Nixon Smyth 44 A1414-5306: Steel Dive-Style Watch With a Black Ombre Dial
The Nixon Smyth 44 A1414-5306 is a 44 mm men’s quartz watch built around a solid stainless steel case, a sapphire crystal and a three-link steel bracelet. Nixon lists this reference under the colourway name Silver / Tunnel Black Ombre, which describes the combination well: bright silver-toned steel on the outside and a dark, graduated black treatment on the dial. The Smyth 44 belongs to Nixon’s dive-inspired line, so the details are practical ones, including a countdown bezel, a screw-down crown with a guard and a 100 metre water rating, all on a bracelet that is easy to size and adjust.
Design and Wrist Presence
At 44 mm across and about 11 mm thick, the Smyth sits firmly in the large-watch category. It has the proportions of a sports watch rather than a dress watch, and it suits wrists that carry a bigger case comfortably. The thickness is moderate for a watch with a sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown, which keeps it from catching on a shirt cuff as badly as a chunky diver would. Because the whole case and bracelet are in one silver tone, the watch reads as a single clean piece of metal, with the dial providing the contrast.
- 44 mm case – a confident, easy-to-read size for everyday wear
- Silver-toned stainless steel – a uniform finish from bezel to clasp
- Sapphire crystal – a hard, scratch-resistant window over the dial
- Black ombre dial – a dark face that stands apart from the bright steel
Case, Bezel and Crown
The case is made from stainless steel, and Nixon describes the Smyth 44 range as having a unidirectional countdown bezel. A unidirectional bezel turns in one direction only, which is the safe way for a diving-style timing ring to behave: if it is knocked, it can only shorten the time you read, never lengthen it. The crown is a screw-down type protected by a crown guard. Screwing the crown in compresses a gasket against the case tube, which is what allows the watch to carry a 10 ATM rating. Remember to push the crown fully in and tighten it after setting the time or date.
Dial: Layered, Die-Cut and Numbered
Nixon describes the Smyth 44 dial as a two-layer, die-cut construction with a stamped, numbered design. In plain terms, the numerals and markers are cut or pressed into an upper layer so that the lower layer shows through them, giving the face real depth instead of a flat printed look. On this A1414-5306 the face is finished in black with the ombre effect named in the colourway, so the tone shifts across the dial rather than sitting as one flat block. A date window sits at three o’clock. The range also uses Swiss Super-LumiNova under the dial layer, so the face continues to be readable in dim light once the lume has been charged by a bright light source.
- Two-layer dial – cut-out numbers give a stepped, three-dimensional face
- Date window – a quick check at three o’clock without clutter
- Luminous underlayer – Super-LumiNova glow for low-light reading
Movement and Functions
Inside is a Japanese quartz movement with three hands, listed by Nixon for the Smyth 44 as a Miyota 2117. Quartz means a battery supplies the power and a crystal oscillator keeps the time, so accuracy is steady from one day to the next and there is no winding. The watch shows hours, minutes and seconds with the date, and nothing else. That simplicity is part of the appeal: there is no chronograph to start or reset, and no extra sub-dials to read. The sweeping seconds hand ticks once per second, as on any quartz watch of this kind, and a spare battery change every few years is the only routine upkeep the movement needs.
Bracelet and Clasp
The bracelet is a solid stainless steel three-link design, 23 mm wide at the lugs, in the same silver tone as the case. Nixon fits it with a quick-release spring bar system, so the bracelet can be removed without tools, and a free-swing connection that lets it move naturally with the wrist. The clasp is a dual locking deployment type with a micro adjuster, a small sliding mechanism that lets you change the fit by a few millimetres without removing links. That matters on a hot afternoon, when a wrist swells slightly, or after a swim, when it shrinks again.
Water Resistance in Everyday Terms
The A1414-5306 is rated to 10 ATM, equal to 100 metres. In practical use that covers showering, swimming in a pool or the sea, and snorkelling. It is not a professional diving instrument. Keep the crown screwed down whenever the watch is wet, avoid operating the crown underwater, and rinse the case and bracelet with fresh water after the sea. Hot water and steam, such as in a sauna, can stress gaskets and are best avoided.
Who This Watch Suits
- Men who want a larger steel sports watch with a sapphire crystal and a proper screw-down crown
- Anyone who prefers a simple three-hand watch with a date to a busy chronograph
- Swimmers and beach-goers who want a bracelet watch that can get wet
- Buyers who like a dark dial with real texture, rather than a flat black face
It also works as a first steel bracelet watch. The silver tone goes with most casual clothing, and the black dial keeps it from looking too formal when worn with a T-shirt or a work shirt.
Care and Maintenance
Rinse the bracelet under warm running water now and then to remove sweat, sunscreen and sand, and dry it with a soft cloth. Use a soft toothbrush on the gaps between the links. Sapphire resists scratching well, but the steel case and bracelet will pick up fine marks over time, which is normal for any polished metal. When the battery needs replacing, ask a watchmaker to reseat the gasket and pressure-test the case so that the 10 ATM rating continues to hold. Store the watch away from strong magnets and extreme heat.
About Nixon and the Smyth Line
Nixon is a watch and accessories brand founded in 1998 in southern California and associated with surf, skate and snow culture. Its watches are known for sturdy cases, clear dials and practical features at a price below Swiss luxury. The Smyth 44 follows that approach with a sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown and a 23 mm bracelet that can be swapped without tools. This reference is one of several Smyth 44 colourways, alongside Super Black / Black, Camo / Green and Khaki / Red versions, so the same watch is available in different moods depending on your taste.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | Nixon |
|---|---|
| Collection | Smyth 44 |
| Reference | A1414-5306 |
| Colourway | Silver / Tunnel Black Ombre |
| Gender | Men’s |
| Case diameter | 44 mm |
| Case thickness | Approx. 11 mm |
| Case material | Stainless steel, silver tone |
| Dial | Black ombre, two-layer die-cut design, date window at 3 o’clock |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Bezel | Unidirectional countdown |
| Movement | Japanese quartz, 3-hand (Miyota 2117) |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel, 3-link, 23 mm, quick release |
| Clasp | Dual locking deployment with micro adjuster |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM (100 m), swimming and snorkelling |
