This is my first Sthrling watch and everything about it, from the moment I opened the package, has been an absolute first-rate experience. I can already feel myself getting long-winded here, so let's get the most important stuff out of the way first -- that way, those of us with shorter attention spans can safely flake out after the first couple of paragraphs.

First, when I read comments on other watches I realize how often the term "automatic" is misunderstood. So let's get that straight real quick.  This is an automatic mechanical watch.  No batteries required -- the watch can either be wound manually, or thanks to the weighted wheel in the back it will wind itself as you move your wrist around doing... well, whatever it is that you do.  That means that if you don't wear it for a day or so, it will stop and you'll have to wind it and set the time again. "Automatic" merely refers to the self-winding capability.

This watch is beautiful.  Eye of the beholder and whatever but it's truly something special.  The incredibly complex inner workings are partially visible through the skeleton faceplate, and I catch myself watching the spinny bits sometimes rather than reading the time. Additional components including the weight for the self-winding mechanism are visible through another opening on the back side of the watch. Any way you look at it, this watch exudes quality.  The case is just... impossibly polished.  You don't even want to touch it, it's so perfect. The leather bands (you get two of them, black and brown) are comfortable and attractive, glossy on the outside surface and natural on the inside with the company name branded there.  It's definitely solid, thicker than other watches I've owned.  The crystal used on the face seems to be quite scratch resistant (get ready for a cringe-worthy story):

The day after I received the watch, I was wearing it in the kitchen and started to take it off to wash something in the sink. As soon as I unclasped it something caused me to turn and the watch slid off my wrist, bounced twice off the (real) tile floor and slid all the way across the kitchen ON ITS FACE until the wall on the other side of the kitchen stopped it. I let out a girly scream, grabbed it, wiped it off and tried not to make direct eye contact with it for a couple of hours because I was scared of what I might have done.  Finally I decided to check it out under the bright, diffuse light of my office lamp (you know, the kind that brings forth even the slightest imperfection in any glossy surface)... Nothing.  I scrutinized as closely as a man without a microscope can scrutinize, and I couldn't find even one tiny imperfection anywhere.  I'm not suggesting you use it as a curling stone, of course, but I'm really happy with its apparent ruggedness.

I haven't had very long to test the accuracy yet, but I'll add that in an update once I've had it for a while.  If I had to guess right now, I'd say that it's off only a couple of seconds per day.

Okay, so I've established the basics: the watch is strong, it's beautiful, it's a fantastic buy for the price, and I whole-heartedly and unreservedly recommend it.  Those with the aforementioned attention span issues may safely go chase shiny things or whatever.

One minor point, but I just wanted to mention it because it's awesome:  I haven't had a mechanical watch in a LONG time, and I have to say I love the mechanical ticking, so much more satisfying for some reason than the quartz watches I've owned lately.

But there's more to this experience, although I'm sure the people that already have several Sthrling watches will learn nothing new here.

The packaging is tremendous. After sliding off the glossy black and gold cardboard sheath, you're presented with an orange leather-clad box (it smells incredible, for what it's worth) stamped in gold lettering. Opening the box reveals a number of items like your warranty card, etc. strapped to the black fabric inside roof of the box (also stamped with the company name and logo in gold). The watch sits in a deep, form-fitting well (black leather) alongside another impression that includes the extra leather watch band. Okay, yes, the entire package smells intensely of high quality leather and my wife has caught me sniffing it like a crazy person, I don't want to talk about it.  A microfiber cloth is also included for carefully wiping the face of your watch after you, like an idiot, allow it to go sliding unrestrained across the kitchen floor. On a related note, it also wipes up tears.

One last note: take a look around at the reviews of the other watches by Sthrling. You'll notice that in almost every case where someone has had a problem, the company has responded with a phone number and any information that might help the person that wrote the review. They even took the time to respond to one guy that didn't understand how Roman numerals on watches work.  It makes me feel like this is a company that is really proud of their products and truly cares about customer satisfaction.  I haven't seen this from the other watch manufacturers that are selling on Amazon.

I look forward to posting an update or two on the watch's long-term quality and accuracy when I've had it for a while. In the meantime, I've added some photos because as soon as I got the watch I knew I had to take pictures of it.