What's your preferred crown position?
With the recent acquisition of my Zelos Mako Frost GMT, my current #1wc watch, for the first time, I now have a watch where the crown is in a location other than 3 o'clock. Initially, I was unsure about how I felt about the 4 o'clock crown. This isn't really my first experience with one, as my Glycine Airman DC-4 has a crown at the 4 position, but only for the purpose of locking its friction bi-directional bezel.
Although the 4 o'clock crown definitely feels more recessed from my wrist when flexing my hand, I think that I still prefer the crown at 3 o'clock for the sake of balance when looking at the watch. How about you all? What's your preferred crown position?
19 comments
Sort by
Jay
My problem isn't that I want a watch....it's that I want ALL the watches.
Parkland, FL, USA
Member since
Last active: 1 hr ago
3 is fine as long as du have a watch with a crown that doesn't dig into the arm or hand. But four or nine ia slightly more exotic and reduces the chance of this happening 😊 And I have a soft spot for the Seiko 4 o clock... So 4 it is. Still I like bullheads too 😅
All over the place; the more variations the better.
As per @mjosamannen above, except I don't like bullheads. I imagine I'd be fine with one on the back too.
I hate four o’clock crowns. Absolutely hate them.
Call me a traditionalist but 3 o'clock is the best place for it, but understand 4 o'clock makes sense in some use cases too.
3 is fine as long as du have a watch with a crown that doesn't dig into the arm or hand. But four or nine ia slightly more exotic and reduces the chance of this happening 😊 And I have a soft spot for the Seiko 4 o clock... So 4 it is. Still I like bullheads too 😅
I had a Squale with one at the 4 position. A Squale designer (i.e., sadist) selected a pimple sized crown. Within three days of owning it, I accidently pulled out the crown and stem. Love my King Turtle and Happy Feet Baby Tuna though as their crowns are correctly sized and sturdy. I wish Seiko would re-release a bullhead model. The vintage ones I've seen are scary expensive.
I had a Squale with one at the 4 position. A Squale designer (i.e., sadist) selected a pimple sized crown. Within three days of owning it, I accidently pulled out the crown and stem. Love my King Turtle and Happy Feet Baby Tuna though as their crowns are correctly sized and sturdy. I wish Seiko would re-release a bullhead model. The vintage ones I've seen are scary expensive.
I had a vintage Citizen Bullhead for a quick second last summer. Wonderful piece!! The rerelease is kinda lacking....
I love the standard 3, and have a soft spot for the 2 o'clock too.
I have Seiko5 with the crown at 4 but I don't love it so much anymore
4 o'clock for me. Don't know why but it's my favourite position for the crown. Have always thought it looked cool.
It's one of the major reasons I splashed out on the PO1. A Tudor with a 4 o'clock crown? I had to have it!
A quick survey of my 16 piece collection and I find 4 of them with crowns at the 4 position. How about that for some symmetry? One is a Guess quartz fashion watch and three are automatic Seikos. (Symmetry broken)
I gravitate towards the 3 o'clock position, but I don't mind the 4 o'clock position, either; in fact, one of my wishlist watches, the Momentum M50 Diver, has its crown at 4 o'clock.
Ask me after the 3rd date. 😜
4 o'clock for me. Don't know why but it's my favourite position for the crown. Have always thought it looked cool.
It's one of the major reasons I splashed out on the PO1. A Tudor with a 4 o'clock crown? I had to have it!
Sharp watch. Really stands out when you see it live.
1930-See Citizen NY0040 series
There are certainly many watches where the 3 o'clock position makes good visual sense, and I'm totally fine with it. But I'm deeply fond of the functional flair of the 4 o'clock option. I have a number of the latter and all of them - Bertucci, Zelos, Seiko, etc. - give me an extra little boost when I put them on and remember where the crown is. It's just a casually confident vibe, I think.
I've got a Smiths with the crown at 12, and that's pretty cool, too!
I’ve been wearing my 3 o’clock crowns on my right wrist recently (tan lines) and have been enjoying having the crown away from my wrist. If I had the option of buying “lefty” (9 o’clock) versions of my favorite watches I would.
Seiko. "20 minutes past" as my Better half says . 🤣
I've no objection to 3 aesthetically either.
I bought my first lefty and all ceramic watch last week, and being right handed, I wear it on my left wrist. Never got a crown bite on my wrist 😂
I'm glad I'm not alone in my preference for the 3 o'clock crown. That said, given the overwhelming preference displayed here, I'm surprised so many models have it at the 4 o'clock position.
Among my pile o watches : mostly 3s, 2x 4:30ish, and zero 9s. 3 def looks most natural of course.
BUT - I have had crowns dig into my hand a few times when my wrist is extended like when riding a bike with hands on either side of the stem. So while it looks nutty I'd love to try a 9 or LHD when I get the chance. There is a function to having non 3s in a collection