The Brand
The house of Giorgio Armani is a brand that needs no introduction. Founded in 1975 by Giorgio Armani specializing in Haute Couture ready to wear suits and apparel, shoes, leather goods and accessories. It has grown into becoming an icon in not just Italian men’s fashion but in the world of Haute Couture as well. Sitting comfortably at the top alongside fellow Haute Couture designers such as Ermenegildo Zegna, Roberto Cavalli, and Dries Van Noten, the brand is still the go-to place for modern working-class men looking for bespoke, fashion apparels and accessories. From coats, and bags, to wallets and watches. And that’s what we’ll be looking at today, their watches.
Subtle, distinct and quietly luxurious, with that unmistakable touch of Italian flair these are the words you come to mind when talking about the brand’s timepieces. Carrying over the brand’s ethos for its renowned apparels and leather goods, their timepieces are elegant statement pieces for the modern gentleman. Whether you’re in a plain black T-shirt with a pair of jeans and Stan Smiths for a weekend out, or in a tailored suit, paired with your Cartier cufflinks, Tom Ford belt and Louboutin loafers at a gala dinner. There’s always a timepiece to match the occasion in , and today, we’ll be taking a closer look at one of their most striking and remarkable timepieces to date; The AR60011 Automatic.
The watch
This rather strikingly pretty piece from Emporio Armani serves as a reminder that creativity and style really does go a long way as to why some of us still wear a traditional wrist watch in this modern day and age. On paper, it doesn’t seem to be anything special at first, with an otherwise conventional rounded case shape and simple swooping lugs, it’s certainly not a brash or particularly ostentatious watch. But it is the dial and the way it displays the time that really makes this piece truly special. Featuring a pair of rotating discs displaying the subsidiary seconds and 24 hours, paired with bold semi skeletonized hands for the hours and minutes fitted nicely beneath a blued ring. Telling the time is a rather straightforward affair even though it may not seem to be at first glance. And that’s exactly why we think this is a fantastic piece to have.
It houses a simple and reliable Miyota automatic movement, but for a moment, at first glance it looks almost magical in the way you’re meant to tell the time And, don’t worry, it’s not one of those ‘you’re kidding yourself moments’ because there’s still plenty of details that this watch offers that really sets it apart too (besides the already unconventional ringed style ‘handset’). The textured diamond like pattern on the inner ring of the dial that sectors into a nice deep blue grained pattern along the edges adds even more depth to the already 3-dimensional look of this watch’s aesthetics. And of course, there’s a neat exhibition case back too for those who enjoy the intricacies of a mechanical watch (and if you’re looking to own a watch like this, you very well should be), to have a little more to look at. The strap is in a lovely matching blue too, for an added touch of flair and it really is the perfect finishing touch to this really visually striking piece.
The Verdict
If you’ve made it this far into the review and now find yourself having to have the AR60011, you’re certainly not the only one. As much as we prefer watches from traditional watchmakers over fashion labels, once in awhile we do find a gem like this amongst the rubble. Enthusiast or not, its hard to deny that the AR60011 certainly has a lot going for it, not just in terms of its striking design, but its innovation and attention to detail in transforming something that should be simple and traditional, into something that is really rather special and unique instead.
