Cushion & California Dial | Watch Detail

The Cushion Case

A cushion case is a rounded square, like a cushion or seat pad. It was one of the shapes chosen by men adopting wristwatches in the 1930s. Compact by modern standards, it has an appealing combination of softness, character and classical style.

Faithful Details, Everyday Usability

The coin-edge bezel gives the watch a distinctive accent and helps make scratches less noticeable around the exposed crystal. Reproducing this detail faithfully requires care and skill. Additional pressing operations preserve the shape around the crown rather than simplifying it to straight cuts, and the crown itself has a rounded profile. Many recreations simplify the lugs to accept spring bars and conventional straps. The Cushion instead follows the original construction.

The Cushion Watch White

A polished silver-colored stainless steel case surrounds a white dial and coin-edge bezel. Black printing offers clear contrast. White military-watch dials remained in use until around 1940, before black dials became standard. Shaded Arabic numerals and the “M.R.M WATCH” logo appear below 12 o’clock. Luminous cobra-style hands have polished blue outlines. The compact, rounded case is also popular with women.

Also Known as the Unique Dial

The California dial mixes Roman numerals across the upper half and Arabic numerals across the lower half, with bar markers and an inverted triangle. Its use dates to the 1930s and early Rolex watches. Brands including Rolex, Panerai, Nomos Glashütte and Apple Watch have used this recognizable arrangement. Its appeal is functional as well as visual: the different markers help avoid misreading the time from unusual angles.

Smoky Black & Smoky Pink

SMOKY BLACK
The softly gray-toned black dial brings warmth to the vintage-style case. Pale-pink numerals outlined in glossy black harmonize with the dial. White printing on the small-seconds subdial at 6 o’clock matches the outer railway track, bringing the design together.

SMOKY PINK
A smoky pink dial combines retro character with a modern feel. Pale-orange numerals, the railway track, small seconds and hand outlines are defined in glossy black. The KEYFORD name below 12 o’clock uses the same color. The black accents give structure to the soft pink and pale orange, a combination suited to women and to men who appreciate a distinctive, mature style.

A Carefully Recreated Cushion Case

CASE
The softly rounded square case has a warm, classical shape. The finely grooved coin-edge bezel adds decoration, protects the crystal and helps make marks less conspicuous around this exposed area.

CASE BACK
The lugs take a one-piece pass-through strap rather than conventional spring bars, preserving the vintage construction. The case back receives the same careful coin-edge finish as the front.

CROWN
The crown shape complements the bezel and overall proportions. The case, crown and dial recreate designs that existed in the period.