Women's silicone watch ERNEST duck green

Why this green reads as calm rather than loud

Duck green is dark enough to behave like navy: it holds its own next to denim, camel and grey without shouting. The shade covers the bezel and the whole strap, and it meets a plain white face, so the pale grey numerals and the small black dots between them stay easy to pick out from arm's length. Nothing else on the dial competes with them.

A ring printed with 10, 20, 30 and on to 60

The coloured ring around the face carries those figures, spaced by short white strokes borrowed from sports watches. Three small circles sit in the middle of the dial as part of the drawing rather than as counters, under slim silver hands.

The duck green ERNEST watch measures 3.9 cm across

The round case measures 3.9 cm in diameter, which is generous for a women's watch and part of why the time reads clearly from a distance. The silicone strap is moulded in short blocks with small silver metal links set between them, picking up the finish of the case; it stays soft and does not cling. On the right-hand edge, two pushers frame the crown and repeat the metal of the case.

Changing the strap colour is the cheapest way to change a look, which is why this case turns up in several shades. On the days when silicone feels too casual, a buckled leather-look band covers the gap.

Sunlight and make-up bags are what dull the colour

Bright silicone is best kept out of long spells of direct sun, so a drawer suits it better than a windowsill or a car dashboard between wears. Loose powder and foundation are the other culprits: they settle in the grooves between the segments and take the depth out of the colour. A damp cloth lifts both, and the strap dries in minutes. Take it to a watchmaker when the battery runs out rather than prising the case open yourself.