When choosing a timepiece, many elements factor into the decision, from the brand’s standing in the marketplace to the watch’s functional capabilities. However, the watch’s case shape is one of the most significant aspects to contemplate. After all, the case’s contour has an enormous influence on the timepiece’s visual impact…and also on its wear ability. Here are the primary shapes you’ll encounter as you shop for a watch, along with their pros and cons.
Your personal style indicates the watch case shape that suits you best. If you have a preference for classic and timeless designs, a round watch is a reliable option. If you value a minimalist aesthetic, a watch in a rectangular shape is a good option. Of course, if you appreciate innovative and modern design, a rectangular watch is just as good a choice. Though its form is simple, the modern rectangular watch can have a surprising number of components. Yet to do a rectangular watch right, these components must be spread out and layered, giving the watch a relatively thin profile that makes it comfortable to wear. You can also count on it easily slipping under whatever you are wearing.
The Draw of Square, Cushion, and Tonneau Watches
For a daring and strong fashion statement, choose a square watch. The square shape is perfect for the avant-garde, and its clean lines—either polished or brushed—make it a great candidate for those who want their timepiece to say something about them. The cushion watch offers a slightly obsolete, vintage-tinged alternative, its soft form hugging the wrist with classic charm. Then there are tonneau watches. The name comes from the French word for barrel, and a tonneau is a timepiece that stands out in its luxury and originality. The look conveys a statement about the wearer, suggesting that they have attained a unique level of horological taste.
How to Choose the Right Watch Shape
Asymmetrical timepieces offer a unique and exclusive artistic quality. For those of us who are nonconformists when it comes to creativity, we see asymmetrical watches as an opportunity to really make a statement with our wrist wear. If you’re a fan of even bolder experimentation with fashion to express your individuality, then you might also enjoy oval watches, which blend trendy and classic elements. The oval watch mimics the soft lines of the asymmetrical watch but is a bit more conservative.
Allow your routine and lifestyle to guide your watch selection. For the physically inclined, a round or cushion-shaped timepiece is a comfortable choice—better ergonomics, more graceful curvilinear lines—especially if you consider durable materials and water resistance that more than suffice under what we might generously call sporty conditions. Working in a corporate setting? Then you might look to classic rectangular or tonneau-shaped watches, which have an elegant appearance and a professional look, complementing your business attire. For a casual social life, a watch is mostly an accessory.
Any shape of watch can work for you, but round and square watches probably coordinate best with everyday attire. As with any aspect of your personal style, the watch you choose should reflect your unique personality. And while this is a mostly style-driven choice, there are some fit considerations to keep in mind. For instance, wrist size plays a crucial role in the selection of case shape. If you have a smaller wrist, a round or oval watch is a safer bet, proportion-wise. And no matter which you choose, be sure to select a case size that’s not swamping your wrist.
A Guide to Selecting the Ideal Watch for a Larger Wrist
If you have large wrists, a square or tonneau-shaped watch can look fantastic without being out of proportion. Just make sure the watch case doesn’t sit too low to the wrist, and ensure there’s enough heft to the watch that it actually looks good on your larger wrist. Ultimately, the most effective method to determine the ideal watch case shape for you is to experiment with various styles. Visit a few watch stores and try on as many different styles as you can.
Selecting the ideal watch case shape is an interplay of personal taste, practical lifestyle considerations, and even some aspects of your physique. The shapes confer advantages and even illusions that the watches do more or less than they appear to. While some people may find a round watch to be the most classic and attractive, others may find a decidedly modern square, rectangle, or even an asymmetrical shape more appealing.
The Benefits of Various Watch Case Shapes
Timepieces are more than simple devices for keeping time. They express individual style, serve as personal statements, and represent the summit of mechanical craftsmanship. Most watch aficionados argue that the watch’s case is its most important attribute. If so, what are the benefits, and possibly unspoken benefits, of particular shapes?This essay visits three basic timepiece forms and touches on their different unshrouded virtues.
Grace of East-West Watches
The horizontal orientation of the East-West watch, where the watch face is noticeably wider than its vertical counterparts, sets it apart. This innovative form provides a contemporary look that challenges conventional timepiece aesthetics.
Favoured by high-end brands like Tiffany & Co., the East-West offers a modestly luxurious watch option with a distinct flourish for the individualistic wearer. And while no one usually associates modishness with wristwatches, they help make a value statement concerning the watch lover’s creativity and good taste.
Octagonal Case Design
Conversely, the octagon watch shape, with its eight sides, combines the assertiveness of a square with the smoothness of a circle. It is common knowledge that looks are important, even in the watch industry. Striking looks help watches grab attention.
The octagonal watch has those looks. Combining the assertiveness of a square with the fluidity of a circle creates an unexpected and less common design that leaves a significant impact. Audemars Piguet’s octagonal Royal Oak has celebrity status and has been closely associated with figures like Jay-Z and LeBron James—though it would not seem a conflict for the usual person to wear one.
Round watchcases
While unusual shapes attract attention, the most popular watch form will always be the round case. Its appeal is universal and lies in what is becoming a classic, a design that is unfailingly elegant and surprisingly versatile. Wallpaper* also honours the watch designs derived from this shape. The magazine’s headline, “From Walter Gropius to Richard Meier: Six Modernist Architects Who Designed Cases for Watches,” establishes the rules. The next time I try to spin an unusual shape, I should perhaps remember those Michael Kors wristwatches that some of my friends have—case shapes that outsell round models.
Choosing a watch shape is largely about personal taste. It is also about what works best for one’s way of life. Round cases are the most common, a shape that has an enduringly classic appeal and that permits unlimited variations in the looks of the watch face. Elongated rectangular or square cases, or a less conventional shape for the watch case, can achieve a more contemporary, even futuristic, look for those seeking something different.
How to Choose the Right Watch Size
Typically, a calliper measures the diameter or width of the watch case in millimetres. Typically, the size of the watch case has a direct influence on how the piece appears on the wearer’s wrist. In my view, to achieve the right look, a designer watch must be in perfect proportion to the wrist. The obvious reason is comfort. A watch that is too big or too small for the wrist will be less comfortable. The not-so-obvious reason is that a watch that fits well and is in line with the wearer’s taste judgements will elevate the overall aesthetic.
To sum up, the watch world is filled with an array of diverse shapes, with each one possessing a distinct attractive quality. Elongated designs, such as the East-West wristwatch and the classic rectangle, impress with their elongated refinement, while the octagon presents a bold alternative to the more common round or square watch shapes. Don’t ignore the round watch, which continues to hold its position as the most popular and seemingly secure option. But what watch you ultimately decide to wear should be a reflection of your personal style and should complement your lifestyle—whether you work in an office, are in school, or are a stay-at-home variety.
