Contour
Verdant

The Contour is not quite round and certainly not square. Its asymmetric cushion shape looks almost fluid, with a polished surround that seems to shift as you turn the watch. That appearance is very much the point, but it will take some getting used to.

The 316L stainless steel case is only 8.6mm thick. That is an important detail: the outline might be dramatic, but the profile is restrained. It slips under a cuff without the sort of thickness you might expect from a watch trying so hard to look different.

The polished surfaces are a major part of the appeal. They pick up their surroundings and exaggerate the curves, particularly in the outdoor photographs. As with most highly polished steel, though, it is a finish I would expect to show fingerprints and everyday marks more readily than a fully brushed case.

You will either enjoy that eccentric silhouette or wish someone had put it back in the mould for another five minutes. Personally, I enjoy it. I am still getting used to it.

The case starts the conversation. The Verdant dial is what keeps me looking.

That rich forest-green sunburst finish is right in my photographic wheelhouse. In subdued light it can look almost black at the edges; move it towards a window or a flash and the brushing opens into a fan of softer, brighter greens. It is the sort of surface you can photograph repeatedly without getting quite the same result twice.

Makydo has sensibly kept the furniture simple: slender applied baton markers, two clean hands, a fine minute track and very little printed text. There is no date window fighting for space. The dial does not need one.

The hands carry BGW9 luminous material according to Makydo, although I have not done a measured lume-duration test. Visually, the polished markers and silver hands give the green dial enough contrast to remain readable without interrupting its texture.

The Verdant comes on Makydo’s articulated stainless steel bracelet, with green leather and black alligator-embossed leather straps also included. That is a particularly useful package because each option changes the character of the watch more than I expected.

The seven-piece steel bracelet gives the Contour a more complete, almost jewellery-like look. It follows the polished case beautifully and feels robust enough for everyday use. There is a butterfly clasp with push-button release, rather than a bulky diver-style clasp, which suits the slim case.

But the leather is no afterthought. The sumptuous green option plays directly into the dial colour and takes it into dress-watch territory; the dark embossed strap feels a little more traditional. I can see myself reaching for steel during the day and leather for an evening out, though none of the combinations feels restricted to just one setting.

That versatility matters. If the shape is already the centre of attention, the choice of strap lets you decide whether to dial everything else up or calm it down.

Inside is the Japanese Miyota 9039, a 24-jewel automatic movement with hacking seconds. It is a recognisable, appropriately slim choice for a two-hand watch with no date display.

The exhibition caseback gives you a clear view of the movement rather than hiding it behind an engraved steel disc. It is nice to see a properly mechanical movement inside something that initially looks more like a design exercise.

I have not carried out a timed accuracy test on this example, so I am not going to invent daily gain or loss figures. What I can say is that the movement choice makes sense, and the case and dial feel put together with a degree of care that encourages you to keep wearing the watch rather than merely admiring it in the box.

There is something about the overall construction that gives it an heirloom sort of character. That is an impression rather than a promise about long-term durability, but it is an important part of what I like about the Verdant.

This is where I have my main reservation. I rather like the size of the Contour in photographs, but on my wrist I could happily accommodate just a touch more watch.

Some watches wear larger than the numbers suggest. This one does not. Despite the unusual outline, its short, rounded form makes it feel like a true 37mm, perhaps even slightly smaller. The very thin 8.6mm profile only reinforces that compact impression.

That is not necessarily a flaw. If you prefer a smaller dress watch, it may be exactly what you want. For my taste it sits just on the small side, especially when I am in the mood for something with more wrist presence.

The counterargument is that wearing a curved, asymmetric automatic on steel or leather is an easy way to ensure someone notices it anyway. There is no need to make it bigger simply to make it interesting. And, yes, people absolutely ask about it.

Makydo lists the Contour Verdant at £399. At that price, I want more than an interesting silhouette, and fortunately the package includes quite a lot: sapphire crystal, the slim Miyota automatic, a seven-piece articulated bracelet and two leather straps.

The construction and finishing make a strong impression in hand. I especially like that the steel and leather options feel equally considered rather than one being an obvious upgrade from the other.

There are limitations worth knowing before buying. The 30m water-resistance rating makes this a splash-resistant dress watch, not something I would choose for swimming. The unconventional case will divide opinion, and the compact fit could be a disappointment if you expect the unusual silhouette to make it wear larger.

If you want something discreet, conventional or robust enough for every possible activity, there are easier choices. If you want a watch that feels carefully made and makes people look twice, the price is easier to understand.

I have a soft spot for watches that take a genuine design risk, and the Contour Verdant certainly qualifies.

It is the contrast I enjoy most. The case is almost playful in its asymmetry, but the sunburst green dial is elegant and quietly controlled. On steel it feels confident and complete. On leather it becomes something I would happily wear to a more formal occasion.

Would I change anything? A millimetre or two more wrist presence would make it an easier personal fit, and I would welcome more water resistance. The shape itself remains a taste decision. It is not going to win everyone over, nor should it need to.

For me, the Contour is a watch I want to put on, look at in different light and then explain to the next person who asks whether I have somehow managed to melt it.

The Contour has already attracted questions about whether its case was melted or accidentally bashed out of shape.

Naturally, I called in the most qualified specialist available: a large, angular gorilla with absolutely no watchmaking credentials.

He examined the case, declined to comment and left the watch exactly as he found it. Which, for once, was the correct decision.