Eichmüller black women's watch 40 mm faux leather strap

It is early on a winter morning and the flat is still dark. You reach for your watch on the bedside table and read the time without switching on a lamp, because the hands and hour markers on this Eichmüller are luminescent. That small detail is the first practical thing to know about it, and it is useful well beyond early starts: a dim cinema, a late train home, a cupboard under the stairs.

The look is plain and deliberate. A black dial sits inside a round 40 mm case in a silver-tone metal finish, with a black faux leather strap to match. At 40 mm across it is a generous size, the kind that is noticed on the wrist and reads clearly at a glance, while the 9 mm thickness keeps it from feeling bulky under a cuff. The strap is 20 mm wide, soft and easy to wipe clean. Because the colours are just black and silver-tone, it sits comfortably with office clothes, a jumper and jeans, or an evening dress. If you like the finish, you can compare it with other silver-tone women's watches in the shop.

Inside is a quartz movement with an analogue display, which means there is nothing to wind and nothing to set beyond the time itself. The only routine upkeep is replacing the battery from time to time. A mineral glass protects the dial from everyday knocks and scratches.

Water resistance is rated at 3 ATM. In practice that covers splashes, such as washing your hands or a sudden shower of rain. It is not meant for the shower, the bath or swimming, so take it off before those. Worn with ordinary care, a watch like this is a quiet, reliable piece for daily use.