Tap the image to enlarge
Emporio Armani AX1421 Gun IP Bracelet Watch - W65444
Ref. AX1421
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The AX1421 sits in Armani Exchange's Kilian line, a range built around an industrial aesthetic that the brand has returned to across several collections. The brief here was a dressy sports watch that reads as urban rather than nautical — the blue sandblasted dial with its railroad-track chapter ring and cyclops magnifying lens over the date window has a retro quality that the uniform gunmetal coating then pulls firmly into the present. At 42mm and only 10mm deep, it wears closer to the wrist than most steel-braceletted watches at this diameter, and the matte PVD finish across both case and bracelet keeps the whole thing from catching light in the way a polished watch would. The blue dial shifts noticeably depending on angle and lighting, which gives it more visual interest than the industrial exterior might suggest. At 154 grams, there is real weight on the wrist — this is not a watch that disappears.
- Reference
- AX1421
- Brand
- Emporio Armani
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 10mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Grey PVD
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Mineral
- Movement
- Quartz
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Grey
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Learn more about Emporio Armani
Giorgio Armani launched Emporio Armani in 1981 as a younger, more accessible line beneath the main label. Watches followed under licence, and since 2000 they have been produced by Fossil Group, which holds the manufacturing and distribution rights.
The watches are fashion accessories rather than horological objects, and the house does not claim otherwise. Movements are bought-in quartz and Japanese automatic calibres, cased in designs that follow the clothing line's aesthetic: muted palettes, clean dials, and a preference for restraint over ornament.
That restraint is the appeal. Where much of the licensed-fashion category reaches for size and shine, Emporio Armani generally does not, and the better references in the line are quietly proportioned watches at prices well under the Swiss entry point.
- 1975
- Giorgio Armani founds his fashion house in Milan.
- 1981
- Emporio Armani launches as a diffusion line.
- 2000
- Fossil Group takes over watch production under licence.
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Emporio Armani's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | AX1421 |  MK3478 |  1530311 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £105 | £109 | £109 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Will the glass scratch?
It can, over time. Mineral glass handles daily wear but will pick up fine scratches that sapphire would not.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are F.Hinds?
F.Hinds has been run by the same family since 1856 and is now in its fifth generation, with more than 115 shops across England and Wales. They are a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and an Authorised Diamond Dealer.
You may also like
In stock, and close on style and price
