It’s been quite some time since we’ve shown you some Armitron watches on these pages (see here). Today and tomorrow, we’ll have a look at two of their newer models. First up, we have the 20/4838BSRV.
Yeah, it’s not the most catchy name in the world, is it? What the watch lacks in refinement when it comes to the name, however, it makes up for in the looks department. The first thing that grabbed my eye, in that regard, is the dial. More and more, I’m finding myself liking rose gold, and here (the tone of rose gold at least) is used to nice effect on the lumed hands and indices, set on a blue-grey textured dial.
Surrounding that dial, you’ve got a gunmetal gray (fixed) bezel that’s holding the domed (and I assume mineral) crystal in place. All of this is set on the 42.5mm stainless steel case (12.5mm thick) that houses a quartz movement and nets you a 50m water resistance rating. That quartz movement is, of course, also driving the day, date, and 24-hour subdials (no chrono here).
That leaves just the 22mm bracelet to talk about. Yes, it is finished nicely, and does offer a push-button butterfly clasp along with a fold-over safety latch. However, it’s a folded-link bracelet, and you can tell in both the weight and the noise it makes when you move it. That said, at an asking price just north of $70 (Amazon), you’re going to have some compromises. It’s just a shame, as a solid-link bracelet would be much more in line with the aesthetic that the rest of the watch is bringing out. Then again, if someone is just looking for an affordable all-arounder, this could still be a a decent option.
At first glance I was interested in the watch because of the design. At the second glance I noticed the 4 large screws on the face of the watch which quickly took care of my initial interest.
I visited Armitron’s website and I was puzzled when I was redirected to the Amazon website when I clicked on the Purchase link to get to know the prices of some watches.
I found some watches at less than $15.00. As well as a Women Diamond Accented Gold Tone Black Leather for $27.99. The price took care of the quality of the diamond and of the leather.
I even found the following review for the watch: ”I got this for my wife’s birthday gift. She loves it. It is very attractive and looks like it’s more upscale than the price I paid would suggest”.
If I was to spend $27.99 on a watch as a birthday gift for my wife I would be a bachelor in less than the minute it would take her to notice the fake diamond.
The love that I have for my wife is real, so are the diamonds I offer her to mark a special anniversary.
What’s up the the “14 16 18 20 22 24” sub dial at 6 o’clock? What is that subdial recording?
Cap – that’s a 24-hour subdial.
Claude: yeah, those are an odd decorative element, for sure.
Does the ’24’ hr subdial rotate once per. 24 hours or twice? Obviously only once. What about hours 1-12? This is the kind of shortsighted design you get for a $70 watch, i guess. Much better to get a $30 timex that is actually designed with purpose.
When I was much younger, I worked for a company called Armin Corp, the owner was a holocaust survivor named Armin Kaufman. In fact the company is still there in Jersey City. Anyway back in the early 80’s when digital watches were first coming out, a division was formed to make cheap digital watches, Armitron. I’m so surprised that the company is still around. I remember seeing those early watches.
Actually I did a google search on Armin Kaufman and it explains how Armin Corp, started in watches:
Armin was incorporated as the Armin Poly Film Corporation in 1967 by Armin Kaufman, a Hungarian immigrant who had come penniless to the United Stated in 1955. The plasticfilm maker grew quickly and in 1969, Armin acquired Poly Version, Inc. and the E. Gluck Trading Company through stock exchanges. The Gluck acquisition represented a departure for the company from its main product line. Gluck made watches that sold in retail markets in the $10 to $50 price range under the Sutton, Chateau, Precision, Adventura, and Andre Rivalle labels. In 1975, digital watches with price tags ranging from $100-$ 150 were introduced under the Armitron and Quasar label. These electronic watches were Armin’s first attempt at manufacturing the timekeeping parts of watches itself.
Very beautiful and solid looking watch. Anyone should be proud to own one of these.