Round-UpFair And Square: Seven Outstanding Watches With Quadrangle Case Structures
In a world of round watches, does it help to be different? We are talking about the sharp, sleek and highly symmetrical watches with quadrangle case shapes—be it rectangular or square, which always stand out and are often conversation starters. Here’s a look at seven exemplary watches that follow these design codes
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What makes a wristwatch appealing? Is it the dial or the material used to craft the timepiece or just the movement? While all these aspects are extremely important when it comes to zeroing in on the choice of your ideal wrist companion; it’s the case that sets the foundation for a timepiece because without that, let’s face it, there would be no watch to begin with. While enough, and more is said about the movement, which brings a watch to life, in this bid one forgets the good ol’ case, which actually helps put all the elements together. It provides the necessary framework, just like the skeleton in a human body, which gives shape, structure and provides protection to all the vital organs. A watch case, too, helps to give the final outcome to what a timepiece would eventually look like. It provides the chassis for displaying the dial and mounting the bezel, the space for mounting the lugs to which straps or bracelets are attached and obviously housing the movement. Without this watchmakers would be struggling to consolidate or ‘assemble’ a watch in its truest form. So, while providing the necessary framework is one of the most defining characteristics of a case, the shape, too, comes into play since this imparts a distinct persona to each timepiece. While most watches come in round cases, which happens to be the preferred choice of most brands, many are experimenting with different shapes as well. It’s here that the symmetrical square or rectangular watch cases stand out with their clean lines and highly geometrical structures. While round cases became a norm as wristwatches progressed from pocket watches to being worn on the wrists; the square or rectangular shapes gained popularity during the Art deco period of the 1920s, making them the go-to choice for horology enthusiasts as they were a rage back then. Even today, many brands opt to make watches with these case shapes as they hark back to the old-world charm and give the watches an extremely classic and sophisticated vibe. Let’s look at some of the best watches with square or rectangular cases that would enrich any horophile’s collection.
The top seven quadrangle watches:
- Baume & Mercier Hampton
- Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945
- Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
- Longines DolceVita
- Rado True Square Thinline
- Raymond Weil Toccata
- Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf
Baume & Mercier Hampton
Inspired by the Art Deco movement of the 1920s, the Hampton watch features a unique style with a distinct design, expressed through a rectangular watch case. With its sleek silhouette, this watch pays tribute to the iconic architectural movement with its curves and smooth surfaces. The model featured here comes in a stainless steel case that houses a self-winding movement, of which the oscillating mass is decorated with the Cotes de Genève design, visible through an aperture in the caseback. This provides a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The elapsed time appears on a silver-tone and grained dial with various opaline textures. The contemporary sword-shaped black ruthenium hands add character, masterfully contrasting with the neutral hue of the dial. A bi-colour black and grey minute track structures the entire dial. Water-resistant to 50m, the timepiece is presented on a black leather strap that complements the classic aesthetic of this elegant timekeeper.
The Baume & Mercier Hampton in a nutshell
- Case: Stainless steel, 31mm; water-resistant to 50m
- Dial: Silver
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, date, small seconds
- Movement: Automatic calibre ETA 2895; 42-hour power reserve
- Strap: Black leather
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945
Taking its cues from the Art Deco design era, the Girard-Perregaux 1945 salutes the spirit with its classic design that stands out for its dress watch aesthetic. The solid rectangular case of the 1945 watch measuring 35.25mm by 11.74mm, curves to the shape of the wrist with numerals in a polished retro font. The crown and bracelet are perfectly integrated into the case with elegant gadroons that give the 1945 its strong personality. At the heart of this framework lies the in-house calibre GP03300. This powerhouse can function for at least 46 hours, beating at a frequency of 28,800vph. The large date is displayed at the 12 o’clock position while the moon phase indication is present at six o’clock. The date change is instant for a seamless and smooth timekeeping experience. Water-resistant to 30m, the Vintage 1945 timepiece is presented on a black leather strap with a steel folding buckle.
The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 in a nutshell
- Case: Stainless steel, 35.25mm; water-resistant to 30m
- Dial: Silver
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, date, moon phase, small seconds
- Movement: Automatic calibre GP03300; 46-hour power reserve
- Strap: Black leather
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
Crafted in 1931 for British army officers commissioned in India—the Reverso was a path-breaking invention back then—replete with a reversible mechanism to protect the dial against the rigours of a polo match. This flip-over case design has evolved and been incorporated in several models, without deflecting from the basic principle of crafting a watch with two faces. This model here, the rose gold Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds features its dial in black. Its 45.6mm by 7.56mm case frames a dial that features all of the signature design elements of the Reverso Tribute: the hours are marked by applied indexes rather than numerals. In the lower half of the dial, the circular track of the small seconds display provides a counterpoint to the linear geometry of the dial and case. It is powered by the manual-winding calibre 822, beating at 21,600vph that supplies the watch with energy for up to 42 hours. Water-resistant to 30m, the rectangular masterpiece is presented on a grey leather or fabric strap, enhancing its classical appeal.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in a nutshell
- Case: Rose gold, 45.6mm; water-resistant to 30m
- Dial: Black
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, small seconds
- Movement: Manual winding calibre 822; 42-hour power reserve
- Strap: Grey leather or fabric
Longines DolceVita
Known for their winged hourglass logo and watches that exude timeless elegance, the Longines DolceVita collection is an array of watches that are inspired by the sophistication and elegance of the Art Deco era. Keeping it simple, just like the 1920s, the DolceVita model featured here represents three-hand timekeeping at its classical best. The stainless steel rectangular case measures 23.30mm by 37mm and has soft, curved lines to offer ultimate comfort on the wearer’s wrist. Water-resistant to 30m, this case frames a sliver flinque dial that features painted Roman numerals and blued steel hands. There’s a square small seconds window at six o’clock position—in sync with the overall case geometry and offers a fine balance to the symmetry of the timepiece. It features a solid steel caseback and is presented on a blue leather strap that enhances its elegance.
The Longines DolceVita in a nutshell
- Case: Stainless steel, 23.3mm; water-resistant to 30m
- Dial: Silver
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, EOL indicator, small seconds
- Movement: Quartz
- Strap: Blue leather
Rado True Square Thinline
While most square- and rectangular-shaped watches seek inspiration and are true representatives of the classical geometric shapes; some brands have chosen this shape for more modern iterations. Last year, Rado added a new member to their True Square collection, the True Square Thinline watch. Uniting features from Rado’s True Square and Thinline families, this edition’s case measures 37mm by 5.0mm, and is powered by the Rado calibre R420 quartz movement, which is less than 1mm thick—representing a true feat of miniature engineering. Its case and crown are crafted from a polished green, high-tech monobloc ceramic, offering a water resistance of up to 30m. According to the brand, not only is ceramic durable and impervious to almost everything, it has a rare silkiness to the touch that makes for exquisite comfort against the skin. The watch captivates the viewer with its green mother-of-pearl dial, featuring matching printed indexes. Additionally, the lacquered hands in yellow with a matching printed Rado logo inject vibrant contrast to the dial. It is presented on a polished green, high-tech ceramic bracelet.
The Rado True Square Thinline in a nutshell
- Case: Ceramic, 37mm; water-resistant to 30m
- Dial: Green mother-of-pearl
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes
- Movement: Quartz
- Bracelet: Green ceramic
Raymond Weil Toccata
Raymond Weil’s Toccata collection celebrates the artistic and musical spirit of the brand’s DNA, and this is visible in its timepieces with a timeless appeal. These watches featured here are also inspired by the Art Deco period, and are a nod to the symmetrical designs of the 1920s. These models exhibit elongated rectangular cases measuring 23.4mm by 34.6mm in either stainless steel or stainless steel with yellow gold PVD plating. This is the brand’s shallowest case design to date, which gives a very sleek profile to this watch. The dial features sleek, black Roman numerals on a crisp, white backdrop with hour and minute hands, and a square date aperture at the three o’clock position. The tiered design gives this watch an illusion of depth without the thickness, and is enhanced by the brand logo on the crown. Water-resistant to 50m, the timepiece is presented on a classic, black leather strap.
The Raymond Weil Toccata in a nutshell
- Case: Stainless steel and yellow gold PVD, 23.4mm; water-resistant to 50m
- Dial: White
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, date
- Movement: Quartz
- Strap: Black leather
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green
This iconic design from TAG Heuer is a favourite amongst watch collectors since it was one of the most avant-garde timepieces, launched back in 1969. Swiss luxury watchmakers recently introduced the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Racing Green—a celebration of the racing cars and their iconic
liveries, this time honouring the British colours. This model boasts a silver sunray-brushed dial, a subtle reminder of the engine-turned dashboards seen in sports cars of the 1920s and ’30s. It is further adorned with eight applied, polished and silvered hour markers, and 12 light green Super-LumiNova dot markers, facilitating effortless time reading. Additionally, it showcases a faceted baton marker at 12 o’clock, featuring a vibrant yellow stripe and elegant green subdials at three and nine o’clock. This watch is powered by the automatic chronograph calibre 11, encased within a sand-blasted grade-2 titanium case, and is presented on a green perforated strap, with a titanium folding clasp.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Racing Green in a nutshell
- Case: Grade-2 titanium, 39mm; water-resistant to 100m
- Dial: Silver sunray brushed
- Functions and display: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
- Movement: Automatic calibre 11
- Strap: Green calfskin perforated strap, with matching green lining
Shop The Story
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Baume & Mercier Hampton
MOA10528
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Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945
25882-11-121-BB6B
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Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Q713257J
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Longines Longines DolceVita
L5.512.4.71.7
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Rado True Square
R27047902
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Raymond Weil Toccata
5925-STC-00300
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TAG Heuer Monaco
CAW218E.FC6565
