Men's Tonneau Watch
A men's tonneau watch has a case that is taller than it is wide, with curved sides that recall the silhouette of a barrel seen from the front.
Guess
Guess GW0499G2 Phoenix Yellow and Black Men's Watch
Guess
Guess GW0499G4 Phoenix Red and Black Men's Watch 42 mm
Guess
Guess Phoenix GW0499G7 Men's Watch Green Case Black Dial Black Silicone Strap
Guess
Guess GT Phoenix GW0857G1 Black Men's Watch 43 mm
Guess
Guess GW0582G2 Continental Men's Watch Gold-Tone Stainless Steel Black Dial Chronograph
Guess
Guess GW0387G1 Phoenix Black Dial Silver Stainless Steel Men's Watch
Guess
Guess Phoenix GW0202G7 Black and Red Silicone Strap Men's Watch
The men's tonneau watch, between round and rectangular
A men's tonneau watch has a case that is taller than it is wide, with curved sides that recall the silhouette of a barrel seen from the front. It is a rare shape: in our catalogue, only about one men's watch in fifty, with the great majority remaining round. The men's tonneau watches in our selection come mainly from Guess, which makes about two in three of them, followed by Philipp Plein, Fossil, Emporio Armani, Casio and Diesel. All are new and covered by a 2-year warranty.
What sets a men's tonneau watch apart, measured across our catalogue
We compared these models with all of our men's watches. First difference, the strap: silicone is fitted to about seven tonneau watches in ten, nearly six times more often than on the rest of our men's watches. The tonneau shape here is a matter of sporty, trend-led style, carried by the Guess Phoenix line, which accounts for nearly half of the selection.
Second difference, water: almost all are water-resistant to 5 ATM, and 10 ATM is very rare among them, whereas it applies to more than one men's watch in five elsewhere. Third difference, functions: the date is displayed on more than eight watches in ten, compared with just over half for the whole range, while the chronograph is three times rarer. The median diameter is 42 mm, for a thickness of 11 mm. Finally, some of the cases are transparent, a finish almost absent from the rest of the catalogue.
Choosing the right size: height and width
On a round watch, the diameter tells you everything. On a tonneau, you need to look at two measurements. The case width, measured from one side to the other, should stay within the width of the top of the wrist. The height, measured from lug to lug, matters even more: it determines whether the watch overhangs towards the hand or the forearm. As a tonneau is taller than it is wide, it often looks larger on the wrist than a round watch of the same width.
On a slim wrist, favour a modest height and a thin case; on a broad wrist, a generous tonneau comes into its own. The curved sides follow the wrist well, which makes the shape more comfortable than a rectangle with sharp corners. For an even clearer comparison, look at our selections of men's square watches and men's rectangular watches.
A bold style
The tonneau is not a discreet shape. In our selection, the black dial dominates, followed by blue and green, with a few multicoloured, burgundy or gold dials. The straps follow suit: black, white, transparent, gold or blue. Philipp Plein contributes its The Hexagon Phantom line, and Fossil its Everett line. The result is better suited to the weekend or evenings than to the office. If you like cases that stand out, also see our oversized men's watch selection.