The buckle is nicely done, with matching finishes and logo.

The fact that the black strap is lined in bright red is kind of fun; like the tiny bit of red on the dial, it’s more for the owner to enjoy.

It’s a bit larger than I usually wear for dress, 38mm is my default, but frankly it’s so pretty that I just don’t care. I’d like it if they widened the hour and minute hands just a bit, though.

Interestingly, the packaging has a semi-hidden compartment, where they include a leather luggage tag, warranty card and what appears to be a fabric bag.

Inner box:

Transumers, indeed.

Overall, the watch feels way more expensive than I expected. As you see, they economized on less-used bits like packaging and movement decoration, and textured calfskin instead of alligator. The high-grade case finish, spectacular dial and clean design are, in my opinion, superbly done and attractive.

My daily life is somewhat informal, as I’m a computer engineer, so this isn’t something I can wear every day. It’s the watch you reach for when you want to look put-together, and for that it excels. Sure, you can certainly get nicer gold dress watches, but if your budget is more modest or your dress up needs more intermittent, I recommend perusing the Marvin Classic collection. Bonus points to them for selling directly from their web site! marvinwatches.com

Necessary Data

>Brand: Marvin
>Model: M125.53.51.74
>Price: $940.00
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Anyone wanting an elegant dress watch.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Visibility – the hands can vanish, and there’s no lume.
>Best characteristic of watch: Portofino elegance on a budget.