The new Classic Carée Automatic from Frederique Constant may be a shape that you know and love, or it may be the first square watch to really catch your eye. But one thing is for sure: there is a history to the Carée, and to it’s angular shape, that goes a long way back.

While round watches are very popular today, the dominant shape has shifted back and forth a lot over time. Pocket watches were once a man’s accessory, and they were almost exclusively round. But in the 1920s, square watches were very popular among ladies. Men starting shifting to wristwatches around that time, and the square watch became a favorite for a very simple reason: the new devices had to be strapped to the wrist, and it was easier to attach a strap to a square case than to a round one.

Whatever reason we may have to thank history for the square watch case, Frederique Constant’s Classic Carrée Automatic is a great way to show that gratitude. The Carrée shows a class and fine-point elegance that perfectly evokes the era of the Twenties. There are two models, a rose gold-plated polished stainless steel model, and one in a polished stainless steel case. The silver-colored dial partially exposes the watchworks within, showing that even mechanical interaction can be elegant. The FC-310 caliber is on display here, and it proves itself well worth the attention. Printed black Roman numerals line the dial’s outer rim, while Breguet-style hands sweep past them over the guillochē surface. Time isn’t about to run backwards, but with the Frederique Constant Classic Carrée Automatic, you may well be able to hold out hope that the good things are coming around again.