Tonneau & Cushion Watches

Tonneau is the harder of the two to make well. The case curves in two directions at once, so the crystal, caseback and often the movement all have to follow, and a flat round movement in a tonneau case leaves visible dead space at the top and bottom. That is the tell between a shape designed as one and a shape applied to an existing watch.

Cushion cases are more forgiving and have a long association with early divers and pilot watches, where the flat sides gave somewhere to mount lugs and protect a crown. Between GBP 149 and GBP 26,000 here, with the median around GBP 335, and the shape suits larger wrists particularly well because it uses the width.

Tonneau & Cushion Watches holds 141 models across 27 brands, from £30 to £64,450. Half cost less than £375, and a quarter less than £199. 57 of 141 are automatic. 62 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 216 offers in total. Tissot lists more references here than any other brand. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.