Excellanc red women's watch expanding bracelet

The first thing you notice is the colour. A bold red dial, with a touch of blue in it, sits inside a neat round case and immediately gives this Excellanc watch a personality of its own. It is the kind of watch that makes a plain outfit look planned.

Look a little closer and the details are quietly well judged. The dial mixes Arabic numerals with baton hour markers, so reading the time takes no effort at all. The case measures 36 mm across and 8 mm thick, which is enough to be seen without taking over your wrist.

The red bracelet is stainless steel and stretches, so there is no clasp to fiddle with. You simply slide it on and off, which makes it very comfortable to wear through a long day. The bracelet is 18 mm wide and the watch measures 18.5 cm in total.

The case has a silver-tone finish, and it sets off the red rather nicely. If you like that cool metallic look, you can browse more silver-tone watches for women and see how this one compares.

Inside is a quartz movement with an analogue display. It is reliable and needs no special care, apart from replacing the battery now and then. A mineral glass protects the dial from everyday knocks and scratches.

Because it is lively but not loud, it works from Monday morning to Saturday night, with a shirt at the office, jeans at the weekend or a simple dress in the evening. It is a women's watch that does the job of brightening your look, and it never asks for much in return.