With so many watches looking the same, it’s nice to have a unique style of watch in your jewelry box. A rectangle faced watch is one of those special styles that stand out from the typical round designs that are so common.
Rectangular women’s watches typically have a case with a narrow diameter, making it ideal for women’s smaller wrists. The watch face itself is usually minimalist in style, although the watch itself is elegant and dressy.
The original rectangle faced watches were designed by Cartier and called a tank, so named because it was inspired by Renault tanks in the First World War.
Tank watches for women are highly coveted and have been worn by the likes of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana. But you can find styles similar to a woman’s tank watch that are made by other watchmakers.
Let’s take a look at our top picks for a rectangular women’s watch.
Best Women Rectangular Watches
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Best For Low Budgets
1Timex Meriden Women's Rectangular Watches
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Best Overall
3Citizen EJ5854-56A Women's Rectangular Watches
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Best For Higher Budgets
6Longines DolceVita L5 Women's Rectangular Watches
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1. Timex Meriden Women's Rectangular Watches
- Analog style watch with rectangular case
- Black dial or watch face and silver numbers
- The rectangular case is silver-toned brass
- Mineral glass crystal
This watch features a stylish look and the Timex name, synonymous with combining quality and durability. An affordable yet well made watch with a dressy look.
Features a black leather band and black watch face with silver numbers. The minimalist look is complete with only the Arabic numbers and hour, minute and second hands.
The scratch-resistant mineral glass and basic water resistance (can handle splashes only) means it can manage a bit of adventure, but is basically a dress watch with a retro look to its rectangular case.
Specifications
Pros
- Water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters), which means it can handle minor splashes
- Dial has a stylish sunray finish
- Battery life is rated as 10 years
- Stylish black look on the dial and band
Cons
- Not suitable to wear in the bath or for swimming
- Only functions are the hour, minute and second hands
2. Seiko SUP272 Two-Tone Women's Rectangular Watches
- Analog style of watch
- Two-tone rectangular case
- Silver with gold highlights on the case and band
- White watch face with gold hour markers
This dressy watch has a rectangular stainless steel case and stainless steel band. The two-tone gold and silver is featured on the case and band, with a predominantly silver look and gold highlights.
The white watch face has gold hour markers. Solar power means no need to change batteries or charge the watch. It’s water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters) so it can handle only brief splashes.
Features a minimalist look with a small size perfect for women with a small wrist, or those who want a classic, dressy style. The Seiko name is known for quality watches.
Specifications
Pros
- Water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters)
- Solar powered
- Minimalist look with a dressy finish
- Small watch ideal for women
Cons
- Water resistance is only for small splashes and no more
- Only hour and minute hand; no second hand
3. Citizen EJ5854-56A Women's Rectangular Watches
- Stylish look with a rectangular case
- Hour, minute and second hands
- Stainless steel case and band
- Two-tone silver and gold on the case and band
This delicate yet sophisticated watch is perfect for the woman who wants a small watch with big style. The petite rectangular case is less than an inch thick and features a two-tone style of silver and gold on the stainless steel case and band.
The watch face has a minimalist look with Roman numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock and markers for the other hours. The only functions are hour, minute and second hands.
Basic water resistance means the watch can get splashed but can’t handle swimming or showers, but the mineral crystal covering keeps the watch protected. Citizen is known for making quality timepieces.
Specifications
Pros
- Water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters) so it can handle small splashes
- Mineral crystal covering
- Small style at less than an inch in diameter
- Citizen brand is well known
Cons
- Not suitable to wear in the bath, shower or for swimming
- Very basic watch with no extra bells and whistles
4. Bulova 96L138 Bangle Watch
- Rectangular case
- Stainless steel case and band
- Sword-shaped hour and minute hands
- Analog style with Japanese quartz movement
A unique looking watch with a black watch face and silver stainless steel case and band. The rectangular case is only 0.72 of an inch in diameter.
The band itself is designed like a thin bangle and has adjustable links. The black watch face has only 4 hour markers and hour and second hands, with the hands being a unique sword shape.
It has the basic water resistance to 100 feet, meaning it can handle small splashes of water. Ideal size for women who want a small, minimalist but stylish timepiece. Bulova has a long history of making quality watches.
Specifications
Pros
- Very unique look
- Thin bangle stainless steel bracelet and stainless steel watch face is offset by a black watch face
- Band has adjustable links and jewelry clasp closure
- Water resistant to 100 feet (30 meters)
Cons
- Basic functionality with only hour and minute hands
- Water resistance can only handle minor splashes
5. Tissot T-Trend Generosi-T Women's Rectangular Watches
- Analog style
- Silver hour and minute hands
- Silver-tone stainless steel band
- Dainty size of less than an inch in diameter
This watch has a beautiful look to its watch face, with black mother-of-pearl accented with silver-tone hands marking hours and minutes.
Roman numerals denote 12 and 6 o’clock and the other hours are noted by silver marks. There’s also a date window at 3 o’clock. The case and band are both silver-tone stainless steel.
It has basic water resistance to 100 feet, so it can handle small splashes but can’t be used in the shower or for swimming. The watch is protected by a Scratch-resistant Sapphire crystal.
Specifications
Pros
- Rectangular stainless steel case with unique black mother-of-pearl watch face
- Basic water resistance to 100 feet (30 meters) so it can handle minor splashes
- Date window at 3 o’clock
- Scratch-resistant Sapphire crystal
Cons
- Not suitable for water immersion
- No second hand
6. Longines DolceVita L5 Women's Rectangular Watches
- Analog style watch
- Rectangular watch face is less than an inch in diameter
- White watch face is enhanced by silver-tone hands
- Silver-tone stainless steel case with a silver-tone stainless steel band
This is a stylish watch featuring some “bling” with a diamond bezel surrounding the rectangular case. The watch face is white and the hands are silver-toned.
There is an hour and minute hand and a second chronograph. A number denotes 12 o’clock and the other hours are simply noted by silver marks.
The case and band are both silver-toned stainless steel.
This stunning watch in the Longines style has basic water resistance to 100 feet, so it can handle only minor scratches, but the case is protected by scratch-resistant Mineral crystal and the watch stays secure with invisible-double-locking-clasps on the band. Longines is known for luxury timepieces.
Specifications
Pros
- Scratch-resistant Mineral crystal
- Diamond bezel
- Basic water resistance to 100 feet (30 meters)
- Stays secure with invisible-double-locking-clasps
Cons
- No extra functionality
- Water resistance is minimal so best to keep it dry
Women Rectangular Watch Buying Guide
Design & Style
A rectangular watch is typically an analog style timepiece and they are having a revival at the moment (in 2021). Their art-deco style is experiencing a revival and rectangular watches look great on a small and slender wrist. Since a ladies rectangular watch follows the style of a Cartier Tank watch, the design and style follow suit. The Cartier Tank was unique in its look, which was simple and elegant. The strap is often seamlessly integrated into vertical sidebars on the case.
The Cartier Tank also had a bold Roman numeral dial, although not all rectangular watches follow that style. Some have Arabic numbers, markings, or a combination of the two. Some have just an hour and minute hand, and others have a second hand, while still others have a date window. It’s up to you what you like on your watch face.
Some of our choices of rectangular watches have a distinctly retro look, while others are more modern and dressy.
The other unique aspect of a rectangular watch is simply in watching the watch hands. On a round watch, the hands look natural as they go around in a circle, following the shape of the watch face.
Part of what makes a rectangular watch unique is the fact the hands go around a rectangle, making it somewhat of a conversation piece.
Size
Rectangular watches are usually small, making them ideal for women’s smaller wrists. The case is narrow across, typically with a diameter less than an inch. That means the integrated watch band is usually narrow as well, with some bands or watch strap tapering to an even narrower size, more like a bracelet.
Materials
Many rectangular watches have a stainless steel case with a stainless steel band, although there are those with a leather band option instead. Many have watch faces that are protected with a crystal.
Since they are typically a dress watch, they usually have a minimal water resistance, allowing for minor splashes but not for use swimming or even in the shower.
Pricing Range
There is wide variety in the price range of a rectangular watch. The entry level watches are very inexpensive; Timex has a reasonable option. Others, like rectangular watches made by Longines, are in the luxury price range. It’s up to you what you want to spend on a rectangular watch for your collection but remember that style never goes out of fashion!
Our Verdict
Rectangle faced watches are unique and stylish, setting them apart from the more common round or square watches on the market. You can find a rectangular women’s watch made by several different companies, in a variety of styles. The classic rectangle watch is the Cartier Tank, designed to be simple yet elegant.
What is common among our choice of the best women’s rectangular watches is an analog style, with a minimalist design to the watch face, combined with classic markings. Some have a diamond bezel to add to their value, and others have one or two added functions, like a second hand or a date window.
Many of them feature a stainless steel case and band, although there are those with a leather band.
A rectangular women’s watch is also usually small, with a narrow diameter making it ideal for a woman’s smaller wrist.
Your final choice among our top picks may be a personal one, depending on the features of the watch itself, along with the color choices for the watch face, the case and the band, and of course the price range.
Whatever your final pick, you can’t go wrong with one of our rectangular women’s watch selections.
