Cheap Excellanc gold-tone women's watch metal brown dial

Start with the links. The bracelet on this Excellanc is built from small metal links in a gold tone, and they are what give the watch its slightly jewellery-like look on the wrist. It closes with a clip clasp, a simple press and it is done, so there is no fiddling with tiny pins when you are getting ready in a hurry.

Then the dial, which is where the watch gets its character. The colour is a warm brown, a nice change from the usual white, black or champagne faces, and it sits well against the gold-tone case. Clear Arabic numerals are drawn around the edge, so you can read the time at a glance without squinting.

The case is round and measures 39 mm across. That is a size you notice without it taking over your wrist, neither dainty nor oversized. The strap is 18 mm wide and the whole watch measures 19 cm in length, which is useful to know if you like to check against a favourite bracelet or an old watch you already own.

Inside, a quartz movement keeps analogue time with no winding and no fuss. When the battery eventually runs down, a watchmaker can swap it in a few minutes. The glass is mineral, which stands up to everyday scratches better than plastic does.

As for styling, it is an easy one. The gold-tone finish picks up any gold-toned jewellery you already wear, so a ring or a pair of hoops can echo the case and links for a wrist that catches the light. Jeans and a white shirt, a knit dress, a work outfit: the brown dial keeps things understated enough for all of them.

It is also inexpensive, which makes it a pleasant buy for yourself or a present that does not feel like a compromise. If you would like to compare it with other options, have a look at our gold-tone watches for women and see which dial colour speaks to you.