#Victorinox automatic watch plus

The clasp is a bit stiff and stands out compared to the rest of the watch and bracelet.

I would have liked to have seen more secure pins or screws in the removable bracelet links.

Value for money is excellent – especially for a high-street brand.

The dial is stunning, especially in the blue colour.

Build quality is superb, as you would expect from a Swiss manufacturer.

I found it very stiff to operate and whilst the watch certainly won’t pop off your wrist it stood out compared to the smoothness of every other mechanical part. The clasp is very similar to the catalogue clasps used by a lot of microbrands with a secondary locking mechanism that clips over the top. Screws also have their downsides, of course, and can work their way loose, so I am sure as many people will be pleased to see push pins instead! When I sized the bracelet, the pins would pop out of either side of the watch which makes me worried that they will not last up as well to many years of wear.

However, they are fitted with simple friction pins rather than screws.

#Victorinox automatic watch plus

On the plus side, the removable links are half-width, which makes it relatively easy to get the watch perfectly sized. The two areas that I would like to see improved are the removable links and the clasp. It is certainly well-made and feels as smooth as silk with none of the grittiness that you sometimes find on lower-end solid link bracelets. Automatic was the only area that slightly disappointed me. I chose to review the blue watch rather than the black – which I expect to be more popular – and couldn’t keep my eyes off the dial! The date is at 4.30, and properly centred between the markers and the simple wedge shaped hands make it extremely legible. You are going to be handling the crown more often with an automatic timepiece so it’s shame that it is a bit fiddly to set the time and date. The crown is quite tricky to unscrew thanks to those large crown guards, which I think belies the watch’s quartz origins. We have sapphire crystals front and back. The large crown guards add to the bulk and the whole case feels as well-built as a tank. The case is also thicker than I expected for a watch with an ETA 2824 movement. I’d have preferred a diver’s bezel or some other markings to break it up. It is an interesting shape which catches the light well, but I found the expanse of metal a bit much. It’s 42mm but feels bigger thanks to the large hexagonal bevelled bezel. It would be staying in the box if this were my watch and not a review loaner! Case I thought it was a transit protector like you get with Panerai watches but a bit of research suggests that Victorinox think people will actually wear the watch like this. The watch is supplied with a “bezel protector” which is, frankly, a little ridiculous looking.

The cushion fits more firmly into its slot than most watch boxes I’ve handled, so it is well protected in transit if you choose to buy online. Automatic comes in the kind of packaging you would expect for a high-street watch over £500 with a lovely padded display box and comprehensive documentation.