Nixon Sentry Chrono A386-1922 Men’s 42mm Gold-Tone Quartz Chronograph Watch – Blue Sunray Dial, Gold-Tone Steel Bracelet

Nixon Sentry Chrono A386-1922: Gold-Tone Steel With a Blue Sunray Dial

The Nixon Sentry Chrono A386-1922 pairs a gold-tone stainless steel case and bracelet with a blue sunray dial. It is a 42 mm quartz chronograph with a date, a 24-hour subdial and a 100 metre water rating, and it is the dressier of the two Sentry Chrono colourways you are likely to meet in a catalogue. Where the plain steel version relies on black and silver, this one trades on colour: a deep blue face with fine brushed light across it, gold hour markers and hands, and a warm metallic bracelet that carries the gold from the case all the way to the clasp.

Case and Wrist Presence

The round case is stainless steel with a gold-tone finish, 42 mm across and about 11 mm tall, with a solid caseback. The lug width is 23 mm, which gives the bracelet a broad, planted look. The enamel-filled crown sits at three o’clock between two chronograph pushers. At this size the watch is substantial without being oversized, and the gold tone makes it look slightly larger and more formal than the same case in plain steel. Gold-toned steel is also a good partner for tanned skin and for navy or white clothing.

• 42 mm gold-tone case – a mid-size chronograph with a warm metallic finish
• Solid caseback – closed, with no display window
• Mineral crystal – hardened glass over the dial
• Enamel-filled crown – a neat finishing detail on the right side

The Blue Sunray Dial

A sunray finish is a pattern of very fine lines brushed outward from the centre of the dial. The result is a surface that changes with the light: in a dim room the blue reads as deep and nearly navy, and in bright sun it lifts into a livelier shade with a visible sheen. On this reference the hour markers are faceted, applied indices in gold tone, and the hands are custom moulded, also in gold tone, so the markers and hands stand clearly against the blue. A printed seconds track runs around the edge, the date sits in a window at four o’clock, and a 24-hour subdial adds a second time reference. Nixon’s pages describe the Sentry Chrono as a six-hand layout.

• Blue sunray finish – a dial that shifts in tone as the light moves
• Gold-tone indices and hands – strong contrast on the blue
• Date at four o’clock – a small window that stays out of the way

Chronograph and Movement

The movement is quartz, so a battery supplies the power and the watch needs no winding. The chronograph is controlled by the two pushers at the right of the case. One starts and stops the timing, and the other resets the hands. Because quartz chronographs respond instantly when the pusher is pressed, this watch is good for timing everyday tasks, such as a workout set, a pot on the stove or a presentation slot. No calibre name is published on the pages we checked, so none is stated here. After using the stopwatch, return it to zero so that it is ready for the next use.

Bracelet and Clasp

The bracelet is a three-link stainless steel design in the same gold tone as the case, 23 mm wide. It closes with a double-locking clasp with a micro-adjust system, which allows small changes in length without taking out links. A double lock means the clasp has a safety closure over the main fold, which is reassuring on a bracelet that you expect to wear for years. Because the bracelet and case are the same colour, the watch has no join where the two meet, and the whole watch looks like a single object when seen from the side.

Water Resistance

The Sentry Chrono carries a 10 ATM rating, equal to 100 metres. That is enough for showering, swimming and snorkelling. Avoid pressing the chronograph pushers or turning the crown while the watch is wet or underwater. If you swim in the sea, rinse the watch with fresh water afterwards. Chlorine and salt are hard on gold-tone finishes, so it is worth drying the watch off after a swim.

Who It Suits

• Wearers who want a chronograph that has some colour, without becoming loud
• People who like gold-tone steel but find a plain gold dial too flat
• Gift buyers looking for a recognisable Nixon model with a bracelet
• Anyone who wants a quartz watch that is easy to maintain and easy to read

Blue and gold is a classic combination, and it goes well with white shirts, denim and dark knitwear. It can step up to smart casual and still look at home with a T-shirt.

Care Notes

Gold-tone plating is thin, so avoid contact with abrasive surfaces and keep the watch away from perfume, hairspray and cleaning chemicals. Clean it with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it straight away. Do not scrub the bracelet with hard brushes, because they can wear the finish at the edges of the links. When the battery needs replacing, use a watchmaker who will check the gaskets so that the 10 ATM rating continues to apply. Store the watch in a dry place when not in use.

About Nixon and the Sentry Chrono

Nixon started in 1998 in southern California, and its early customers were surfers, skaters and snowboarders. The Sentry Chrono is a core model in the range and has been produced in many colourways. Common to them all are the 42 mm steel case, the faceted indices and the three-link bracelet. This blue and gold reference is the one in the family that is closest to a dress watch while still keeping the practical features of the line.

Technical Specifications