Why do we associate square/rectangular-shaped watches with formal/dress?

I wear this guy all the time with some very casual clothes. i like the oxymoron of an objectively dressy watch with some shorts and sneakers. to me they just look stylish and dont require a certain dress code.

That is a lovely watch, suits you really well (and I love the shirt!) What is the model of that watch? it's so classy and easy to read.

Before the early 1950's they were just watches, no one referred to them as dress watches. Most watches were rectangular, tank or tonneau.

Those case shapes went out of style, never really to return.  Most watch makers stopped making those styles.  The one that continued, Cartier, was clearly always a "dress" watch. You also have a bit of "survivership bias" going on. Many of the best preserved vintage watches were higher end watches.  These watches were babied a bit and worn less. The Elgin that was worn everyday on the factory floor does not look as dressy as the Wittnauer that was owned by a bank manager.

Military watches were round.  They gave us field and pilot watches.  Rectangular watches never experienced the style evolution of sports watches or divers. They are always going to be associated with a more formal past.

Thanks for the reply (incredible and interesting read). I never really thought about "survivership bias" - I guess because the watches I have are more affordable/lower-end scale/Watches have became more durable (and my attitude is that I wear a watch "whatever the weather" which can be seen as pretty dumb :P but I digress)

For some reason I feel really invested into square/rectangular watches now.

I’ve had the same question. I personally don’t like them at all. The design at the core of most watch faces (two or three little rods rotating around a fixed point) makes a circular face the natural choice. a square face literally feels like trying to shove a square peg in a round hole to me. 

I never thought about the "square peg in a round hole to me" way of thinking before, though I still like them - I definitely want to try one on to see if it would feel more comfortable then my regular round watches.

Hard to think of sporty rectangular watches other than this one! 

OOoo not seen this before

There's this

Sure, it's not really a watch, but whatever.😂

This mess is, apparently, a watch as well.

I think it would take me a minute or two to tell them time on the one below ! 😂 and that's true about smartwatches. I'm just trying to keep the "tech" on me at just having a phone. Would hate alerts/notifications popping off on my wrist!

Oh I forgot about these

This has been imitated, but there is really nothing else out there like it in the history of watches. It is sui generis.

Your post is one of the reasons that this came out of the box today. For an example of survivorship bias see this recent post.  I think that watch was too nice to wear for many years and then too out of date for many more.

That's such a lovely gem, thanks for sharing it with us. Something about the photo with the flower in the background makes the shot perfect for me (I'll try to explain) - The watch just kind of "fits" and seems just as bright and dainty like the flower! 

I will have to check out Bulova's offerings in the future.

I honestly don't understand what people see in these things.

This thread has brought up a lot of watch company names which I hadn't heard of.

That "Gerald Charles" looks sweet and I would definitely include G-shocks/Digital watches. Perhaps I should have clarified my initial post with "mechanical"(My bad)

A note about Bulova: I believe that from 1945 to 1965 Bulova consistently made watches of quality and beauty to rival those of any manufacturer, anywhere. I also would not own one made after 1975. Fair minded people can disagree with both of those opinions.

Any of Bell& Ross offerings are sporty. I think you are just thinking of dressy square watches.

If we look at all the calatrava, jlc moon phase etc, you will find a lot more round face dress watches than square faces. The shape isn't the determining factor. 

That's true (your username is amazing by the way!) guess I was heavily influenced by what I have seen/read

The Santos is both sport and dress I suppose. I would rather like one because it's not my style. 

Which means it would look great because i have very poor sense of style

(haha thanks!)

Ya, if you think about it the square makes a lot more sense for digital watches.  All those calculator Casios, G Shocks, Fitbits and Apple Watches too.