Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. A Selection Of Square(-ish) Watches To Spruce Up Your Wrist
Where the vast majority of watches comes with a round case, these take on an equilatteral shape.
Heuy Lewis & The News sang “It’s Hip To Be Square” in their hit song from 1986 and in watches, you could kind of say the same. Amongst watches, square ones always tend to stand out a bit more, and few have even stood the test of time and earned the status of horological icon. Watches like the TAG Heuer Monaco or Cartier Santos need little introduction, really. But more recent offerings tend to tap into the same group of possible clientele that’s into square-shaped watches. And to be honest, I have two on my personal wishlist as well. there’s just something unique about having a square watch on the wrist. So with that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at 5 new watches with a square(-ish) case!
TAG Heuer Monaco Purple Edition
Arguably one of the most famous square watches available, the TAG Heuer Monaco has become an icon thanks to a brilliant marketing ploy by Jack Heuer, using the Monaco Grand Prix and Steve McQueen to make it beyond cool. Many iterations of the Monaco have come and gone, with some very good and some so-so, but it remains a highly desirable piece. The latest model is a rather bold one, with a very funky gradient purple dial that seems to come straight from the seventies. It’s a very unusual style that will surely not please everyone, but we feel it has a distinct appeal. The purple theme continues in the movement, with a black rotor with purple lettering and a purple column wheel. Limited to 500 pieces, it retails for EUR 6,800.
For more information, please visit TAGHeuer.com
Quick facts – 39mm x 39mm stainless steel case – sapphire crystals, 100m water-resistant – purple dial, sunray-brushed with black sub-dials – Calibre Heuer 02, in-house – automatic integrated chronograph – 28,800vph – 80h power reserve – black rotor with purple lettering – purple column wheel – black alligator with black stitching and purple lining – limited to 500 pieces – EUR 6,800
Santos de cartier
Just like the Monaco, the Santos by Cartier is a true horological legend. First offered for sale in 1911 following a watch created specifically according to pioneer pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont’s wishes, the Santos has always had a square-ish case. It remains a signature collection for Cartier and is still very much relevant today. For 2022 Cartier decided to have a little fun with the icon, and introduce a number of unusual styles. These include a Santos-Dumont with coloured lacquer on the case, and this Santos de Cartier with grooved blue PVD-coated bezel tying in with the blue dial. It comes with the stainless steel bracelet you see here, and an additional blue rubber strap, both fitted with a QuickSwitch interchangeability system. The Santos de Cartier retails for EUR 6,650.
For more information, please visit Cartier.com
Quick facts – 47.5mm x 39.8mm x 9.37mm – stainless steel case – blue PVD-coated bezel with horizontal grooves – silver or blue dial – applied Roman numerals – hands with luminous material – calibre 18747 MC – in-house movement with automatic winding – 23 jewels – 28,800vph – 42h power reserve – steel bracelet and blue rubber strap – EUR 6,650
Glashütte original seventies chronograph panorama date fab green
As its name suggests, the design for the Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph Panorama Date comes straight out of the 1970s, which is clearly visible through its square TV-shaped case and often funky dials. The very retro-looking piece has been part of GO for quite a number of years already, and the brand has made it a tradition to update it with new dials every now and then. Earlier this year this Fab Green version was presented, which follows the current trend for green watches perfectly. The gradient dial has recessed subdials for the small seconds and chronograph 30-minute counter. The power reserve, chronograph 12-hours counter and panorama date are seen through cutouts in the dial. Worn on a leather or rubber strap, or stainless steel bracelet, prices start at EUR 13,900.
For more information, please visit Glashuette-Original.com
Quick facts – 40mm x 40mm – TV-shaped stainless steel case – sapphire crystal front and back – 100m water-resistant – fab green lacquer dial with degradé – dark-coated appliques – Dauphine hands – Calibre 37-02, in-house – integrated automatic flyback column-wheel chronograph – 65 jewels – 28,800vph – 70h power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds, power reserve, panorama date, central chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, 12-hour counter – nubuck strap, rubber strap or steel bracelet – from EUR 13,900
bell & roSs br 03-92 diver brown bronze
We could pretty much go for any Bell & Ross BR 03 model, as all of them come in a 42mm x 42mm square case. The square case with rounded edges and functional screws on top of each corner became the brand’s signature style, and is instantly recognizable as such. This year saw a number of new BR 03 models, including the funky BR 03-94 Multimeter, BR 03-92 Radio Compass and this BR 03-92 Diver Brown Bronze. Perhaps the most stand-out watch of the bunch, as it is such a different look to have a rotating bezel on top of a square case. The warm tones of the brown dial and bezel insert against the bronze case work together brilliantly and give off a real steampunk-esque vibe. Presented as a limited edition of 999 pieces, this one will set you back EUR 4,500.
For more information, please visit BellRoss.com
Quick facts – 42mm x 42mm x 12.05mm – square bronze case – unidirectional bezel in bronze with brown anodized aluminium insert – sapphire crystal – solid steel caseback – screw-down crown – 300m water-resistant – matte brown dial – rose gold-plated markers and hands with Super-LumiNova – BR-CAL.302 (Sellita SW 300-1) – automatic winding – 25 jewels – 4Hz frequency – 38h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – brown calfskin leather strap with pin buckle – limited edition of 999 pieces – EUR 4,500
nomos tetra neomatik 39
Nomos can look back at 30 years of Bauhaus-inspired watchmaking, often presented with a fun little twist. With the first collections introduced 1992, Nomos has since made fame with fresh and highly legible designs, with compact dimensions. Part of the inaugural quartet was the Tetra, a watch with a perfectly square 33mm by 33mm steel case. Unusual yet captivating, Nomos launched a series of 4 colourful limited editions earlier this year. This off-white one is the most subdued of the four, with the others coming in black, bright blue or bright red. Powered by the ultra-thin DUW 3001 calibre, produced in-house the watch is perfectly fit for a smaller wrist. The Nomos Tetra Neomatik 39 is limited to 175 pieces per colour and retails for EUR 3,060.
For more information, please visit Nomos-Glashuette.com
Quick facts – 33mm x 33mm x 7,3mm – square stainless steel case – sapphire crystal front and back – 30m splash-proof – off-white dial with an enamel effect – printed numerals and markings – central hour and minute hands, small seconds at 6 o’clock – Neomatik Calibre DUW 3001 – in-house extra-thin automatic movement with Swing System – 27 jewels – 43h power reserve – horween brown shell cordovan leather strap with pin buckle – limited to 175 pieces – EUR 3,060
4 responses
How could you miss out the Rado true square?
Why do you never mention Soviet watches? Excellent quality, fraction of the price. Must be because of snobbery.
Or the Hermes H08?
That could easily have been included, yes. But as always we narrow down a broad selection into five or six watches for these Buying Guides. The H08 is very cool though!