Nixon Sentry Solar A1346-131 Unisex 40mm Gunmetal Solar Day-Date Watch – Charcoal Dial, Stainless Steel Bracelet

Nixon Sentry Solar Stainless Steel A1346-131: Gunmetal Steel, Solar Powered

The Nixon Sentry Solar A1346-131 is a 40 mm three-hand watch finished entirely in gunmetal: a solid stainless steel case, a charcoal-toned dial and a tapered stainless steel bracelet in the same dark grey. It runs on a solar-powered Japanese quartz movement, so ordinary light keeps it going and there is no battery to replace on a regular schedule. It shows the hour, minute and second, plus the day and date, and it is rated to 100 metres. At 40 mm it sits in the unisex band, working for any wrist that likes a compact, understated, tool-style watch.

Design and Wrist Presence

The Sentry is one of Nixon’s long-running lines, and this stainless steel version keeps the look simple. The case is a solid steel build, 40 mm across and 11.5 mm thick, with a screw-down case back and a crown that uses a triple gasket with an enamel fill. The measurements keep it comfortably below the size of many sports watches, while the solid steel gives it a reassuring weight on the wrist. Because the case, bezel, bracelet and dial are all in dark tones, the watch reads as a single block of colour rather than a contrast piece, and it is easy to pair with black, navy, grey or olive clothing.

• 40 mm solid stainless steel case – compact, balanced and easy to wear daily
• 11.5 mm thickness – slim enough for a cuff, solid enough for daily knocks
• Gunmetal colour throughout – case and bracelet match for a uniform look
• Screw-down case back – a firm seal for the water resistance rating

The Dial

The dial is described by the maker as semi-transparent, with a charcoal tone in the listings we checked. It carries applied stainless steel stick indices, a printed seconds track around the outer edge, the Nixon wordmark, and a framed date window. The hands are skeleton-style steel hands with lume at the tips, and the indices are lumed as well, so the time can still be read in dim light after the watch has been exposed to a light source. The semi-transparent finish gives the dial a little depth, and the framed day and date display is neatly integrated rather than stuck on as an afterthought.

Solar Movement and Functions

Inside is a solar-powered Japanese quartz movement, identified by the maker as an Epson VS43A. A small solar cell sits under the dial and converts light into stored energy. Nixon states that about one hour under office lighting powers the watch for a full day, and that six hours in direct sunlight stores up to six months of charge. In practice this means the watch can be left in a drawer for a season and still be running when picked up, as long as it has had a good dose of daylight beforehand. The watch displays day and date in addition to the three hands.

• Solar charging – powered by natural or indoor light
• Long stored charge – up to six months from a full charge in direct sunlight
• Day and date – both shown on the dial
• Lume – on the hand tips and indices for low-light reading

Crystal

The crystal is hardened mineral glass, a sound choice for a watch at this level. It resists the scuffs of normal use, but it does not match the scratch resistance of sapphire, so treat it with some care around door frames, car doors and gym equipment.

Bracelet and Fit

The bracelet is a tapered solid stainless steel design with three links, 20 mm at the lugs narrowing to 18 mm at the buckle. It is gunmetal in colour to match the case. It attaches with a spring pin on a quick-release, free-swing connection, which makes it simple to swap the bracelet if you want to try a different strap in the 20 mm size. The clasp is a double-locking type with a micro adjuster, so the fit can be tuned in small steps. This helps a lot in summer, when wrists swell with the heat, and it avoids having to remove links just to gain a few millimetres.

Water Resistance

The Sentry Solar is rated to 100 metres, or 10 ATM. It can be worn in the shower, in the pool and in the sea for swimming and snorkelling. It is not a scuba diving instrument. Keep the crown fully pushed in before water contact, and do not press or pull it while the watch is wet. Rinse with fresh water after the sea, and dry the bracelet so salt does not build up in the links.

Nixon and the Sentry

Nixon was founded in 1998 in California and became known for hard-wearing watches for people who surf, skate, ride and travel. The Sentry range has been a mainstay of that catalogue, and the solar versions add a power source that suits the brand’s outdoor roots. The stainless steel gunmetal edition is the plainest expression of the idea: a durable, no-nonsense watch with a sensible set of features.

Who This Watch Suits

• Wearers who want a low-maintenance watch with no regular battery changes
• People who prefer a 40 mm case with a bracelet in a dark, muted finish
• Anyone who needs day and date on the dial and a 100 metre water rating
• Buyers after a rugged everyday watch that still looks tidy in an office

Care and Maintenance

Wipe the watch with a soft cloth and mild soapy water when it gets dirty, then rinse and dry. Let it see some daylight regularly, for example by keeping it on a windowsill when you are not wearing it, so the cell stays topped up. Avoid leaving it in a dark drawer for many months without charging. Have the seals checked by a watchmaker if you swim often, and keep the watch away from strong magnets and from extreme heat such as a car dashboard in summer.

Technical Specifications