Frederique Constant Classics Carrée Small Seconds

Just over a century ago, in the 1920s and 30s, watchmakers broke free from the conventional round case to invent square and rectangular variants. This enduringly popular style is back once more with three new Classics Carrée Small Seconds watches. The first version, fully set with diamonds, is followed by a 100% steel (case and strap) second and a simple, refined and affordable third complete with steel case and leather strap. These all share a quartz movement with two years of battery life, a silver-finish dial with two central hands and a small off-centre seconds hand above over the «sector dial» minute track, and large Roman numerals.

It’s the square that’s not a square: the Classics Carrée watch by Frederique Constant measures 36 x 25.2 mm. Rules are meant to be broken, right? After all, when the Genevan manufacturer announced, 35 years ago, that it wanted to create an exquisite yet affordable Swiss Made watch, people said—even then! —that it couldn’t be done.