“Square, Practical, Different”
A well-known chocolate brand advertises its products as square, practical, and good. Some watch enthusiasts could say the same about the watches they wear on their wrists. Alongside classic round cases, watches with an exactly or at least nearly square shape enjoy steady popularity, even if they remain a minority on the market overall. Several watchmakers have responded to their customers’ interest in this case shape and keep launching corresponding models – or even carry entire collections in their lineup.
Fortis Square – Modern Geometric Design
Fortis is one of the watch manufactures that offer square watches in complete collections. Aimed primarily at women, the Grenchen-based company’s lineup includes the Fortis Square collection, which stands out for its decidedly modern, geometric design.
The women’s watches in the collection feature a 26 x 26 mm stainless steel case and are available on silicone, leather, or stainless steel straps and bracelets. They are powered by self-winding movements.
These three-hand watches with central seconds and a small date window at 3 o’clock stand out from the crowd not only for their shape but also for their dial design.
The indexes and their corresponding numerals are arranged to form four small blocks that divide the black or white dial into nine roughly square sections, echoing the basic shape of the case.
For men, the Fortis Square Chronograph is a good choice, for example. With a case measuring 38 x 38 mm, it is larger than the women’s watches, yet by no means looks too bulky. The black subdials and the black date and day-of-the-week windows at 3 o’clock contrast sharply with the white dial, giving the watch a distinctive masculine presence.
Tissot T-Trend: Elegant Jewelry Watches for Stylish Women
The Tissot T-Trend collection also includes several models with square cases, aimed especially at style- and fashion-conscious women. One particularly understated yet highly elegant example is the quartz-powered Tissot T-Trend Cera, whose case and bracelet are both made from a combination of stainless steel and white ceramic.
As an additional eye-catcher, this three-hand watch with central seconds features eight diamonds serving as the hour markers at 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, and 11 o’clock, while the quarter hours are each marked by baton indexes.
The E-Evocation model, also from the T-Trend collection, takes a different approach. Likewise powered by a Swiss quartz movement, it is designed so that the square case barely extends beyond the width of the stainless steel bracelet and instead appears integrated, giving the entire watch the character of a jewelry bracelet. On the mother-of-pearl-colored dial, four diamonds mark 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, while the remaining hours are indicated by simple baton indexes.
In addition to the all-steel version, the model is also available in a two-tone version with partial gold-tone plating. The timepieces in the Tissot T-Trend Generosi-T line also look like decorative bracelets and feature four-sided dials. Unlike the other two models, however, these are not exactly square but slightly elongated rectangles with gently tonneau-shaped, compressed sides.
Maurice Lacroix Pontos Rectangulaire: Square Watches from Maurice Lacroix
Under the name Maurice Lacroix Pontos Rectangulaire, the Swiss manufacture offers a collection of square and rectangular watches for both women and men, inspired by the design language of modern, purist architecture. Depending on the version, these automatic watches come on rubber or fine leather straps. The women’s models are also available set with diamonds. For men, the Maurice Lacroix Pontos Rectangulaire is offered either as a three-hand watch with central seconds and a date at 6 o’clock or as a chronograph.
Maurice Lacroix Pontos Rectangulaire chronographs look sporty, yet are elegant enough to be worn as a dress watch without any trouble. An original variant that stands out for its unusual dial design is the Maurice Lacroix Pontos Rectangulaire with power reserve indicator.
Bruno Söhnle Novum: Masterpieces with Original Details
Under the name Bruno Söhnle Novum, the still relatively young manufacture from Glashütte also produces square watches that fully live up to the innovative ambition expressed in their name. They feature several details that make them real eye-catchers and give them a special, individual touch.
On the men’s watches, for example, the crown is not positioned on one side of the case as usual, but at the lower right corner of the square case. On the Bruno Söhnle Novum, the date is displayed in a window at 2 o’clock, and the small seconds sits in the lower left quarter of the dial. A women’s version of the Novum is also available.
Rado R 5. 5: Quartz Chronographs with Instant Recognition
The Rado R 5. 5 can rightly be counted among square watches as well, even though its case, with its rounded corners, is not a true square in the geometric sense. What makes these watches so instantly recognizable, however, is not only their shape, designed by Jasper Morrison, but above all the choice of material. The bracelet and case of the Rado R 5. 5 are made of plasma-treated or glossy black high-tech ceramic.
This material is not only exceptionally resistant to various environmental influences and mechanical stress but also has a distinctive aesthetic appeal of its own. The hands and indexes are coated with white luminous material, so they stand out clearly against the dark background and remain easy to read even in the dark or at dusk. The plasma-treated version is particularly striking: the ceramic shimmers in a titanium-gray tone, and a yellow seconds hand adds an extra visual accent.
