Men's Tonneau Watch

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.