The Armitron Crystal Minnie Gift Set™ offers timeless value for money with its tiny timepiece and ... [+]
Small watches are having a moment these days, with everyone from musical artist Bad Bunny to actor Timothée Chalamet sporting relatively tiny timepieces. Perhaps Cartier ambassador Chalamet has been emboldened by his work with Cartier’s Creative Director of Jewellery and Watchmaking Marie-Laure Cérède, as he has been photographed wearing a 23mm Cartier Panthère. For those seeking a more affordable way to get into the small watch trend, Armitron’s Minnie Crystal Gift Set™ ticks all the boxes— and more. With a 26 mm case width; 9.5 mm case length, 12 mm lug width, analog movement and push button clasp closure on the bracelet, the Armitron’s Minnie Crystal Gift Set™ is a small but chic, crystal-studded watch with a double wrist wrap bracelet that suggests stealth chic while delivering high functionality, smart style, and value for money. (The watch can be worn with or without the bracelet.) Priced at $95.00, the set is water resistant to 50 meters and is available in rose gold, yellow gold, and silver toned stainless steel at www.armitron.com
Fashion Watch Heritage
I recently road-tested the Minnie Gold Tone Crystal Gift Set™ and can report that while it embodies versatility, reliability and a classic silhouette that looks like a fine set, the watch worn on its own pairs quite well with jewelry from all eras. This I find somewhat remarkable, as many classic timepieces clash with many of my favorite jewels. But then again, it makes sense that Armitron created the Minnie because this heritage USA brand is a fashion watch leader.
Since 1975, the designers at Armitron have been creating widely affordable watches for all genders in various styles and sizes. Based in New York, the brand was founded by Auschwitz survivor and entrepreneur Eugen Gluck. Armitron has consistently embraced innovative technology and forward-thinking design to suit active and hard-working USA lifestyles. For example, Armitron helped set the industry standard for manufacturing digital watches with LCD displays. While the E. Gluck Corporation manufactures watches under their Armitron flagship proprietary brand, the company also manufactures watches for major fashion labels. In 1999, Armitron held the fifth largest share of all watch purchases, by brand, in the United States. Today, Armitron ranks as one of the leading fashion watch brands in the US and Eugen Gluck’s daughter Bobbie Weichselbaum upholds her father’s progressive legacy as CEO of E. Gluck Corporation.
The Minnie’s Specifics
Regarding the Minnie Crystal Gift Set™ ergonomics, timekeeping and aesthetics: It’s small and light enough to feel almost weightless on the wrist. (I even sleep in mine.) The Minnie’s stainless steel case and band glow in a radiant gold tone, accentuating the elegant black sun ray dial, which sparkles with a halo of tiny crystals. Thankfully, the crystal vibes read more like stealth wealth than shouty bling. The yellow gold emits a classic vibe, and the double wrap bracelet makes it look and feel on trend. In fact, my gold tone Minnie watch, (sans bracelet), looked so on trend to some people I met during recent travels to London, Munich, Vicenza and Geneva that they inquired about the mini-Rolex I was wearing. Yes, you read that correctly. The Armitron Minnie emits Rolex vibes, at least to some people. While the dial (with a bubble date window and sharp black date numbers), is easy to read, free of visual distortion, the bracelet’s fine form amplifies the watch’s classic look. Having knocked my Minnie around in various airports, train stations, fitness centers and kitchens for the past four months, I can vouch for its resilience.
Helping us regulate our lives and fulfill responsibilities, watches live on our bodies, marking time through life’s ups, downs and turnarounds. Every timepiece projects aesthetic, cultural and economic messages about who we are and how we want to be perceived. What’s more, everyone’s watch is always open to interpretation. Given these inflationary times, the Minnie Crystal Gift Set™ is a watch that’s got a classic look at the right time for the right price.
