printed around the rim with numerals every five. The markers are applied polished batons and the hands match them, so despite the amount going on, the hour and minute hands stay the brightest things on the dial and the time reads at a glance. \n Movement and Functions \n A quartz chronograph. Start and stop with the upper pusher, reset with the lower. Because it is battery driven there is no winding and no accuracy penalty for leaving the stopwatch running, though the battery lasts longer if you zero it. \n Strap, Clasp and Fit \n Dark brown calf with a pressed crocodile grain and tonal stitching, tapering slightly towards the buckle. New leather is stiff; it takes a fortnight of wear before it curves rather than folds. When the strap does start to give, it gives at the holes, so move to the next hole rather than forcing the pin through a stretched one. \n Who This Watch Suits \n A good match for someone whose wardrobe runs to navy and brown. It is smart enough for a meeting, and the chronograph gives it a reason to exist beyond decoration if you time anything at all. \n Care and Maintenance \n No water on the leather. Wipe the case with a dry cloth and use a jeweller’s cloth on the polished bezel when it dulls. When the seconds start moving in jumps of two, book a battery change and ask for the gasket to be checked while the back is off. \n Technical Specifications \n Reference AR2494 Brand Emporio Armani Case diameter 43mm Case material Stainless steel Case shape Round Dial colour Blue, textured Markers Applied sticks Movement Quartz Functions Chronograph, date Strap Dark brown croc-embossed leather Gender Men’s EAN 4053858628298 \n Buying With Confidence \n A 24-month international manufacturer warranty covers the movement, excluding the battery and normal wear. Ships new and unworn in its original box with the manufacturer’s paperwork, with tracked nationwide delivery, and the Consumer Protection Act gives you the right to return an unworn watch in its original packaging. Hold it at an angle and the diagonal dial texture appears; hold it flat and the dial is plain blue.