Armand Nicolet JS9 Dive Watch Review - A classy yet Sporty Piece

Welcome back to another review my fellow Watch Addicts. Today on the table is the all new JS9 automatic dive watch from Swiss watch manufacturer Armand Nicolet. Armand has a history dating back to 1846 and originated in the Tramelan area of Switzerland. They are a relatively small company with 20 or so employees, but definitely put out quite a decent watch for the coin.

To see the Packaging please view the video review on my YouTube channel

www.armandnicolet.com/collections/js9-2/date/watch-a480agn-ag-gg4710n/

Case

The JS9 is a very nice looking watch at first glance with its solid 316L brushed steel case, along with nice chamfered polished edges which go around to the backside of the 24MM lugs. In terms of diameter, we are looking at a bit of a larger diver at 44MM wide and 13MM thick. The case has a rather unique design considering the “Claw” style lugs which depart downwards for comfortable placement on the wrist. The caseback is something also that quite surprised me with a really detailed brushed engraving of specification and a fish emblem. This IS a diving watch considering the 300M water resistance with screw down crown/caseback. A nice feature that I found is the awesome grip on the black rubberized signed crown. I must admit, the grip is very good, and this is also unique as very few watch brands implicate this design besides Audemars Piguet and a couple others.

Dial

The dial is a Matte black with a slight grainy substance in texture. Applied markers surround the dial and are flipped which give the JS9 its’ own design. This watch certainly does not homage other popular divers such as the Submariner, which we see way too often. Inside these markers lays evenly applied Green SuperLuminova which I found to be quite responsive and gets the job done ( Pic Below ). Although, this is a true dive watch, the whole style of design and logo in a typical Armand Nicolet always reminds me of dress watches or fancier functional everyday watches. Standard features at this pricepoint of $1700 CHF include an Anti-Reflective sapphire crystal, a 120 Click Ceramic Unidirectional bezel which is pretty decent in terms of functionality and feel. Paddle style brushed grey toned hands blend in with the black/white color scheme and look in place on this piece. One odd thing I noticed is the absence of lume at the 12:00 Triangle on the bezel, which I wish they would have added for easier timing in dark settings. Lastly, I like the white background date window at 3:00 and feel it does look in tune with the white elements on the JS9.

Movement

Inside the JS9 resides an automatic ETA 2846 Swiss movement which A.Nicolet calls the AN-2846-9. This movement beats at a lower rate of 21,600 BPH, features a custom AN rotor, 21 jewels, and a 48 hour power reserve. This watch doesn’t have a COSC certification and runs within the ETA standard at around -10 seconds a day on my example. We all know ETA makes reliable and easy to service no nonsense workhorse movements , so no need to really worry about issues if a service is performed every few years.

Bracelet

The 24MM brushed steel bracelet is of good quality and has those swiss fluidity characteristics. Do keep in mind that this bracelet uses double screws, so if you are
not accustomed to sizing this type of bracelet which requires two flathead micro screwdrivers in opposite motions at the same time, please do see a watchmaker. I, myself had no issue and sized it fairly quick, removing 3 links and the half link that the bracelet comes with. I do wish they did include another half link so I can have a perfect even fit on both sides. A dual button butterfly clasp is incorporated which provides a seemless clean look when on wrist. The bracelet does feature some nice perlage on the inner clasp and a safety fold over signed clasp for finishing touches. The articlulating links really do make a big difference in terms of comfort, and I am overall happy with the bracelet on my 6.5” wrist. There are also options with rubber straps which do look pretty appealing and in my eyes would look a bit more sporty, or “diver-like”.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the JS9 is certainly an appealing entry level luxury dive watch from Armand Nicolet. It checks all the boxes and stacks up to other competitors divers in this price range such as Oris, Raymond Weil, Rado, and so on. I do like the semi-dressy look and believe this can be a very versatile watch whether wearing it with your suit or a day at the beach. The overall design and cut of the case definitely sets it apart from other brands and having more options in this segment is certainly needed. Thanks for taking the time to read another Watch Addict article.