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Armani AR0333
by bluebiro
I received this watch as a gift and to be honest at first I thought it was a little ostentatious, it is a very chunky watch with too many dials for my liking. I found it hard to set and had to turn to the user manual (which is about 200 pages long in 6 languages- a bit over the top for a watch I think) Once I had managed this I did ... start to fall in love with it as it truly does have character.
If you need a chronograph watch I still would not recommend this as the price really outweighs the usefulness. Seriously I would like the time and date on a watch I do not need three extra dials which all they seem to do is act as a basic stop watch. ( I don't know about others but I have not needed a stopwatch since I was about 12 and if I did feel the need to use one it would be something a little more accurate and easier to use.)
The good points of this watch are that it is ultra stylish and been Armani it does get noticed especially when worn with a decent suit this watch shouts style and lots of it. Thankfully the face seems to be very scratch resistant and water proof. I have done quite a bit of gardening in it and even forgotten to take it off while washing the dishes.
The leather strap is robust and has stayed unmarked for 7 months of wear which is really good going especially for me who tends to get through a watch strap every six months or so. I can see this strap outlasting the wearer in this case.
I have personally found that the watch slips round to the side of the wrist, this may be because mine are quite skinny, but it does not seem to fit quite right which is something that I would expect when paying this much for a timepiece, because of this I do tend to be constantly reminded that I am wearing it and do keep adjusting it on my wrist to get it to sit in the right place, this can be quite frustrating at times and I feel it gives others the impression I am nervous or bored.
The time keeping is second to none and I have yet to change the battery that was supplied, and have not lost more than a few seconds in 7 months which I think anyone would agree is pretty good going.
The watch has both good points and bad but I would be cautious of recommending this to a friend based on my experience as I really do believe that this is trying to be too many things at once. Armani should really try to stick with pure style as this is what most people want from them as there are others who do quality chronographs tag heur been a fantastic example.
Good try but not quite there.
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Sekonda Model 4971.27
by Machair1
Sekonda Model 4971.27 Ladies Analogue Leather Strap Watch
I must admit that over the years I have owned very few watches, and I tend to prefer simple understated timepieces in general. I do, however need the dial to be very clear and easy to read as my vision is poor. I also have a hatred of being at the last minute for ... anything, and so I like to know that my watch is reliable and won't let me down when I have an appointment to keep.
The review I am writing is for the watch I purchased just under 6 months ago. It was to replace a watch that was almost identical and had served me so well for over a decade, but the face had several scratches and overall I had only been keeping it as I had a free battery replacement agreement with my local Timpsons. This agreement related to that watch only, so I had probably kept it a little longer than I needed to as it had several new straps and batteries in its life. So when the time came to replace the battery I decided to look for a similar watch that had all the attributes this one had, with regard to the items I have mentioned.
I found the perfect replacement on Amazon- The Sekonda Model 4971.27 Ladies Analogue Leather Strap Watch, and the only review underneath it stated that " The watch has a nice, clean uncluttered face, and is just the antithesis to so many (newer) timepieces that seem to be made to try and tell (or confuse?) the wearer with so much information, in such a small space, all at the same time." This echoed my sentiments exactly as I was looking for a simple understated watch that told me the time and nothing else! It was also almost identical to my previous Sekonda watch that had lasted me for so long. It was retailing then for £17.49 with free delivery, and the price remains unchanged on the website today.
As I purchased this from Amazon delivery was excellent and packaging superb, and the watch arrived within three days even though it was free postage.
The watch has a round face and measures 23 millimetres in diameter - you need to ignore the measurements given on the website as they are incorrect. The watch has an analogue display and is made from gold plated stainless steel. It has a black leather strap with a width of 11millimetres. In addition to this the watch is actually waterproof to a depth of 30 metres, which is an excellent attribute in case you are on holiday and forget to remove it prior to swimming. The watch is guaranteed for 2 years by Sekonda.
My Opinion
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What I love about this watch is that for me it is the ideal size. It is discreet and petite, and due to its simplistic nature it goes with most casual outfits, and doesn't look out of place in the evening either. It is however large enough to be read easily by myself, without having to use my reading glasses over my contacts. The pure white face is ideal, and the numbers are in gold making them clear and easy to see even in poor light. The strap is petite and feminine, but still has the length to fit wrists that are not only slim but chunky as mine are.
It keeps excellent time and the battery is still going strong. I will expect it to need a change in about six months time, as this was the time scale for replacement for my previous Sekonda, and again I will go to Timpsons to purchase a lifetime replacement contract, which is very inexpensive and enables free battery replacements for the life of the watch.
As the watch is delivered in a presentation box it makes an ideal gift as well as a useful means of storage. It also comes with detailed instructions but these are really not necessary as this is a basic watch with no frills.
Sekonda are a very good make if you like simple watches, and the 4925 is also worth looking at as this style is also elegant and understated.
If you are looking for a watch to wear all the time this is an ideal choice. Being inexpensive it isn't the end of the world if I wear it in the garden and it ends up with the odd scratch from a bramble I wasn't expecting!
I am delighted with mine, and am happy to recommend it to you as it follows many years of previous Sekonda watch ownership which have yielded positive results. I think it may also be an ideal gift for someone who maybe doesn't wear a watch very often, as many people don't, preferring to use their mobile to source the time, but who may occasionally wish to know the time in places and situations when a watch is more convenient.
This review will also be posted on Ciao under my user name Violet1278
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